Types of Sources

All I Want for Christmas is

Media Literacy Skills

Name of Source Type of Information Location Aids within the Source

Dictionary •DefinitionPronunciationSpellingOrigin of wordUsage(part of speech)

Alphabetically arrangedGuide words

Encyclopedia •Articles with brief overviews of a topic•Study guides or questions•Visual aids like pictures, maps, charts

•Alphabetically arranged; some arranged in topics•Index•Guide words•Cross References

Almanac •Facts on government, geography,astronomy, weather, countries, etc.Statistics on industry, agriculture, population, entertainment, sportsRecent information sectionPublished yearly

Table of contentsIndex

Atlas •Bound collection of maps•Maps contain latitude and longitude coordinates•Historical maps

•Table of contents•Index

Common Reference Sources

Name of SourceType of Information Location Aids within the Source

Newspaper Provides information on current events Contains other types of info such as sports, classifieds, etc. Produced weekly or daily

•Table of contents

Periodical(Magazines, Journals)

Smaller bound articles about current events; written by many authors Published weekly, monthly or quarterlyUsually highly illustrated(magazines)

Table of contents

Manual/Handbook •Information that can be used as instructions

•Table of Contents

Thesaurus •Dictionary of synonyms and antonyms •Alphabetically arranged•Guide words

Index •List of topics and the page or book where the info can be found•Purpose is to help locate info

Alphabetically arranged

Comparison

Primary Secondary

something that originates from the past

something that has been made recently about the past

present during an experience or time period

Interprets ,describes and analyzes primary sources

offer an inside view of a particular event

may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them

are one or more steps removed from the event, or information they refer to, being written after the fact with the benefit of hindsight.

Specific Examples

journals

diaries

interviews

E-mail

manuscripts

advertisements

pamphlets

personal narratives

sources

speeches

letters

artifacts

photographs

film

video

music

works of fiction

textbook

biographies

commentaries

dictionaries and encyclopedias

handbooks and data compilations

history

indexing and abstracting tools used to locate primary & secondary sources

journal articles

newspaper and popular magazine articles (may also be primary)

review articles and literature reviews

works of criticism and interpretation

Primary Secondary

Evaluation of Print

Author’s Purpose1.Persuade2.Inform3.Entertain

P (persuade)

Persuade means to try to convince someone to think the same way you do.

Use propaganda techniques to convey message.

Examplesadvertisements, newspaper editorials, junk mail,

posters

I (inform)

Inform means to give someone information about something.

Called expository writing and includes technical writing.

Examples news reports, research papers, encyclopedias, school news letters, instructions, pamphlets from health clinics, maps, timelines, schedules, charts, graphs

E (entertain)

Entertain means to amuse someone.

Creative writing is used to convey message.

Examples fictional stories, comics, poems, jokes, riddles

Fact or Opinion?

1. According to sales records, PS3 is the worst selling of all computer game consoles.

2. Therefore, we can conclude that PS3 is the least popular computer game consoles.

3. This is because PS3 does not have easy to use hand held devices.

FactsFacts are statements that can be proven.

Facts may be true or false.

But facts can be proven.

Examples

1. Statistically, women live longer than men.

2. Most buses weigh more than most cars.

3. There are ten inches in a foot (false).

Opinions

Opinions are statements that cannot be proven.

Opinions can be argued.

Opinions may be supported with facts.

Opinions cannot be proven.

Examples

1. Golf is boring.

2. Pizza is delicious.

3. Math is the hardest subject.

Bias

Subjective information is one person's opinion. In a newspaper, the editorial section is the place for subjectivity. It can be based on fact, but it is one person's interpretation of that fact. In this way, subjective information is also analytical.

Objective information reviews many points of view. It is intended to be unbiased. News reporters are supposed to be objective and report the facts of an event. Encyclopedias and other reference materials provide objective information.

The CARS Checklist for Research Source Evaluation

Credibility• trustworthy source, author’s credentials(training,

education, job), no grammar or spelling issues, known or respected authority, organizational support, contact information

Accuracy• up to date, factual, detailed

Reasonableness• fair, balanced view, makes sense with what you already

know

Support• listed sources, claims supported, references cited

Optional: Design and Technology

• Are the pictures relevant and clear?

• Are the pages easy to maneuver?

• Have the colors been chosen well?

• Do the links work?

• Does the page load relatively quickly?

Internet URL

Internet URL

Internet Evaluationhttp://www.ag.auburn.edu/hort/landscape/christmastreehistory.html

http://www.christmastree.org/myths.cfm

http://blog.heritage.org/2011/11/08/obama-couldnt-wait-his-new-christmas-tree-tax/

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/holiday-seasonal/treefire.shtm

http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=296&URL=Safety%20Information/For%20consumers/Holidays/Christmas%20tree%20fires&cookie%5Ftest

http://www.goebelfarms.com/Christmas/care.htm