Introduction
Have you ever wondered about the news? Do you ever feel like they are actually telling the lies and covering it up as the "truth"? How about the news on the internet or cable? Do you ever feel like the news you absorb has a low key bias or political outlook, but still believe it anyway? If this strikes your attention then this project will surely surprise you! Here is our main essential questions:
-How do I find the truth in this crazy world?
-How certain can I ever be about anything?
-What is it about conspiracy theories that makes them so appealing?
-How do I find the truth in this crazy world?
-How certain can I ever be about anything?
-What is it about conspiracy theories that makes them so appealing?
Hitler Escaped His "Suicide" Conspiracy Theory
This conspiracy seemed TOTALLY possible! I was hyped to prove my class wrong and ease their healthy skepticism. I've seen Hunting Hitler I really believed he escaped the bunker in Berlin, Germany. I was passionate about it, so I decided to research on this theory.
Let me tell you, this theory lacked major written evidence. Hunting Hitler was credible enough to me in my head. The problem was, how am I suppose to display the "evidence" to my fellow classmates if the sources weren't listed? It was incredibly hard for my hardcore beliefs to cloud my judgement. We based our research on credible new sources who don't seem like blogs to scare you into believing Hitler was in Spain living his days till he died of old age. It was difficult to find a news source based on pure evidence than opinionated authors. By the end of this project I had to learn the hard way. This project shredded my beliefs strip by strip till I was left in paranoia. Every time I watch/read news I need to follow up on every detail. My past self really was fooled easily. Now? I think not.
Let me tell you, this theory lacked major written evidence. Hunting Hitler was credible enough to me in my head. The problem was, how am I suppose to display the "evidence" to my fellow classmates if the sources weren't listed? It was incredibly hard for my hardcore beliefs to cloud my judgement. We based our research on credible new sources who don't seem like blogs to scare you into believing Hitler was in Spain living his days till he died of old age. It was difficult to find a news source based on pure evidence than opinionated authors. By the end of this project I had to learn the hard way. This project shredded my beliefs strip by strip till I was left in paranoia. Every time I watch/read news I need to follow up on every detail. My past self really was fooled easily. Now? I think not.
Are You An Expert on Finding Fake News Websites & Articles?
Take a look at the picture below, do you think it is a fake or real website?
Wanna check out the full website? Click here
We were introduced to this website by our beloved teacher, Dr.P, without a clue that he wrote it himself. We said almost immediately that this website is fake and was made by him. Others say they've gotten vibes that this website is fake. It wasn't a good enough reasoning as to why you think it's fake. We recognized the website to be fake because of the following:
-The sources provided lead to a blog or a website that doesn't exist
-The pictures are misleading
-The author doesn't even exist
-This website was created on Weebly
We confronted Dr.P and he admitted that he personally created the website to fool us. Though he didn't do a very good job at it.
-The sources provided lead to a blog or a website that doesn't exist
-The pictures are misleading
-The author doesn't even exist
-This website was created on Weebly
We confronted Dr.P and he admitted that he personally created the website to fool us. Though he didn't do a very good job at it.
My Hoax Story
Originally in this project we wanted to spread a hoax around school. In the process of planning for it, we created possible stories to chose from. We partnered up and started writing hoaxes to share with the class. The way we created this idea was we took a look at our surroundings. We asked ourselves, what seemed believable enough that people will spread rumors about. Our school is located near wild life and reserves not mention the roaming our phones experience because of how close we seem to be to Mexico. Not only does the area we are located in have Border Patrol patrolling the area every morning there is a sketchy looking prison that only seems a couple hours walking distance apart. Knowing this information a bright idea lit up in our tiny little heads. It was a fun little article to write because we could cram lies in every corner of the article and almost no one would notice! My partner was a logical person and offered common sense to the article we were creating. The only difficult parts of written this hoax was coming up with a reasonable reason why this "inmate" would escape in the first place, how he did it, evidence we could proved to convince the reader, and the background information of the "inmate" that escaped.
My Story So Far
How do I personally feel about this project. Shall we continue it? Should we still hoax the entire school?
This letter reflects the Hoax project of fooling our entire school into believing something that isn't real. Our class grew concerned of how dangerous lies can become. How monstrous this made up hoax can harm a personal or reputation of a whole school. The media is a strong weapon that can brainwash many. This hoax project was a high risk. We had keep in mind that it could fail or be a success.
Police Report of Wilson: Murder or Suicide?
