Competency
In this project, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following competency:
Examine assumptions and biases within arguments
Scenario
You work as the research librarian in charge of vetting new resources that will be added to the collections of the Lamson Research Library. In this role, you are mindful of the fact that providing objective sources for your patrons is important to the credibility of your organization. Today, people are bombarded with an enormous amount of information that may not always be factual, verifiable, or unbiased. Because promoting media literacy is essential to having a well-informed society, you have selected three articles that demonstrate some level of bias and assumption for them to read. Once the patrons review these articles, they will need to write a periodical analysis examining the level of bias and assumption present in them. By completing this analysis, they will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of the overall credibility of a source, and they will fine-tune their skills in discerning a relatively objective source from a very biased one.
Media bias word cloud
Directions
After carefully reading each of the three articles provided below, complete a written periodical analysis for each article. You will be expected to identify and examine examples of bias and assumption in each of these articles. Additionally, you will need to comment on how language is used to sway the reader’s thinking, and whether or not this significantly impacts the validity of each article. As you write your responses, be sure to address all of the guiding questions that are listed at the top of the Periodical Analysis document in the Deliverables section. Each of the analysis documents you write will need to be 300–500 words in length and make reference to specific parts of each of the articles. You may include direct quotes from the articles with appropriate in-text citations. (See the Citing Your Sources website in the Supporting Materials section for more information on citations.) Be sure to use correct grammar, spelling, writing conventions, tone, and style to suit your audience.
Eyeglasses on top of a stack of newspapers
Read these three articles:
Article One: Trump Travel Ban Makes America Less Safe: Ex-Top Security, State Officials
Article Two: Peer Reviewers Less Likely to Be Women
Article Three: Think You’re Not Biased? Think Again
After carefully reading each article, complete a written (300- to 500-word) periodical analysis of each article. Use the Periodical Analysis document in the Deliverables section: There should be three Periodical Analysis documents completed in total.
Consider the amount of bias and assumption in each article.
Consider how any bias or assumption impacts the credibility and validity of the information presented in the article.
Be sure to include responses to all of the guiding questions listed at the top of the Periodical Analysis document in your written responses.
Be sure to cite all sources you have used to research this topic. For helpful information on how to cite sources using APA formatting, review the Citing Your Sources website in the Supporting Materials section.