AUTHORITY
THE AUTHORITY IS CONSTRUCTED AND CONTEXTUAL
It depends on the origin, necessity, context. What authority is necessary? The context of a source of information, where it comes from, its audience, the format and how it is used, helps determine its authority and adequacy. Maintain an attitude of informed skepticism, but with an open mind.
Learning goals
Recognize that credibility can vary depending on the context and need for information.
Explain the importance of critically assessing the credibility of a source.
Identify how a credible source could be used for a particular need.
Support resources
A guide to finding credible sources for research projects and explaining why the sources are more credible than others.
Presentation that summarizes the concept threshold.
Use them according to your need!
Recommended activities
Ask students to look for multiple academic sources on the same topic, but have different positions. How do you think the authors came to different conclusions? Does it have to do with authority? Why?
Have students watch a blog, video, tweet collection, or some other type of social network regarding a contemporary event (e.g. demonstrations in Tahrir Square during the "Arab Spring" events). Ask them to describe how they would analyze and evaluate the authority of the author(s) of the information. Are there ways to determine whether the individual was a real witness or an event participant? Are there ways to identify whether the individual or group that developed the information collection has a particular political bias? Can you determine whether the author(s) have a particular status within the group they represent or if they report as a "common citizen"?
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