The purpose of this assignment is to apply critical thinking skills through analyzing two news articles written about the same event. You must use the knowledge and skills gained in class presentations to analyze the content of a news articles; summarizing their strengths and weaknesses and then determining which is the more reliable article (reliable meaning that the article focuses more on fact and less on opinion). This assignment is to be completed individually and submitted to your instructor as a typed document.
The news article pairings are below:
Option 1: Donald Trump says ‘women are tremendous’ after attack row (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33841820)
AND
Donald Trump: No apology on ‘blood’ remark amid GOP backlash (http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/09/politics/donald-trump-blood-comment-response-2016-sotu/)
Option 2: Bangladesh police kill six alleged tiger poachers (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33842615)
AND
Bangla Police kill 6 tiger poachers in Sundarbans (http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bangla-police-kill-6-tiger-poachers-in-sundarbans/article7519070.ece)
Option 3: Pancreatic cancer urine test hope (http://www.bbc.com/news/health-33738917)
AND
Urine test for pancreatic cancer a step closer (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/297621.php)
Assignment steps
1. Select one of the news article options from the list provided (there are two articles for each option).
2. Read the news articles and complete additional research if there is unfamiliar information in the articles you selected (i.e. the news article references a person and you would like to know what his/her job is).
3. Review each article for the 6 ways others can disguise opinions as facts.
4. Note which ways each article disguises opinions as facts, citing examples for each article. It is possible that not each way will be found in each article. If no examples for a specific way are found in an article, include this information in your written analysis.
5. Reflect on your findings and consider which article, based on your analysis, is the more reliable article.
6. Include your conclusion and the reasons for your conclusion in your analysis.
Evaluation Breakdown
Item Marks Allotted To Achieve Full Marks:
Summary of news articles 3 /1 You include a statement at the beginning of your analysis that states what event is discussed in your news articles.
/2 You provide a short explanation of the event discussed in your news articles.
Content of analysis 13 /2 You thoroughly identify which ways opinions may be disguised as facts in both articles
/8 You provide accurate examples that support all of the ways opinions may be disguised as facts that you identified for both articles
/1 You include a statement that identifies which article you feel is more reliable (focuses more on the facts and less on opinion)
/2 You provide at least two reasons to support your opinion of which is the more reliable article
Formatting 4 /2 Your analysis is free of spelling and grammar errors
/2 Your analysis includes headings to organize the content and this content is included under the appropriate headings (i.e. You may have headings for the summary, each way of disguising opinions as facts, and your conclusion)
