Week 3 CRT 205

CRT 205: Critical Thinking : 

CRT 205: Critical Thinking Week 3: Critical Thinking, Writing, and Credibility

Overview : 

Overview Chapter 3 Week 3 Assignments

Chapter 3: Credibility : 

Chapter 3: Credibility

What Makes us Lower our Guard? : 

What Makes us Lower our Guard? Credibility – Sometimes who cares? People we trust Greed Prior knowledge Assumptions Desire Someone we know made it work Rumor Sensationalism Fatigue

Ways to Assess Credibility : 

Ways to Assess Credibility The claim Facts Support/evidence Sources of evidence/support Phrasing of support/evidence Presentation of support/evidence How recent is the information The source Who is making the statement Who is publishing/sponsoring the statement What is the author’s background Where and how is the information accessed What is the author know for Degrees of credibility Not all or nothing Best assessment: “more credible than X, less credible than y”

Credibility : 

Credibility Myths You can NOT size someone up by looking in their eyes – unless you are a human lie detector…then you need to go work for “intelligence” in the government Appearances LIE A handshake is not going to tell you much History is NOT everything

Credibility : 

Credibility Questions to ask: Claims Does this conflict with what I know to be a fact or background information? Does this conflict with personal observations? What tactics are being used to convince? Sources Education Experience/background – jobs, affiliated organizations, accomplishments Reputation Level of expertise Qualifications in the field

Credibility – The Media : 

Credibility – The Media How is the information being presented What is likely missing Is it distorted Is it slanted Is it true or fake Bias Affiliations Emotions Viewer interaction Sensationalism History

Credibility : 

Credibility Internet Be very selective Blogs Not credible for academics Wikis Not credible for academics YouTube, SoapBox, etc Be very selective Social networking sites Not credible for academics Radio Be selective Print Be selective Television Be selective

Advertising : 

Advertising Ads are used to “SELL” something, not to inform! What goes into an ad? Fears Desires Common assumptions Common points of disbelief Emotions LOTS of research CAREFUL presentation INTENTIONAL actions Ads may not even look like ads (i.e. product placement, endorsements)

Advertising : 

Advertising Ask yourself What is being sold What do I have to loose by “buying” into what I am being told What is the seller doing to manipulate me How can I prove or disprove the claims What emotions, desires, needs, etc are being activated What is missing

Week 3 Assignments : 

Week 3 Assignments

Week 3 Assignments : 

Week 3 Assignments CheckPoint 1: Argument Credibility Find an ONLINE video or print news story No Google Videos, YouTube, or SoapBox No tabloids Claims have to be made in the story. Use the Week 3 CheckPoint 1 Worksheet located in the Course Materials forum under “Worksheets, Forms, and Appendices” “Week 3” Provide a working link, your classmates and I will need it Need help finding a story? Try one of these: http://www.foxnews.com/ http://www.pbs.org/newshour/ http://www.cnn.com/

Week 3 Assignments : 

Week 3 Assignments CheckPoint 2: Argument Credibility Peer Review NOTE this is a “blind” peer review – you will not know whose paper you get Use the Week 3 CheckPoint 2 Worksheet in the Course Materials forum under “Worksheets, forms, and appendices” “Week 3” BEFORE you read your classmate’s work you need to watch or read their story Use constructive feedback Use detail to support your statements Provide examples of corrections you would make if it will help make your point

Week 3 Assignments : 

Week 3 Assignments Assignment: Analyzing Credibility You MUST use the CNN clip and a singular advertisement from 1 of the links listed CAREFULLY follow directions Part I: This is referring to both the CNN clip and the advertisement, you have to answer for each separately Part II: This is ONLY about the CNN clip Part III: This is ONLY about the advertisement you selected Use the Week 3 Assignment Worksheet in the Course Materials forum under “Worksheets, forms, and appendices” “Week 3”

Recap : 

Recap Post assignments as indicated in the threads located in your individual forum titled by week: Week 1 Assignments Week 2 Assignments Week 3 Assignments Etc If you have questions of a personal nature use the “Questions and Answers” thread in your individual forum Use the worksheets when provided