Fact or Fiction? Student Handout/ Content Verification Form
- In the space below summarize the story or information that you'd like to check for scientific accuracy.
- Record the information you find online in the table below. Be sure to include at least three reliable web site sources.
Web Site Name and URL Web Site Author and Sponsor Expertise Copyright and Revision Dates Text and Data that Support or Refute the Science Information - Use the following criteria to help you determine whether the story or idea is fact or fiction, then fill in the blanks below.
Conclusion Source Criteria Fact - Authors, sponsors, or reviewers are experts in the field.
- Postings or updates are current enough for the topic.
- Information is from primary source, supported by data, or can be found at several other reliable resources.
Unclear
Need More Data
- No background information posted on the author or sponsor.
- Copyright and revision dates are not posted.
- Information is incomplete or comes from secondary or tertiary sources.
- Evidence that the author or sponsor may be bias.
- Information inconsistent with other reliable sources or cannot be confirmed.
Fiction
- Author is not an expert in the field.
- Evidence that the author or sponsor may be bias.
- Copyright and revision dates are not current enough for science topic.
- Information is suspect, inaccurate, or not from a primary source.
- Information cannot be confirmed or conflicts with information at reliable sources.
Your Conclusion:
I judge this story or piece of information to be ________________ for the following reasons:
The Integrating Technology into Science Instruction webpages project is partially funded by grants from The Boeing Company and The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. Integrating Technology into Instruction is a project of Target Science (target@laep.org) and is displayed on the Los Angeles Educational Partnership Learning Exchange. Target Science is an initiative of the Los Angeles Educational Partnership.
Updated July 2000