Lesson: Determining Point of View

Lesson: Determining Point of View

Description

The purpose of this lesson is to teach students about the importance of determining point of view or bias of an information source in order to better evaluate the accuracy and usefulness of the information. By determining point of view, students will be able to identify inherent biases or limitations. (Students will be evaluating web sites but they need to understand that this skill applies to information from any source.)

Learning Outcomes I Suggested Procedure I Assessment for this Lesson

Materials for this Online lesson:

Computer with Internet access

Video projection device/screen

Source evaluation checklist: Checking for Point of View

Whiteboard/markers

Time allotment: 30 minutes

Grade Level: Grade 3 - 12

Information Literacy Standard:
2. The student who is information literate evaluates information critically and competently.

Learning Outcomes

Set up

Have projection screen set up

Have computer set up and internet connectivity established.

Write the following questions on the board:
1. Who is responsible for this information?
2. Does the author (person or organization) have an affiliation or mission that would influence the information?
3. Is there a reason to distort the information?
4. Does it seem as if the authors of the information are trying to persuade the user to believe as they believe?

Suggested procedure

Choose a topic. Examples given for this lesson are either Agriculture and Technology (grades 7-12) or Teeth (Grades 3-6). Teachers may use their own examples.

Project the web pages for your topic.

Agriculture and Technology

http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GEFood.asp
http://www.whybiotech.com/en/benefits/worldfood/con62.asp?MID=39

Teeth

http://www.healthyteeth.org/teeth.html
http://www.internz.com/walton/Room2/Teeth/teeth.html

Students and teacher should read the information on each page together.

Ask students what each page seems to tell them about the topic.

Click on the home page for each web site. If there is no direct link to a home page, have students see if they can click on links to determine what seems to be the sponsoring organization.

Ask students to try and identify the sponsoring organization. Can they tell if these organizations are trying to promote a particular belief?

Assessment

Have students independently evaluate other sources and complete the Source Evaluation Checklist: Checking for Point of View.

Last Lesson I Home I Next Lesson

This page was last updated March 21, 2002
This lesson was created to support the AT&T/UCLA Initiatives for 21st Century Literacies.
Determining Point of View was created by Judith Kantor