Research 101

To-Do List

• Facts and Opinions
• Evaluating Evidence
• Crafting Arguments

The Breakfast Dilemma

Beyond a reasonable doubt...

When does something become a fact?

• objective investigation (try to be neutral)
• verifiable (observations are independently confirmed)
• carefully confirmed (scientific investigation)

Gravity

... a statement well supported by evidence.

The Earth is Flat

Opinion

Who was the first person verified to reach the North Pole?

Robert Peary?

The Hot Hand

A person who experiences a successful outcome with a random event has a greater probability of success in further attempts...

You are not entitled to an opinion.

Library Girl's

Look for...

• author
• domain
• triangulation
• quotes and images

Author

• Is there an author listed?
• Is there an "about" page?
• What can you learn from the author's other books?

Domain

• Does the url end in a common domain like .com?
• Does the website have lots of advertisements?

Triangulation

• Can you find other reputable sources making the same claim?

Quotes and Images

• Are the sources for words and images cited?
• Are the quotes verifiable?

www.therealnewsonline.com

www.si.edu

Celestial Teapot

What is asserted without evidence