Comparative Source Analysis: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "This project begins with students collaboratively creating criteria for evaluating source credibility and then using that rubric in an individual comparison of sources to show how credibility can be assessed in different contexts. '''See details''' <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;""> <div class="mw-collapsible-content"> In this project, students work in small groups to develop a shared rubric for evaluating source credibility and then apply...") |
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This project | This project has students collaboratively create a source-credibility rubric and apply it in an individual comparison to demonstrate how credibility varies across contexts. | ||
'''See details''' | '''See details''' | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;""> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;""> | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | <div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | ||
'''Comparative Source Analysis''' is a collaborative process where students use prior experience with academic, popular, and digital sources to justify their credibility rubric. The project concludes with a reflection on collaboration, rubric design, source selection, and audience awareness, which makes up 50% of the final grade in the [[First-Year Composition]] curriculum at '''Northern Illinois University (NIU)'''. | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
=== '''Comparative Source Analysis | === '''Comparative Source Analysis Objectives''' === | ||
* Identify and apply criteria for evaluating source credibility | * Identify and apply criteria for evaluating source credibility. | ||
* Practice collaborative decision-making in rubric development | * Practice collaborative decision-making in rubric development. | ||
* Analyze credibility as part of the research process | * Analyze credibility as part of the research process. | ||
* Compare how different sources establish trustworthiness | * Compare how different sources establish trustworthiness. | ||
* | This project is connected to the [[ Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)]] through: | ||
* | *[[Comparative Source Analysis - Writing Process Reflection|Writing Process Reflection]] | ||
*[[Comparative Source Analysis - Transfer and Contextual Connections|Transfer and Contextual Connections]] | |||
*[[Comparative Source Analysis - Genre and Style Awareness|Genre and Style Awareness]] | |||
== Genres & Formats == | |||
* Comparative source analysis with reflection. | |||
* Group rubric, individual comparison paper, and written or multimodal reflection. | |||
= '''Rubric''' = | = '''Rubric''' = | ||
*''' | *'''Comparative Source Analysis''' | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:left;" | ||
| | |+ '''Grading Criteria: CSA''' | ||
! | ! Criterion !! Exceptional !! Met !! Not Met | ||
|- | |- | ||
| | ! Introduction | ||
| Your introduction clearly explains the importance of evaluating source credibility. | |||
| Your introduction mentions source credibility. | |||
| Your introduction does not mention credibility. | |||
|- | |- | ||
! Rubric | |||
| Your paper clearly discusses each criterion and illustrates with examples. | |||
| Your paper mentions different criteria used in source evaluation. | |||
| The paper does not include the rubric or does so with no explanation. | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | ! Sources | ||
| Sources clearly demonstrate a range of topics and concerns regarding source credibility. | |||
| At least 3 sources are used to illustrate source credibility. | |||
| The paper has insufficient or inappropriate sources. | |||
|- | |- | ||
| | ! Process | ||
| Discussion clearly and effectively centers on the process by which a given evaluation was made. | |||
| Discussion of sources mentions processes as well as conclusions. | |||
| Discussion of sources does not include discussion of evaluative processes. | |||
|- | |- | ||
! Responding to Feedback | |||
| You have revised your CSA substantially and/or thoughtfully based on both your peers’ and your instructor’s feedback. | |||
| You have revised your CSA based on both your peers’ and your instructor’s feedback. | |||
| No revisions to the CSA have been made or only minor changes have been made that do not adequately respond to feedback. | |||
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
: | : A copy of '''CSA Grading rubric''':[[File:CSA Grading Criteria.pdf|thumb]] | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| Line 46: | Line 62: | ||
*'''Reflection Piece''' | *'''Reflection Piece''' | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; text-align:left;" | ||
|+ '''Grading Criteria: CSA Reflection''' | |||
! '''Grading Criteria: Reflection''' !! '''Exceptional''' !! '''Met''' !! '''Not Met''' | |||
|- | |- | ||
| style="text-align:center;"| '''Reflecting on Your Group''' || style="text-align:center;"| You have clearly explained what methods your group used to successfully work together and have included things you would do differently next time based on your experience. || style="text-align:center;"| You explain what methods your group used to successfully work together. || style="text-align:center;"| The methods used to work together are not included or are unclear. | |||
|- | |- | ||
