Skip to Main Content

SHS Learning Commons: Research Help

Lateral Reading

" Lateral reading helps you determine an author’s credibility, intent and biases by searching for articles on the same topic by other  writers (to see how they are covering it) and for other articles by the author you’re checking on. That’s what professional fact-checkers do."      News Literacy Project                                         

Lateral reading: To get the full picture, verify what you're reading as you're reading it.     

Research Models

 

  The Big6                          Inquiry Process Cycle (slide)               Information Search Process (Power Point)

  Purdue OWL (Purdue University 's Online Writing Lab) provides Writing & Research assistance 

Check out their citation style guides: MLA, APA, Chicago  

Noodletools

NoodleTools is a student research service that helps you write bibliographies and helps you correctly cite sources in MLA, APA, and Chicago styles. You can track your sources, take notes, create outlines, collaborate with classmates, and format and print your bibliography.

Login with your school gmail

 

 

S.I.F.T Information Evaluation Habits

Breaking News Checklist

"When big news breaks, it can be hard to cut through the noise and find accurate information. Misinformation thrives during times of war, natural disasters and upheaval — and bad actors often spread falsehoods for cheap engagement on social media."

News Literacy Project: checklist

 

This infographic offers six best practices to help you navigate fast-moving stories:

  1. Mind the gap: Keep in mind that there’s often a gap between what the public wants to know and the verified information available. Unconfirmed or completely bogus content often rushes in to fill that gap.
  2. Beware bad actors: Remember that bad actors often capitalize on breaking news situations to spread falsehoods for easy likes and shares.
  3. Do a quick search: This is often your best defense against misinformation.
  4. Look for evidence: Claims that make bold assertions but provide no links or other evidence should always be approached with caution.
  5. Seek credible sources: Be intentional about looking for credible news and not relying on social media algorithms to bring you updates.
  6. Practice patience: Quality journalism and verification take time. Be ready to follow news developments over time.

Remember: Early details in news reports may turn out to be incorrect, and it might take days or even weeks to untangle initial accounts in a major story. The last thing you want to do is add to the fog of confusion by sharing an unverified post or visual. Slowing down and following these tips can help keep you anchored as the story continues to unfold.