REVIEW KEY VOCABULARY
- Reading upstream — going right to original source of information to verify it
- Lateral reading — finding other credible sources that back up the a claim being made
- Missing context — a statement that is quoted or a photo or video that is used out of context or altered so that it seems to mean something different than what was intended
- Keyword search — words and phrases that users type into search engines to find information on a particular topic
- Click restraint — resisting the urge to immediately click on the first search result
FIVE FACTS ABOUT THE VIDEO
Watch the MediaWise Teen-Fact Checking Network (TFCN) video and answer the questions about zombie viruses being released from melting ice caps.
According to the video…
- What red flags indicate that you should fact-check information found online or on social media?
- What keyword search words or phrases were used to find a credible second source of information?
- What sources were used for lateral reading about the topic? Why are they reliable sources?
- What source was used to read upstream about the topic? Why is it a reliable source?
- What two pieces of important missing context about the ability of zombie viruses to infect humans did you discover by reading laterally and reading upstream?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
- Why is it important to pause before sharing information online that evokes strong emotions?
- What makes a good keyword search?
- How can you determine if a source from a keyword search is reliable and credible?
- Why is it important to practice “click restraint” when sorting through keyword search results?
- Why is it important to read laterally and read upstream to check for missing context?
IF YOU WANT TO GO DEEPER
- Watch this MediaWise TikTok and explain the difference between a “zombie virus” and a “zombie claim.”
- The MediaWise Teen-Fact Checker practiced “click restraint” when sorting through the keyword search results to select the most credible sources. Click on and read the “About” page of a source to check its reliability. The “About” link is usually at the bottom of the webpage or in the menu at the top. If people are cited, search for them online and read about their background. Find and click on the “About” page for each source and research the person cited in this fact-check. Summarize what makes each one seem reliable.
BACKGROUND READING LINKS
- NPR: Are there zombie viruses in the thawing permafrost?
- Scientific American: As Earth warms, the diseases that may lie within permafrost become a bigger worry
- Smithsonian Magazine: Scientists extract 15,000-year-old viruses from Tibetan glacier
- National Geographic: Ancient “giant virus” revived from Siberian permafrost
These lessons were developed by PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs in partnership with MediaWise and the Teen Fact-Checking Network, which are part of the Poynter Institute. This partnership has been made possible with support from Google.
