Resources for Controversial Issue
Click the Arrow next to the Step to see the resources available.
Watch this quick video for an overview!
Step 1: Understanding Bias, Misinformation and Disinformation
When researching controversial issues, there is always going to be information that contains bias, misinformation and disinformation in an attempt to sway the opinion and minds of the researcher. Therefore, it is important to understand the way information is presented in order to find the best sources available.
- NearPod Understanding Online Information
- Lateral Reading Challenge Google Form
- Watch Why do our brains love fake news? 5 min video
- Play the Game: Identifying Fake News: Factitious 15 min activity
- Listen to this Presentation Part 1 30 min activity (Entire presentation here with links)
- Listen to Part 2 Fake News Presentation (here is the link to the Google Presentation)
- Complete this Fake Information Quiz to check your understanding 10 min activity
- Watch Why Do So Many People Share and Believe Fake News? 6 min video
- Play the Game Bad News to become a Fake News Tycoon, and Complete this Worksheet to understand the 6 Tenants of Bad Information 30 min activity
- Watch and Complete the Questions using EdPuzzle. Use your school Gmail account. Go to this link https://edpuzzle.com/open/apiubde and then open the video Crash Course #1 Navigating Online Information and The Facts about Fact Checking- Crash Course 30-40 min activity
Optional
- Play the Game: Think Before You Share
Step 2: Understanding Argumentative v. Persuasive Writing
Use these resources to understand argumentative v. persuasive writing. While Controversial Issues may be written about in both types of writing, the stronger form (ie. more convincing form) of writing is argumentative.
- Watch this Argumentative v Persuasive quick video
- Review this handout: Argumentative v. Persuasive
- Review this: Argument v Persuasive Cheat Sheet
Step 3: Picking a Controversial Issue Topic and Creating a Working Thesis
Some topics work better for argumentative writing than others. For example, Climate Change has all the facts on one side. According to NASA, 98% of the world's climate scientists have factual evidence to show that climate change has increased and is a danger due to the planet due to man-made activity. However, it is arguable what to do about climate change. A strong argument could be made for outlawing the production of beef. Others believe electric cars are the answer. There are scientific studies to show the benefits of both.
The most important thing to remember is to pick a topic you are interested in researching.
- Review the following lists of possible topics: Facts on File 50 Argumentative Topics
300 Questions and Images to Inspire Argument Writing - Use this handout to help you write a thesis: Thesis Statement Handout
Step 4: Finding and Evaluating Credible Sources
Your entire argument rests on finding credible sources for your research. Use the following resources to learn how to evaluate sources and then where to find different types of resources.
Learn More with this Nearpod on Sourcing your Information
- Find a book in the library: Library Catalog link and Watch How to Use the Library Catalog Video
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Mining Wikipedia (but not using it as a source)
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Databases have primary & secondary sources: AHS Library Databases Log-in Info
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Escolar: Britannica School content in Spanish. Help Video
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Facts on File Issues and Controversies: Reference materials include quick facts, articles, primary and secondary sources. Help Video Log-in Info
Check Your News Sources for Bias using AllSides Media.
Sources in the middle LCR are great. Sources on the far left or far right may be too biased for use in a research paper.
Sources in the middle LCR are great. Sources on the far left or far right may be too biased for use in a research paper.
Step 5: Creating a Works Cited
- Noodletools is a Citation Creator that will build your Annotated Bibliography. It is free to all students through their school Gmail accounts. Go here to access Noodletools and here to learn how to use it and cite different sources.
- OWL Purdue also has tips for citing sources
Step 6: Putting it all together in an Outline, Essay, or Speech