WebQuest

Conducting Research: Fact or Opinion?

Task 2: Reliability of Sources

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Have you ever heard of Area 51?  Some people think that it is a secret place where aliens are kept!  Is this true? 

Many times we hear information from other people and take it as fact, when in reality it is simply their opinion.  In science, there are many questions that we still do not know the true answers to.  This is where it is extremely important to be able to discern fact from opinion.  Remember that SCIENCE DOES NOT TEST OPINIONS!!!!  We can only use scientific research to find answers to testable questions, which we call hypotheses.  Let's do a bit more practice before we get into actual research.

1.  Click on the "Area 51 Fact or Opinion" weblink below.  Print ONE copy of the pdf file (please only hit the print button ONCE).  Follow the directions and complete all questions.  You will need to turn this in at the end of class.  When you are finished, return to the WebQuest to complete the next activity.

Now you should be pretty good at determining what is fact and what is opinion.  Let's take a look at reliability of sources on the internet next!  Follow the steps below to continue your journey:

2.  Click on the "Evaluating Internet Research Sources" weblink below.  Don't be overwhelmed...this page has a lot of information, but this is where the good stuff is!  Take your time, read through the information, and pay special attention to the section about the CARS method.  In your Science Journal, take notes about CARS.  You will need this information for your research in the future.  When you are finished, return to the WebQuest to complete the next activity.

3.  Click on the "Printable Criteria Rubric" weblink below.  You will need to print THREE copies of this worksheet.  Once your print your copies, please return to the WebQuest to complete the next activity.

4.  Click on the "Example Articles" weblink below.  You will be examining three articles and using the criteria rubrics that you printed just a moment ago to determine the reliability of the articles found online.  We will be looking at only the first three articles (those in set one about tobacco).  Click on the first article ("The Role of the Media in Tobacco Control").  Read the article and complete a criteria rubric for this article.  Be sure to write the name of the article at the top.  When you are finished with the first article, click on the next link ("Health Hazards of Tobacco:  Some Facts") and complete a new criteria rubric.  Do the same thing for the third article ("Secondhand Smoke:  The Big Lie").  You will need to turn in all three completed criteria rubrics at the end of class.  When you are finished, return to the WebQuest to complete the final task (go to Task 3).

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