Finding Sources

USING A SEARCH ENGINE

Alright. I'm going to say it. You guys suck at using Google (or any search engine for that matter). How do we know? Well, when you're given a question you don't know, what do you typically do? You enter the entire question into Google and use just the tiny little blurb it spits out as your answer. This works, right? NOT!! You don't even put any thought into whether that might even be the correct response or not. 

This is so bad. It's a terrible way to find answer, let alone support anything you might be trying to write about. Because here's the thing: Google is not a source.

I'll say it again: Google is not a source!

When you're asked to support your writing with evidence from a source, Google doesn't count. It's a search engine. Not a source. Google gives you the sources; it is not a source itself. Please learn this and remember it forever.

For this lesson, you will look at specific ways to search Google that will give you more effective, reliable results.

Watch the video and pay attention to:



To help optimize your searches, take a look at this document (you can get a printed one from one of the teachers to put in your binder).

WHAT IS CREDIBILITY? IT IS...   = worthy of trust

If a source is credible, it is trustworthy. It's reliable. It's a source you would use with the confidence that it will support your argument in a good way.

It's not good enough to just have a source; it also needs to be a credible source. It needs to be reliable. 


SO WHAT IS CREDIBILITY OF A SOURCE?

Watch the Crash Course video and take notes. Try to answer these questions:

WHAT TO DO WHEN EVALUATING A SOURCE:

Check out this article and take notes on what you should consider when evaluating a source...

LET'S PRACTICE

Analyze the website  below and consider: What makes you think the website is or isn't...



www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bernese-mountain-dog/

burmesemountaindog.info/


So what should you look for when trying to find information that is trustworthy? 

You should look for information presented in an unbiased and honest way from someone who is experienced and knowledgeable on the topic. 

CHECK OUT THIS EXAMPLE...

If you've ever seen Harry Potter, you'll know that the newspaper is a common way to gather information from the Ministry of Magic. However, what did you learn about the media in the Crash Course? It's unreliable, right? And why is that again?

Did you notice, in the Harry Potter movies, the ministry spends several movies trying to prove that Voldemort has not returned? To do this, they publish many articles that prove Dumbledore is unfit and senile or Harry is a liar. It isn't until the end of the 5th movie/book that they actually see Voldemort and change their tune. 

The media is used to spread lies and manipulations to the public. Check out the images taken from the movie:

And why is this such a huge problem?

In the HP movies, we obviously know that Voldemort did return, and they wasted a huge amount of time denying it when they could have been preparing to defeat him once again. They used propaganda and media to push their agendas and try to lead the public into their own manipulations. And it worked!

So, in our own lives, how might the media manipulate people? Why is fact checking and considering the credibility of the media so important?

FINDING RELIABLE SOURCES.

Look through the slides and take notes on how to find reliable sources.

Reliable Sources for Research Writing

FINAL ASSESSMENT:



Ready to move on? Did you...