5C FOCUS Evaluating credibility


When we say something is ‘credible’, it means we trust the source and the information.


1 Before reading an article, it is useful to put it into context. Use the internet to research the author and the newspaper, magazine or blog the article appears in.


4 5


Do some follow-up research on the article in 3. Find out information on the author and check any facts and figures presented in the article. Are the article and the author credible?


Look at four excerpts from online blogs. In pairs. Discuss why the author chose to use the highlighted words. Then match each excerpt with a feature of bias.


a b c d


Despite attempts by experts to explain the science, you still hear members of the government claim that this is not caused by human activity.


… anyone with common sense can see what’s happening …


… and they have promised that 500 ‘affordable’ homes will be built this year.


… the public have been brainwashed and it’s a tragedy.


Features of bias in articles


1 Writers often use strong words to create emotion in the reader.


2 Writers carefully choose words because of what they imply. They may use two words that seem similar but have different implications.


3 Look out for certain words and phrases in ‘scare quotes’. This is the writer’s way of showing they doubt the validity of something. c


4 Writers often try to identify with their readers by pulling them into a group.


English for the 21st Century • Unit 5 79


2 While reading, make notes on the information (not the opinions). Think about what happened, who did it, where and when it happened, and why. Then look at your notes and ask yourself: What information is missing, for example, sources, witnesses and explanations?


3 After reading an article, do some follow-up research. Check facts and figures contained in the article and research any sources quoted, bodies, institutions, etc.


Expression


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