Assessing the Assessing the validityvalidity of of sourcessources

AimAim

To become a discerning reader To become a discerning reader (i.e. critical) and be able to judge (i.e. critical) and be able to judge

text’s credibilitytext’s credibility

Fact or opinion?Fact or opinion?

FACTFACT – –

Something which is Something which is universally (i.e. universally (i.e. everyone) accepted everyone) accepted to be truth and can to be truth and can be proved easily.be proved easily.

OPINIONOPINION – –

Something which is Something which is subjective (i.e. only subjective (i.e. only accepted by some accepted by some people), a person or people), a person or group of peoples’ group of peoples’ view on something. view on something. Cannot be proved.Cannot be proved.

How do we assess the How do we assess the validity of sources?validity of sources?

AUTHOR – who are they? What do we know about them? Do we trust them?

PURPOSE – why are they writing/creating this text? Could it have an ulterior motive?

CONTENT – what are they saying? Is it believable? What is the balance of facts and opinions?

OVERALL JUDGEMENT

On the whole, do we trust this source? If we don’t entirely trust it, does it mean it is totally useless?

Try for yourself – reading taskTry for yourself – reading task

1.1. Re-read the two articles – ‘Why Give.sRe-read the two articles – ‘Why Give.sg?’ and ‘Singapore charity scandal shook g?’ and ‘Singapore charity scandal shook donor confidence’donor confidence’

2.2. Consider the audience, purpose, content Consider the audience, purpose, content and make an overall judgement on the vand make an overall judgement on the validity of the text.alidity of the text.

Images & filmImages & film

We can apply the same principles to We can apply the same principles to image and film as to text images.image and film as to text images.

We need to be aware – who is the author? We need to be aware – who is the author? What is the purpose? What is the What is the purpose? What is the content? Do we trust it?content? Do we trust it?

We will now consider a series of images and We will now consider a series of images and film trailers to decide if they are valid and film trailers to decide if they are valid and

trustworthytrustworthy

Assessing the validity of filmAssessing the validity of film

Watch the two trailers for ‘Borat’ (about a Watch the two trailers for ‘Borat’ (about a man from Kazakhstan going to America) bman from Kazakhstan going to America) by Sasha Baren Cohen, a comedian and ‘Sy Sasha Baren Cohen, a comedian and ‘Supersize Me’ (about the negative effects of upersize Me’ (about the negative effects of McDonalds food) by Morgan Spurlock, a dMcDonalds food) by Morgan Spurlock, a documentary makerocumentary maker

Which is the more reliable film?Which is the more reliable film?

Documentaries…..and mockumeDocumentaries…..and mockumentariesntaries

A documentaryA documentary usually is based on facts usually is based on facts and shows a and shows a realistic portrayalrealistic portrayal of things….. of things…..however, the author may have an ulterior however, the author may have an ulterior motive in producing it, so it can become motive in producing it, so it can become bibiasedased e.g. Supersize Me e.g. Supersize Me

A mockumentaryA mockumentary is usually a mockery of is usually a mockery of a documentary, and relies on fictional situaa documentary, and relies on fictional situations and characters to present something tions and characters to present something which is not real e.g. Boratwhich is not real e.g. Borat

How valid is the view shown?How valid is the view shown?

1.1. The author is the Lonely The author is the Lonely Planet Guide to Africa – Planet Guide to Africa – who are they? Are they who are they? Are they trustworthy?trustworthy?

2.2. What might their What might their purpose be in using it?purpose be in using it?

3.3. What view of African What view of African children do you get from children do you get from the picture?the picture?

4.4. Do we trust this view?Do we trust this view?

How valid is the view shown?How valid is the view shown?

1.1. The author is the The author is the Newspapers Africa Newspapers Africa website – who are website – who are they? Are they they? Are they trustworthy?trustworthy?

2.2. What might their What might their purpose be in using purpose be in using it?it?

3.3. What view of African What view of African children do you get children do you get from the picture?from the picture?

4.4. Do we trust this view?Do we trust this view?

1.1. The author is Save the CThe author is Save the Children – who are they? hildren – who are they? Are they trustworthy?Are they trustworthy?

2.2. What might their purpose What might their purpose be in using it?be in using it?

3.3. What view of African chilWhat view of African children do you get from the dren do you get from the picture?picture?

4.4. Do we trust this view?Do we trust this view?

How valid is the view shown?How valid is the view shown?

What have we learnt about What have we learnt about judging the validity of sources?judging the validity of sources?

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