Fact Check Essay Prompt

Prof. Ingalsbe 

Min. Word Count: 1000

Min. Source Count: 1 news or opinion article + 2 other credible (scholarly or non-commercial) sources to confirm or refute its claims

Prompt:

• Select an online article (primary text) related to current events or issues in the world and conduct background research on its information and claims. 
• Use at least two relevant, credible sources (supporting texts) to confirm, refute, or complicate the claims of your primary text. 
• Your primary text can be a news, opinion, or feature article from any online source, if it discusses a current issue. 
• Your two supporting texts must meet high standards for credibility, relevance, currency, and accuracy – they should be scholarly, peer-reviewed articles or come from a reputable organization or government source. 
• You will need to adequately justify why your two supporting sources qualify as being solidly credible. 
• Your essay must clearly assert an assessment of your primary text’s credibility, accuracy, purpose, and bias, based on what you find in the supporting texts, and cross-reference specific examples as evidence.

Grading Criteria:

• You summarize each source accurately and effectively, and explain and justify each individual source’s credibility 
• You explain how the supporting texts confirm, refute, or complicate the claims and characterization in the primary text, using at least 2 cross-references  
• You assert a clear assessment of the credibility, accuracy, purpose, and bias of the primary text. This message is prominent and consistent throughout the essay.
• Your essay is well-organized and free from citation, grammar, and other technical errors