| style="text-align:center;"| '''Reflecting on Your | |style="text-align:center;"|'''Reflecting on Your Rubric Choices''' || style="text-align:center;"| You have clearly identified choices in your reflection that you made in your rubric that explain why you designed your criteria as you did.|| style="text-align:center;"| You have mentioned rubric choices in your reflection related to design choices. || style="text-align:center;"| Rubric choices are not mentioned in the reflection. | ||
|- | |- | ||
|style="text-align:center;"|'''Reflecting on Your | |style="text-align:center;"|'''Reflecting on Appealing to Your Audience''' || style="text-align:center;"| You have identified specific things that you have done in your CSA to help your audience understand the process better.|| style="text-align:center;"| You have mentioned things that you have done in your CSA to help your audience. || style="text-align:center;"| Audience reception not mentioned in the reflection. | ||
|- | |- | ||
|style="text-align:center;"|'''Reflecting on | |style="text-align:center;"|'''Reflecting on Your Examples and Arrangement''' || style="text-align:center;"| You clearly explain why you chose the examples you did, and clearly explain the specific order in which you discussed them. || style="text-align:center;"| You mention the examples you chose and the way you arranged them. || style="text-align:center;"| The arrangement of the examples is not mentioned in the reflection. | ||
|- | |- | ||
|style="text-align:center;"|'''Meeting Requirements'''|| style="text-align:center;"| You have met or exceeded all the requirements for the reflection. || style="text-align:center;"| You have met all the requirements for the reflection. || style="text-align:center;"| One or more of the requirements for the reflection has not been met. | |style="text-align:center;"|'''Meeting Requirements'''|| style="text-align:center;"| You have met or exceeded all the requirements for the reflection. || style="text-align:center;"| You have met all the requirements for the reflection. || style="text-align:center;"| One or more of the requirements for the reflection has not been met. | ||
|} | |} | ||
: A copy of the Comparative Source Analysis Reflection rubric:[[File:CSA Reflection Grading Criteria.pdf|thumb]] | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
='''Assignment Focus'''= | ='''Assignment Focus'''= | ||
This section outlines | This section outlines a range of tasks an instructor may assign to support students’ development of evaluative research practices throughout the Comparative Source Analysis project. | ||
*'''Rubric Development''' | |||
*''' | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | ||
:Students | :Students work in small groups to create a rubric that defines criteria and metrics for evaluating source credibility. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
*''' | *'''Group Participation and Evaluation''' | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | ||
:Students | :Students contribute to group discussion and document design; participation is assessed through individual group evaluations. | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
*''' | *'''Source Selection''' | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | ||
:Students | :Students select multiple sources that represent a range of credibility, such as highly credible, weak, or mixed sources. | ||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
*'''Comparative Analysis Paper (Individual)''' | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | |||
:In the individual paper, the shared rubric is used to compare sources, with emphasis placed on evaluative process and reasoning. | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
*'''Reflection Piece''' | *'''Reflection Piece''' | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | ||
:Students reflect on the | :Students reflect on group collaboration, rubric choices, source selection, and strategies for communicating credibility to an audience. | ||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
=='''Weekly Structure'''== | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%"> | |||
=== Week 1: Knowledge/Literacy === | |||
Overview: Focus on media literacy and knowledge, produces and values knowledge, why knowledge matters. | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | |||
*'''Key Sources on Knowledge/Literacy''' | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! Name !! Description | |||
|- | |||
| Watch: [[Media Literacy]] || This video explains what media literacy is—how to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media messages while recognizing common misconceptions about it. | |||
|- | |||
| Watch: [[Whose knowledge is good knowledge?]]|| In this TEDx talk, Giulia Zampini questions whose knowledge is valued and calls for more inclusive ways of recognizing expertise. | |||
|} | |||
*'''Alternative Materials on Knowledge/Literacy''' | |||
Some videos and texts might be useful for your class depending on your needs. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! Name !! Description | |||
|- | |||
| Read: [[The Importance of Media Literacy]] || The article explains that media literacy helps people critically evaluate media, recognize bias, and make informed decisions. | |||
|- | |||
| Read: [[What is Media Literacy?]] || The article defines media literacy as the ability to critically understand and evaluate media messages and their influence. | |||
|- | |||
| Watch: [[Media Literacy Explained]] || The video is a short, animated explainer about media literacy and why it’s important to think critically about the media we consume. | |||
|- | |||
| Watch: [[What Is Media Literacy?]] || The video explains that media literacy is the ability to analyze and understand media messages critically. | |||
