Misinformation and critical thinking

What You Will Learn: This Touchstone builds your skill using analytical strategies (also known as paragraph frames) like cause/effect, comparison, and definition, preparing you to write topic sentences, find evidence to support that claim, and improve the flow of your writing. Why It Matters: This assignment gives you the opportunity to practice the key skills of analysis and synthesis, including the strategic use of evidence, so you can apply those skills later in your final paper. Youll experiment with different analytical paragraph frames to help structure your ideas and clarify your thinking, which will improve the expository and persuasive writing you do in your professional and personal life. What You Will Hand In: A 23-page double-spaced document in .doc or .docx format that includes three complete analytical paragraphs, each using a different frame. Keys to Success: Select appropriate evidence from the provided excerpts. Match the evidence to the chosen analytical strategy/paragraph frame. Integrate and cite each source using APA in-text citation. Stay focused on analysis rather than summary. Use clear topic sentences and strong transitions between your ideas. Review the articles below, which are all about misinformation, disinformation, and critical thinking. Choose 13 to serve as your source material for this assignment. Summary: This infographic condenses fact-checking into eight quick tests so readers can judge a storys credibility before sharing. Source: International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. (2021, July 14). Fake news, propaganda, and disinformation: Learning to critically evaluate media sourcesSpot fake news [Infographic]. Cornell University Library. Summary: This article offers practical advice on developing critical thinking skills to navigate the overwhelming amount of information and misinformation in today’s digital age. Source: Very Big Brain. (2024, October 17). Critical thinking in the age of misinformation: How to stay smart in a noisy world. Summary: This research presents strategies for building resilience against misinformation by enhancing reasoning and critical evaluation of news content. Source: Musi, E., Carmi, E., Reed, C., Yates, S., & O’Halloran, K. (2023). Developing misinformation immunity: How to reason-check fallacious news in a human-computer interaction environment. Social Media + Society, 9(1), 1-18. Step 2: Select Three Analytical Strategies Choose three of the six analytical strategies listed below, for a total of three paragraphs. Analogy: Making the Unfamiliar Familiar Cause and Effect: Connecting Events and Outcomes Classification and Division: Breaking It Down Compare and Contrast: Highlighting Similarities and Differences Problem and Solution: Addressing Challenges Definition: Explaining What You Mean Review the tutorial Making Your Case for more details on how to use these strategies or paragraph frames. Step 3: Write One Paragraph for Each Analytical Strategy You Selected Each paragraph should: Begin with a clear topic sentence that is aligned with the strategy you are using in that paragraph. Remember, this is a claim that you are making and should not be a factual statement. Have a topic sentence that reflects the kind of analysis you are creating for the frame you chose. Incorporate evidence from the sources provided (you can use the same source for all three paragraphs, a different source for each paragraph, or any combination). Provide analysis that supports the paragraphs purpose. Include in-text citations in APA format for each paragraph. Be approximately 150200 words in length (which includes any in-text citations). Include a label with the strategy you are using in that paragraph. Step 4: Edit, Revise, and Submit Proofread your paragraphs. Confirm that each paragraph uses a different frame/strategy and follows APA guidelines. Include the name of the strategy with the paragraph that uses that frame. Submit your work as a single .doc or .docx file.