Exercise 1: Fact, rumour, opinion
Duration: 10-20 minutes
Goal: learn how to distinguish facts from rumours, and opinions in the context of a terror attack.
Method(s): critical analysis of information through discussion and categorization
Materials: empty spreadsheet, examples of titles fromthe news and social media (examples below can be used)
Instruction for students: Read and analyse the news and social media titles below. Once you have finished, use the spreadsheet provided and categorize them into three categories: facts, rumours, and opinions. Please provide a justification of your choice. You can do this exercise alone or with a partner.
The examples are related to the 2011 terror attacks in Norway.
- Police now say 77 people, most of them teenagers, were killed in Oslo and on nearby Utoeya island. Source: BBC News
- Anders Breivik was mentally unstable. Discussion between neighbours.
- Facebook post about Norway 2011 attacks saying immediately after the attack that Muslim extremists perpatreted it.
- Anders Breivik’ trained’ for shooting attacks by playing computer games. Source: The Guardian
- Instagram story about how violent computer and video games cause autism.
- Files from Breivik’s personal computer consisting of information about planning the acts
- Breivik is planning a new attack in prison. Source: Independent blog
- Norwegian government sent Breivik to prison because he wanted to become the new King. Source: Reddit
Analyse them and categorize them either as “fact “, “rumour “or “opinion”. Once you have organized them, add an explanation of why you made that choice.
Example
|
Title |
Category |
Justification |
|
Police now say 77 people, most of them teenagers, were killed in Oslo and on nearby Utoeya island. Source: BBC news |
Fact |
It comes from a respected news organization |
Questions:
Further questions for discussion in pairs, small groups or in class, depending on students’ readiness.
- Why should we always stick to facts when talking about such acts?
- How rumours and opinions impact public and private opinion?
- How rumours and opinions impact victims and their loved ones?
- How rumours and opinions impact the group from which the perpetrators originate?