2012 FINAL EXAM: CONSPIRACY THEORY
Dr. Carolyn Fortuna
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Print your Final Exam Word file when you're done. Also, load it on your own Google website.
Seniors may not leave the exam until the end of the period. Please do not talk. Good luck!
SECTION I. Reading, Interpretation, and Incorporating Sources
Worth 50 points
In this section, you will demonstrate your researching skills by:
1. reading a non-fiction article;
2. interpreting it in writing;
3. supporting your interpretation with in-paper citations;
4. designing a Works Cited page.
Process:
Choose one article that you would like to read in the section that follows (titled "PART I. ARTICLES TO EXAMINE) that is a good way for you to demonstrate “reading, interpretation, and incorporation sources.”
Read the article.
Write a paragraph of interpretation of the article, including each of the following criteria.
Read each criterion carefully.
SECTION I. ARTICLES TO EXAMINE
Conspiracy Theory Doesn't Slow Child Care Law from The Colorado Springs Gazette
Does It Take One to Know One? New Research Reveals Conspiring Conspiracy Theories from Science News
Plastic in 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' Has Increased 100-Fold
UFO Incidents at U.S. Nuclear Missile Facilities
Weeding out of corporate psychopaths
SECTION II. Analyzing for Validity/ Authenticity/ Reliability
In this section, you will demonstrate your evaluation skills by:
1. surveying the elements of a website;
2. identifying which elements are valid, authentic, and reliable and which are not;
3. analyzing why particular elements contribute to the reliability of a website;
4. writing a synthesis paragraph.
Process:
Choose one website that you would like to analyze in the section below (titled “PART II. COMPARING AND ANALYZING WEBSITES”) that is a good way for you to demonstrate “analyzing for validity/ authenticity/ reliability.”
Review the website.
Analyze the website, including each of the following criteria.
Write a synthesis paragraph that draws the most important ideas of your template together (4-7 sentences maximum).
Comparing and Analyzing Websites
Name three differences in headlines in the various articles on the website you’ve chosen.
a)
b)
c)
As you look around at the web pages on which the articles are placed, what do you notice about labels, adjectives, and verbs? Are any of them emotionally-charged? Describe them.
a)
b)
c)
Name three ways in which the advertisements differ on the web pages on which the articles are placed.
a)
b)
c)
Which sources are quoted? Which sources are not quotes? Hypothesize why those particular sources are not quoted.
What non-male, non-white authors, voices, or sources do you find in the stories?
Compare photographs and photo captions to the news stories connected with them.
Are there any elements in the news stories that seem the opposite of common sense? If so, why?
How does the sequencing of ideas impact the overall effect of the different stories?
What is the most surprising, interesting, alarming, inspiring, or incredible thing you take away from analyzing this website and its various articles and pages?
Is this website credible? Give this website a Grade of Credibility (A, B, C, D, F)
Afterward, write a synthesis paragraph that draws the most important ideas of your template together (4-7 sentences maximum).
SECTION II. WEBSITES TO EVALUATE FOR RELIABILITY
Declassified: Operations Northwoods