Anatomy of an Issue: Your Turn!
What is an authoritative source?
What is an authoritative source?
Expertise = formal education in the subject, professional credentials
Expertise = formal education in the subject, professional credentials
Reputation = recognition as an expert by others in the field; research and writings are accepted by reputable publishers
Reputation = recognition as an expert by others in the field; research and writings are accepted by reputable publishers
Experience = has been involved in research and application projects related to the topic
Experience = has been involved in research and application projects related to the topic
Which of the following are the best choices for a parent to consult when their child has a high fever:
Which of the following are the best choices for a parent to consult when their child has a high fever:
- the other parents in the neighbourhood
- the other parents in the neighbourhood
- an online health website such as Dr. Oz
- an online health website such as Dr. Oz
- a online health site such as healthycanadians.gc.ca or ontario ehealth
- a online health site such as healthycanadians.gc.ca or ontario ehealth
- a doctor in a hospital or at a medical centre
- a doctor in a hospital or at a medical centre
The Canadian Encyclopedia is
The Canadian Encyclopedia is
- constantly updated
- constantly updated
- written by experts
- written by experts
- focussed on Canadian situations
- focussed on Canadian situations
- dependent on its reputation for accuracy and relevance
- dependent on its reputation for accuracy and relevance
A note about authority and accessibility
A note about authority and accessibility
The most authoritative sources are written at a very high level by researchers with at least one university degree. These articles can be 20-30 pages long and written with very technical vocabulary. In grade 9, we do not expect you to use these sources. What we want is for you to find sources that base their articles on the most authoritative sources. Look for journalists or writers who specialize in the topic areas and who have interviewed experts or have used experts.
The most authoritative sources are written at a very high level by researchers with at least one university degree. These articles can be 20-30 pages long and written with very technical vocabulary. In grade 9, we do not expect you to use these sources. What we want is for you to find sources that base their articles on the most authoritative sources. Look for journalists or writers who specialize in the topic areas and who have interviewed experts or have used experts.
- written by subject specialists
- written by subject specialists
- dependent on reputation for relevance and accuracy
- dependent on reputation for relevance and accuracy
- affiliated with Royal Canadian Geographic Society, a research institution
- affiliated with Royal Canadian Geographic Society, a research institution
Government Sources
Government Sources
- depend on reputation for quality
- depend on reputation for quality
- use taxpayer money to fund research that Canadians can trust
- use taxpayer money to fund research that Canadians can trust
- use expert writers to make research reports accessible for most reading levels
- use expert writers to make research reports accessible for most reading levels
Newspapers vs. News Magazines
Newspapers vs. News Magazines
Newspapers
Newspapers
- focus on immediate, current events
- focus on immediate, current events
- reporters can be assigned any topic
- reporters can be assigned any topic
- have very short timelines
- have very short timelines
- do not allow for in-depth research
- do not allow for in-depth research
- do not allow for extensive fact-checking
- do not allow for extensive fact-checking
Magazines
Magazines
- focus on topic areas
- focus on topic areas
- journalists often specialize in specific subject areas
- journalists often specialize in specific subject areas
- have much longer timelines
- have much longer timelines
- develop topics with much more depth
- develop topics with much more depth
- more time for fact checking
- more time for fact checking
Caution: Not all magazines are good sources. Over time, you will learn which ones have excellent reputations.
Caution: Not all magazines are good sources. Over time, you will learn which ones have excellent reputations.
Canada's national magazine of politics and culture
Canada's national magazine of politics and culture
try searching using SITE-SPECIFIC SEARCH
try searching using SITE-SPECIFIC SEARCH
Canada's national newsmagazine
Canada's national newsmagazine
Do NOT just pick the first search result
Do NOT just pick the first search result