Let’s finish with our arsonist birds example. We’ve already verified the reporting source is reliable, the research source is good, and the expertise cited is relevant.

Now (and only now!) are we ready to read the article.

So let’s read the article, and read the abstract of the paper. This will take some time, so do it now. When done you can indicate this to you instructor by putting you laptop lid halfway down.

Now that you have read both, note what the paper says and covers and compare it to what the reporting source covers. Are the fact of the news story correct? Are there elements of the work the news story leaves out?

Note too what the Facebook card displays.

birds2

Are the story and headline true? In what ways does a person reading just the Facebook card get the correct impression of the research? In what ways do they not?

After you have entered your answers in the comments, you can continue on to the final discussion.