Step #0 Prepare: Review any peer or instructor feedback on previous assignments. You may have feedback that will greatly impact your success on this assignment, so you want to make sure that you don’t miss that. Feel free to email me any questions that you have about the assignment or my comments.
STEP #1 Conduct Research: Find a social media post or text about your approved research topic. In this case, social media will be defined as any interactive site (one that allows you to comment, like, or share), some examples might be a tweet, a You Tube video, a Tik Tok etc. Try to pick a post that is relevant to the part of your topic you are most interested in. For example, if I’m interested in online learning in college, then I would want to find a post that is related to online learning and college (if it’s a series of posts—such as a threaded Tweet or a Tik Tok with multiple parts, you may discuss the entire series).
Note – If I have approved your topic, then I am confident that you can find an appropriate social media post for this assignment. If you have any trouble, do not panic or change your topic, just contact me for help (extensions would be available if you contacted me before the deadline).
Share a link or screenshot of your chosen social media post
STEP 2 Rhetorical Analysis (minimum 200 words): Analyze your social media post. I have provided some guiding questions for you, in order to help you write an effective analysis (here).
STEP 3 Conduct Fact Checking Research (minimum 100 words): Pick one or two claims (facts, statistics, arguments) made in the social media text and fact check that information by completing the following:
First, find a reliable source that either confirms or disproves the information from the social media post – use the following checklistLinks to an external site. to ensure that you find an appropriately credible source.
Then Demonstrate your critical thinking by using the checklist to answer at least two of the following questions about your fact-checking source:
How does the speaker establish their authority?
How have you determined the purpose of the source?
Can you determine the accuracy and verifiability of the source? If so, how?
Do you feel that the source is current and relevant? If so, how can you tell?
Then perform a lateral read of your fact-checking source and answer the following questions:
What organization owns the website?
Do you know anything about this organization already?
What can you learn about the organization? (Although it’s okay to start with something like the “About” page, you also need to go outside the site!)
What sources did you use to learn about the organization? How do you know that these are good sources?
The easiest way to cite these sources is with hyperlinks. Review the following FAQ for help: How should I craft my hyperlinks?
How do you think the website’s owner influences the information provided by the website?
Do you think that this is a good website to use to learn more about your topic? Explain. How do you think that this website compares with that of the other source(s) that you have found?
Post a paragraph in which you introduce your fact-checking source (title, author and/or sponsor), and provide your answers to these six questions (minimum 150 words)
STEP 4 Reflect on your findings (minimum 250 words):
As per Course Policies on AI Useyou must NOT use generative AI on reflective writing in this class.
First, discuss the fact(s) that you are checking and what your new source says about these facts.
Second, evaluate your fact-checking source. Discuss at least two points from the lateral read or the checklist and explain why they help you to have confidence in this source. Provide specific concrete details from the text to demonstrate its credibility.
Third, discuss what you found by thoroughly answering the following guiding questions.