|- | |||
| Read: [[Media Literacy (Explained in 3 Minutes)]] || The video explains that media literacy is the ability to analyze and evaluate media messages and recognize bias critically. | |||
|} | |||
</div> | |||
</div> | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%"> | |||
=== Week 2: Information Literacy === | |||
Overview: Focus on in-class library module, information literacy, research skills and takeaways, revisiting the Research Narrative. | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | |||
*'''Key Source on Information Literacy''' | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! Name !! Description | |||
|- | |||
| Watch: [[Information literacy]] || In this TEDx talk, Kevin Arms stresses the importance of information literacy to combat misinformation and evaluate sources critically. | |||
|} | |||
*'''Alternative Sources on Information Literacy''' | |||
Some materials that you can use as an alternative to the main article. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! Name !! Description | |||
|- | |||
| Read: [[What Is Information Literacy and Why Does It Matter?]] || The article defines information literacy as the ability to find, evaluate, and use information effectively. | |||
|- | |||
| Watch: [[What is Information Literacy?]] || The video explains that information literacy is the ability to evaluate and use information responsibly. | |||
|- | |||
| Watch: [[Information Literacy!!]] || The video explains that information literacy is the ability to judge whether information is credible. | |||
|- | |||
| Read: [[For Students: Information Literacy]] || The article defines information literacy as the ability to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively and ethically to solve problems and make informed decisions. | |||
|- | |||
|} | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | ||
: | |||
=== Week 3: Rubric/Credibility === | |||
Overview:Focus on understanding reliable and verifiable sources, evaluating source credibility, drafting and testing a credibility rubric. | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | |||
*'''Key Source on Rubric/Credibility''' | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! Name !! Description | |||
|- | |||
| Read:[[ Reliable sources]] || This Wikipedia page explains reliable sources guideline, stressing that a source must be credible for the specific claim it supports and that reliability depends on context. | |||
|- | |||
| Read:[[ Verifiability]] || This Wikipedia page explains verifiability as the requirement that information be backed by reliable, published sources. | |||
|} | |||
* '''Alternative Sources on Rubric/Credibility''' | |||
Some videos and texts might be useful for your class depending on your needs. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! Name !! Description | |||
|- | |||
| Watch: [[Evaluating Sources for Credibility]] || This video explains how to identify credible sources through expertise, bias, peer review, and timeliness. | |||
|- | |||
| Watch: [[Reliable and Valid Sources]] || This video explains how to evaluate reliable sources by focusing on context, authority, and a simple checklist for assessing websites. | |||
|- | |||
| Watch: [[How to Validate Knowledge? Verifiability and Confirmability of Knowledge]] || This video explains how verifiability and confirmability are used to assess the reliability of empirical knowledge claims. | |||
|- | |||
| Read: [[Writing Resource: Evaluating Sources]] || This text provides guidelines for evaluating sources based on credibility, evidence, and relevance to research goals. | |||
|- | |||
|} | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | <div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | ||
=== Week 4: Analysis/Revision === | |||
Overview: Focus on refining the source-credibility rubric, analyzing sample CSA papers. developing a CSA outline, peer revision, ePortfolio updates. | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"> | |||
*'''Key Resource on Peer Revision''' | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! Name!! Description | |||
|- | |||
| Watch: [[Good Practices for Peer Revision]] || This short video guides students through effective peer revision by emphasizing feedback that focuses on meaning, not mechanics, using clear “what,” “why,” and “how” comments to support deeper revision. | |||
|} | |||
*'''Alternative Material on Peer Revision''' | |||
Some videos and texts might be useful for your class depending on your needs. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! Name !! Description | |||
|- | |||
| Read: [[Giving Feedback for Peer Review]] || A concise and comprehensive list of effective peer review strategies for students. | |||
|} | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> | |||
=== Week 5: Reflection === | |||
Overview: Student groups meet with the instructor in conference sessions to receive feedback on the first draft of their assignment. | |||
<div style="clear:both;"></div> | |||
=='''Students' Project Samples'''== | |||
*[[Rhetoric & Composition I]] Samples | |||
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="overflow:auto;"> | |||
**[[File:CSA_-_1.pdf|thumb]] | |||
**[[File:CSA_-_2.pdf|thumb]] | |||
**[[File:CSA_-_3.pdf|thumb]] | |||
**[[File:CSA_-_4.pdf|thumb]] | |||
**[[File:CSA_-_5.pdf|thumb]] | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
Latest revision as of 11:12, 13 July 2026
This project has students collaboratively create a source-credibility rubric and apply it in an individual comparison to demonstrate how credibility varies across contexts.
