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ENGL 1020: Conspiracy Theories (Shifferd): Evaluating & Fact Checking

Evaluating Sources for Credibility

"Evaluating Sources for Credibility." North Carolina State University Libraries, published on YouTube 9 June  2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLTOVoHbH5c.
CC-BY-NC-SA 3.0 US license

Fact Checking Sites

Fact-checking websites can help you investigate claims to help you determine whether what you hear or read is true. These resources can help you determine the legitimacy of a claim, but even fact-checking websites should be examined critically. 

Try It Yourself!

Stay Alert for Fake News

Fake news isn't always easy to spot. Be prepared to fact-check claims that you come across, and pay attention to where the information is coming from. 

Use the tips on this page to learn how to identify bias as well as how to evaluate news articles and sites.

How to Spot Fake News

How to spot fake news: 1. Consider the source. Click away from the story to investigate the site, its mission and its contact info. 2. Read beyond. Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What's the whole story? 3. Check the author. Do a quick search on the author. Are they credible? Are they real? 4. Supporting sources? Click on those links. Determine if the info given actually supports the story. 5. Check the date. Reposting old news stories doesn't mean they're relevant to current events. 6. Is it a joke? If it's too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author to be sure. 7. Check your biases. Consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgement. 8. Ask the experts. Ask a librarian, or consult a fact-checking site. This infographic was created and used with permission by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.

CRAAP* Test

Other Fact Checking Tools

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