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Biol 1102L-A, Lab 3, P. 2

Biol 1102L-A

Lab 3: Information Literacy and Analysis of News Stories on the Environment

(Individual Lab, but working with partner)

Oral presentations in class, August 31, 2021

Report due via D2L September 7, 2021

In this lab, you will utilize skills you are developing around information literacy to summarize and analyze a news story on an environmental topic. You will want to read the Information Literacy Overview document on D2L (General Resources) before beginning this assignment (as well as Lab 2). You will do this assignment in teams of two students, so you will want to identify a partner to work with the week of August 23.

The assignment is as follows. Find and read/view several news articles/pieces from the news media (e.g. from magazines, newspapers, transcripts of radio or TV stories, online or in traditional format) about an environmental issue, and decide on a topic you both want to focus on. The topic can entail any aspect of environmental science (e.g. research, pollution or other impacts on organisms, etc.). Note that the articles should be news articles from news organizations, rather than opinion pieces, blogs, or some other type of information. Once you have decided on the topic, pick two different news articles that address the same general topic/issue. Each person will then prepare a report with two parts: first, a written summary and second, your analysis of the article.

Your summary should include:

1. The author, article title, publication, date, and Web site (if relevant) – complete citation.

2. A summary of the article, including identifying the environmental science issue(s) involved, and any key institutions, organizations, agencies, companies, or individuals, etc. involved in the issue described in the article (e.g., government agency, company, environmental group, researchers at a particular college or university, etc.) (1-2 paragraphs).

Your analysis should be based on the “CRAPP Test” referenced in the Information Literacy Overview document, addressing the following (where some example issues have been modified):

Criteria

Example Issues

Currency

· When published or last revised

· Consideration of whether your topic requires current information

Relevancy

· Depth and breadth of issues presented

· Appropriate language (e.g., not too technical)

· Article could help you in developing a research paper on the topic

Authority

· Is the news source well established and recognized?

· Is the reporter a science reporter, or otherwise with experience writing on similar issues?

· Are people with appropriate expertise or knowledge on the subject interviewed for the article?

Accuracy

· Is information provided supported by evidence?

· Are specific individuals cited, including with any affiliations?

· Would you be able to verify information presented by examining other sources?

Purpose

· Is it clear the piece is objective news?

· Are there any perspectives in the article that seem to be more opinion than statement of facts?

· Are diverse perspectives provided – e.g., researchers carrying out a study, and 1-2 other researchers not involved?

Once you have addressed points above, you will share your written findings with your teammate, and you can see how your two articles compare, in each of your assessments. Then you will both present a brief (e.g. approx. 4 minutes total) oral presentation of your summary and analysis of the articles in lab, on August 31. Your presentation can include mention of whether one article appears to do a better job of covering the issue, and why.

Then you will each upload your individual written summary and analysis to D2L (Assignments, Lab 3), by Tuesday, September 7. Make sure to have your name on your report, and indicate your partner who summarized and analyzed the other news story for the assignment.