The information below was compiled by Dr. Robert Peralta, Center for Conflict Management, The University of Akron:
1.  Evaluate a News Website of your choosing, fill out the CRAP TEST form see below, and upload a pdf copy of the C.R.A.P. Test: Website Evaluation Checklist.

2.  WATCH THE VIDEOS/VISIT THE WEBSITES BELOW AND SUBMIT YOUR THOUGHTS ON EACH OF THESE. Write one paragraph “a” through “e” for a total of 5 paragraphs regarding what you learned for each item.  
 

a.       Why can't I use Wikipedia?  https://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/faq/can-i-use-wikipedia-my-assignments

b.       Visit this website on bias in the media:  https://www.adfontesmedia.com/?v=402f03a963ba 

c.       Visit this website and learn how to be news literate: https://newslit.org/get-smart/

d.       Check out the case study on Food Stamp Fraud:  https://callingbullshit.org/case_studies/case_study_foodstamp_fraud.html

e.       Galileo’s Battle Against Science Denial: galileo-battle-science-denial

A Note from The News Literacy Project:

 “Who believes in conspiracy theories, and why should I care?” To begin, conspiracy theories — as far-fetched as some might seem — can cause real harm. A May 2019 FBI intelligence bulletin, reported publicly last August, found that “fringe conspiracy theories” are linked with forms of domestic terrorism. Among the examples the FBI referenced was a claim that the United Nations is “being used by an evil global cabal to erode American sovereignty, strip away individual liberties, and bring foreign troops to American soil in order to replace democracy with global tyranny.”

You might think you are too savvy to fall under the sway of a conspiracy theory, but it turns out almost anyone can buy into them. There is encouraging news, however: People with greater news literacy skills are less likely to believe fringe theories.

According to a 2017 study, “News media literacy and conspiracy endorsement,” it’s not just “the proverbial nut job” who believes conspiracy theories; rational thinkers also fall for them. But the study also found that people who do not believe them are more likely to practice the same skills as those used in news literacy.

Learn more about the study’s findings on our website, where you also will discover tips and tools for becoming more news-literate, as well as quizzes to test your newly acquired skills.