In this team discussion, you will strengthen your critical thinking skills by examining and evaluating conspiracy theories and misinformation from the fact-checking site Snopes.comLinks to an external site..
Step 1: Take at least 15-20 minutes to browse Snopes.comLinks to an external site., examining some of the conspiracy theories, urban legends, and other misleading claims they have evaluated.
Select the “Latest” tab at the top of the page to see the most recent fact check articles.
Select “Top” at the top of the page to see the fifty articles most frequently viewed.
Select “Collections” for links to fact-check articles by topic.
Step 2: In an initial post of at least 100 words, write a short summary of one fact checking article you examined. Briefly describe the claim that was fact-checked and the conclusion of the article. Then answer the following questions.
When you first considered the claim being fact checked in the article you read, were there any warning signs that made you suspicious of the claim? If so, what were they?
How did Snopes evaluate the truth of the claim you examined? What evidence did they use to confirm or debunk it?
What (if any) concepts from this class could you use to evaluate the truth of the claim?
Step 3: Reply to at least two of your team members. In your replies, discuss your own initial reactions to the claim they read about. Did you see any warning signs when reading about the claim? What concepts from this class could you use to evaluate the claim’s truth or falsehood?
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