Being a detective on the sources you use
In this case study we learned how to use evidence and rules. This can help with the sources you absorb your sources from. By using the evidence provided and evaluating whether the sources are reliable. This can help you rate the news you read and tell if you can trust it or not. For example, you see a biased statement using a adjective that describes that person favorably. You might use that as a piece of evidence.
So what? What does this mean?
If an author uses bias adjectives this might mean that they show favorable behavior towards that personal.
This brings automatic suspicion. A news article should be neutral, not favoring a specific party in order to convince you to feel Pathos (Emotion) toward that something or someone. If your piece of evidence seems reasonable and had a clear rule it can help you evaluate who and what to trust.
So what? What does this mean?
If an author uses bias adjectives this might mean that they show favorable behavior towards that personal.
This brings automatic suspicion. A news article should be neutral, not favoring a specific party in order to convince you to feel Pathos (Emotion) toward that something or someone. If your piece of evidence seems reasonable and had a clear rule it can help you evaluate who and what to trust.
Life Pill that cures CANCER?!!
Those annoying ads that show up in the side or bottom of the screen
We learned about those internet ads that have absurd titles and offers. Or even those ads that sponsored a news article or video you might see. Some may be tempted to click on them. Whether it be the ads Logos (Logic), Pathos(Emotion), or even Ethos(Credibly). We decided to create our own. Our group created an ad about a pill that can cure anything. Cancer, sickness, viruses, etc. Seems hard to believe right? We pulled the strings of Ethos and Pathos the most to get people to "click" on our ad.
Fake News Olympics
Two classes against each other. Only one winner. Both striving to be fake news detector experts. Who will win?
Before I even start I want to say our class won! How you might ask? By detecting the most red flags that's how! Red flags are signs that help you detect and guide you into knowing if an article is fake or not. I contributed quite a lot in this article. I would say I wrote most of it and guided my team into completing it. I contributed with everything on the sheet like giving feedback, approving when asked for guidance, or formatting.
Final Fake News Story
I was scrolling down recent new on the website Snopes and found an article similar to mine. Snopes was fact checking the theory of the attempted assassination of George Washington by a tomato. The website concluded it was absolutely fake! I thought I can make people believe it is real. That's how my idea bloomed. I was going to make people believe he was actually threatened by a tomato.
Red Flags I included were:
-Bias adjectives against the cook
-This website is a copy (.co)
-This is sponsered content
-"Credible Sources" were blogs
-"Credible" Academic Figures are not even real
My article changed many times before this. Mainly grammar, spelling issues, and ways to make the article seem realistic. It first started without the "recent study discovered" and I learned that it has to be recent news. Relevant to news today.
We printed the articles and walked down the middle school.
My partner was a History lover and wasn't fooled easily. He didn't know about Native Advertising though. Not much people to therefore I was happy to teach him a new subject.
Red Flags I included were:
-Bias adjectives against the cook
-This website is a copy (.co)
-This is sponsered content
-"Credible Sources" were blogs
-"Credible" Academic Figures are not even real
My article changed many times before this. Mainly grammar, spelling issues, and ways to make the article seem realistic. It first started without the "recent study discovered" and I learned that it has to be recent news. Relevant to news today.
We printed the articles and walked down the middle school.
My partner was a History lover and wasn't fooled easily. He didn't know about Native Advertising though. Not much people to therefore I was happy to teach him a new subject.
Exhibition
Imagine you are welcomed at the door by the smell of coffee, teas, and pastries. Discussions are buzzing in the air, people are reading articles. Little did you know those articles are fake and you are going to detect Red Flags you are told to find. You sit down, a student guides you throughout your experience and you leave with wisdom. Our purpose is to inform the public of fake bias news since the media is king. It is the future.
Excited yet nervous, I set up the tables and articles on the white boards. I made many memories with my parents and taught my mother something new. I remember her face when I told her about Native Advertising. Not much people are aware of the lack of transparency in your news stations or websites. Going over my article with guest was a process, but most understood and didn't need my guidance. My only feedback was to not give anything away, let the guest figure out the red flags.
If someone else were doing an exhibition like this, I recommend you don't have competition across the hall. We sold coffee but so did they. Tough on getting customers.
Excited yet nervous, I set up the tables and articles on the white boards. I made many memories with my parents and taught my mother something new. I remember her face when I told her about Native Advertising. Not much people are aware of the lack of transparency in your news stations or websites. Going over my article with guest was a process, but most understood and didn't need my guidance. My only feedback was to not give anything away, let the guest figure out the red flags.
If someone else were doing an exhibition like this, I recommend you don't have competition across the hall. We sold coffee but so did they. Tough on getting customers.