See details
Comparative Source Analysis is a collaborative process where students use prior experience with academic, popular, and digital sources to justify their credibility rubric. The project concludes with a reflection on collaboration, rubric design, source selection, and audience awareness, which makes up 50% of the final grade in the First-Year Composition curriculum at Northern Illinois University (NIU).
Comparative Source Analysis Objectives
- Identify and apply criteria for evaluating source credibility.
- Practice collaborative decision-making in rubric development.
- Analyze credibility as part of the research process.
- Compare how different sources establish trustworthiness.
This project is connected to the Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) through:
Genres & Formats
- Comparative source analysis with reflection.
- Group rubric, individual comparison paper, and written or multimodal reflection.
Rubric
- Comparative Source Analysis
| Criterion | Exceptional | Met | Not Met |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Your introduction clearly explains the importance of evaluating source credibility. | Your introduction mentions source credibility. | Your introduction does not mention credibility. |
| Rubric | Your paper clearly discusses each criterion and illustrates with examples. | Your paper mentions different criteria used in source evaluation. | The paper does not include the rubric or does so with no explanation. |
| Sources | Sources clearly demonstrate a range of topics and concerns regarding source credibility. | At least 3 sources are used to illustrate source credibility. | The paper has insufficient or inappropriate sources. |
| Process | Discussion clearly and effectively centers on the process by which a given evaluation was made. | Discussion of sources mentions processes as well as conclusions. | Discussion of sources does not include discussion of evaluative processes. |
| Responding to Feedback | You have revised your CSA substantially and/or thoughtfully based on both your peers’ and your instructor’s feedback. | You have revised your CSA based on both your peers’ and your instructor’s feedback. | No revisions to the CSA have been made or only minor changes have been made that do not adequately respond to feedback. |
- A copy of CSA Grading rubric:File:CSA Grading Criteria.pdf
- Reflection Piece
| Grading Criteria: Reflection | Exceptional | Met | Not Met |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflecting on Your Group | You have clearly explained what methods your group used to successfully work together and have included things you would do differently next time based on your experience. | You explain what methods your group used to successfully work together. | The methods used to work together are not included or are unclear. |
| Reflecting on Your Rubric Choices | You have clearly identified choices in your reflection that you made in your rubric that explain why you designed your criteria as you did. | You have mentioned rubric choices in your reflection related to design choices. | Rubric choices are not mentioned in the reflection. |
| Reflecting on Appealing to Your Audience | You have identified specific things that you have done in your CSA to help your audience understand the process better. | You have mentioned things that you have done in your CSA to help your audience. | Audience reception not mentioned in the reflection. |
| Reflecting on Your Examples and Arrangement | You clearly explain why you chose the examples you did, and clearly explain the specific order in which you discussed them. | You mention the examples you chose and the way you arranged them. | The arrangement of the examples is not mentioned in the reflection. |
| Meeting Requirements | You have met or exceeded all the requirements for the reflection. | You have met all the requirements for the reflection. | One or more of the requirements for the reflection has not been met. |
- A copy of the Comparative Source Analysis Reflection rubric:File:CSA Reflection Grading Criteria.pdf
Assignment Focus
This section outlines a range of tasks an instructor may assign to support students’ development of evaluative research practices throughout the Comparative Source Analysis project.
- Rubric Development
- Students work in small groups to create a rubric that defines criteria and metrics for evaluating source credibility.
- Group Participation and Evaluation
- Students contribute to group discussion and document design; participation is assessed through individual group evaluations.
- Source Selection
- Students select multiple sources that represent a range of credibility, such as highly credible, weak, or mixed sources.
