Believe It Or Not?

Worksheet Description

The “Believe It or Not?” worksheet is an interactive tool designed to enhance students’ critical thinking and analytical skills, particularly in the context of digital literacy. The worksheet presents a checklist of probing questions that guide students through a critical evaluation of news encountered on social media. Questions such as “What is the headline?”, “Who wrote/posted it?”, and “Is this person credible?” encourage students to not just passively consume content, but to actively assess the reliability and intentions behind the information presented.

Students are prompted to consider the original source of the news, the credibility of that source, the intended audience, and the nature of the appeals made within the story. The worksheet also asks students to reflect on the use of pictures or graphics, the emotional pull of the lead, and any questions or doubts they may have post-reading. This evaluative process culminates in the ultimate question: “Do you believe this story? Why or why not?”, thus cementing the habit of not taking information at face value and fostering a habit of skepticism and inquiry into the media they consume daily. This resource is pivotal in teaching students to navigate the often murky waters of online information and to distinguish fact from fiction responsibly.