Importance of Internet and Media Literacy for Research Assignment

Defining internet and media literacy

While conducting the research paper unit (Unit 5) the importance of developing “internet and media literacy” was discussed. In the space below, define the terms “internet literacy” and “media literacy” in your own words. You may look up the definitions, then translate them into your own words to demonstrate understanding.

Now that you have defined internet and media literacy, consider the scenario below. After reading, give your written response to the prompt.

Scenario: A high school senior is assigned a topic on which they will need to research, write a paper, and give a presentation. The topic has to do with recent international human rights violations that are causing polarized political debates amongst Americans.

Prompt: Using complete sentences (not bullet points), explain how this student can search for credible and reliable sources online, with information that can be verified as truthful and legitimate (consider methods that class went over through unit 5 while you were conducting your own research, and resources that were shared with you to help make sure your own research sources were credible; review Unit 5 and the shared resources posted under Course Materials). Then, explain why it is important to find credible sources when conducting any kind of research. 

Your response must be at least one complete paragraph (with a minimum of five complete sentences) addressing all aspects and questions in the prompt above. Please give detailed explanations, and use proper grammar and spelling.

Now that you have defined internet and media literacy and addressed the importance of finding credible sources, consider the scenario below. After reading, give your written response to the prompt.

Scenario: A high school senior is assigned a topic on which they will need to research, write a paper, and give a presentation. The topic has to do with recent international human rights violations that are causing polarized political debates amongst Americans. While conducting their research, the student comes across a recent piece posted on a website called The Current Events Blog. A blog post from this website has gone viral, getting reposted, shared, and retweeted hundreds of thousands of times, and includes claims that some top political figures in the world are to blame for the recent human rights violations, causing outrage. The claims in the blog are shared without stating or citing any sources for the information.

Prompt: Explain whether or not the blog post from The Current Events Blog should be used in this student’s research paper and presentation; thoroughly explain why you feel the blog post should or should not be used. Then, explain the implications surrounding how information is shared in our modern world. Are there any pros or cons regarding the types of websites that show up while researching, and how quickly information (both factual and false) can be shared, affecting thousands of peoples’ opinions, emotions, and reactions?

Your response must be at least two complete paragraphs (with a minimum of five complete sentences per paragraph) addressing all aspects and questions in the prompt above. Please give detailed explanations, and use proper grammar and spelling.

Finally, explain the importance of using evidence to support your thoughts and analysis while completing a writing assignment, especially a research assignment based on word events. In your explanation, describe the proper way to use evidence. How should it be integrated into your writing? How should it be typed when using MLA formatting for evidence and quotes? Explain how using evidence in your writing assignments is an important skill that can be used in your life outside of school and after you have graduated high school; why should you always conduct research and find credible evidence when looking up information online, even if it is not for a school assignment?
Your response must be at least two complete paragraphs (with a minimum of five complete sentences per paragraph) addressing all aspects and questions in the prompt above. Please give detailed explanations, and use proper grammar and spelling.