- Comparative Analysis Paper (Individual)
- In the individual paper, the shared rubric is used to compare sources, with emphasis placed on evaluative process and reasoning.
- Reflection Piece
- Students reflect on group collaboration, rubric choices, source selection, and strategies for communicating credibility to an audience.
Weekly Structure
Week 1: Knowledge/Literacy
Overview: Focus on media literacy and knowledge, produces and values knowledge, why knowledge matters.
- Key Sources on Knowledge/Literacy
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Watch: Media Literacy | This video explains what media literacy is—how to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media messages while recognizing common misconceptions about it. |
| Watch: Whose knowledge is good knowledge? | In this TEDx talk, Giulia Zampini questions whose knowledge is valued and calls for more inclusive ways of recognizing expertise. |
- Alternative Materials on Knowledge/Literacy
Some videos and texts might be useful for your class depending on your needs.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Read: The Importance of Media Literacy | The article explains that media literacy helps people critically evaluate media, recognize bias, and make informed decisions. |
| Read: What is Media Literacy? | The article defines media literacy as the ability to critically understand and evaluate media messages and their influence. |
| Watch: Media Literacy Explained | The video is a short, animated explainer about media literacy and why it’s important to think critically about the media we consume. |
| Watch: What Is Media Literacy? | The video explains that media literacy is the ability to analyze and understand media messages critically. |
| Read: Media Literacy (Explained in 3 Minutes) | The video explains that media literacy is the ability to analyze and evaluate media messages and recognize bias critically. |
Week 2: Information Literacy
Overview: Focus on in-class library module, information literacy, research skills and takeaways, revisiting the Research Narrative.
- Key Source on Information Literacy
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Watch: Information literacy | In this TEDx talk, Kevin Arms stresses the importance of information literacy to combat misinformation and evaluate sources critically. |
- Alternative Sources on Information Literacy
Some materials that you can use as an alternative to the main article.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Read: What Is Information Literacy and Why Does It Matter? | The article defines information literacy as the ability to find, evaluate, and use information effectively. |
| Watch: What is Information Literacy? | The video explains that information literacy is the ability to evaluate and use information responsibly. |
| Watch: Information Literacy!! | The video explains that information literacy is the ability to judge whether information is credible. |
| Read: For Students: Information Literacy | The article defines information literacy as the ability to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively and ethically to solve problems and make informed decisions. |
Week 3: Rubric/Credibility
Overview:Focus on understanding reliable and verifiable sources, evaluating source credibility, drafting and testing a credibility rubric.
- Key Source on Rubric/Credibility
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Read:Reliable sources | This Wikipedia page explains reliable sources guideline, stressing that a source must be credible for the specific claim it supports and that reliability depends on context. |
| Read:Verifiability | This Wikipedia page explains verifiability as the requirement that information be backed by reliable, published sources. |
- Alternative Sources on Rubric/Credibility
Some videos and texts might be useful for your class depending on your needs.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Watch: Evaluating Sources for Credibility | This video explains how to identify credible sources through expertise, bias, peer review, and timeliness. |
| Watch: Reliable and Valid Sources | This video explains how to evaluate reliable sources by focusing on context, authority, and a simple checklist for assessing websites. |
| Watch: How to Validate Knowledge? Verifiability and Confirmability of Knowledge | This video explains how verifiability and confirmability are used to assess the reliability of empirical knowledge claims. |
| Read: Writing Resource: Evaluating Sources | This text provides guidelines for evaluating sources based on credibility, evidence, and relevance to research goals. |
Week 4: Analysis/Revision
Overview: Focus on refining the source-credibility rubric, analyzing sample CSA papers. developing a CSA outline, peer revision, ePortfolio updates.
- Key Resource on Peer Revision
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Watch: Good Practices for Peer Revision | This short video guides students through effective peer revision by emphasizing feedback that focuses on meaning, not mechanics, using clear “what,” “why,” and “how” comments to support deeper revision. |
- Alternative Material on Peer Revision
Some videos and texts might be useful for your class depending on your needs.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Read: Giving Feedback for Peer Review | A concise and comprehensive list of effective peer review strategies for students. |
Week 5: Reflection
Overview: Student groups meet with the instructor in conference sessions to receive feedback on the first draft of their assignment.
Students' Project Samples
- Rhetoric & Composition I Samples