WebQuest

Introduction
You are a new-hire at a news organization that prides itself on accurate, unbiased depictions of recent
events. In order to prove yourself, your editor needs to see your ability to do three things: 1. identify
and analyze your own biases and preconceptions, . discri!inate between biased and unbiased sources
and infor!ation, and, finally, ". generate an unbiased pg. article based on careful and thoughtful
research.
Task
#ue to its relevance and a wealth of resources, your editor has decided that you should generate an
unbiased article concerning the $bola virus and the recent $bola outbrea%. Your editor&s standards our
high. 'o be sure that you are on the right path, you need to provide evidence of research and self-
reflection, your processes need to be e(pressed clearly, including a self-reflection and an analysis of
sources. 'he editor e(pects your article to be professionally written and free of bias to the greatest
e(tent possible.
Process
1. )reate a concept !ap with $bola at the center that gives all ideas and infor!ation that you
%now about the $bola virus and the recent $bola outbrea%.
. *o to http:++www.,ournalis!.org+resources+principles-of-,ournalis!+
". -ead ./ournalis!&s first obligation is to the truth0
1. #raw a '-chart with 2iased on one side and 3nbiased on the others. 4s you loo% at sources,
place each source in the colu!n you thin% is appropriate. 3nderneath each source, write why
you placed it in this colu!n, citing direct evidence fro! the source.
5. *o to http:++www.cdc.gov+vhf+ebola+
6. )lic% on .7igns and 7y!pto!s0 and read the infor!ation
8. *o bac% to http:++www.cdc.gov+vhf+ebola+
9. )lic% on .'rans!ission0 and s%i! the infor!ation. :ay careful attention to the bullet points
;. *o to http:++www.who.int+!ediacentre+factsheets+fs1<"+en+ and read .=ey facts0
1<. *o to http:++www.cdc.gov+vhf+ebola+outbrea%s+<11-west-africa+united-states-i!ported-
case.ht!l and s%i! the article.
11. *o to http:++www.newscorpse.co!+ncW:+>p?116<
1. 7croll down to the botto! of the article and watch the first two !inutes of the video.
1". *o to https:++celebrity.yahoo.co!+blogs+celeb-news+chris-brown-thin%s-ebola-is-a-for!-of-
population-control-1"""58155.ht!l and read the article.
11. *o to http:++thin%progress.org+health+<11+1<+<6+"586511+rush-li!baugh-oba!a-isnt-closing-
the-borders-because-he-thin%s-a!erica-deserves-ebola+ and s%i! the article.
15. *o to http:++www.bbc.co!+news+health-91<55"1
16. Watch the video
18. *o to http:++www.globalresearch.ca+the-ebola-virus-pande!ic-a-weapon-of-!ass-
destruction+5";1;86 and s%i! the first half of the article.
19. *o bac% to your original concept !ap. @e(t to each idea, write whether it was accurate, close to
accurate, or false. 'hen, write how you %now, providing evidence through direct citations.
1;. 2egin writing your article.
Evaluation
5 4 3 2
*ra!!ar+Word
)hoice
# points x 4 =
4rticle has fewer
than 1<
gra!!atical errors
total.
4rticle has fewer
than 15
gra!!atical errors
total .
4rticle has fewer
than <
gra!!atical errors
total.
4rticle has !ore
than <
gra!!atical
errors..
2ias+Ab,ective
'one
# points x 4 =
7tudent
successfully uses
an unbiased,
ob,ective tone
throughout article.
7tudent so!ewhat
successfully uses
an ob,ective tone,
but the article
contains a !ini!al
a!ount of biased
infor!ation.
7tudent uses a
pri!arily biased
tone, but the article
contains one or
two ob,ective
points.
7tudent uses a
biased tone
throughout article.
$vidence B
)itation
# points x 4 =
4ll cited sources
are scientific,
factual, and
unbiased.
Calf of sources are
scientific, factual,
and unbiased.
'he !a,ority of
cited sources are
biased, with one or
two unbiased
sources.
4ll cited sources
are biased.
:roofreading
# points x 4 =
'he student&s
writing shows
evidence of
e(tensive
proofreading, both
silent and aloud.
'he student&s
writing shows
evidence of so!e
silent proofreading
but contains so!e
aw%ward wording.
'he student&s
writing shows
evidence of
!ini!al
proofreading and
contains !a,or
sections of
aw%ward wording.
'he student&s
writing shows no
evidence of
proofreading.
Conclusion
)ongratulationsD You have acco!plished a great deal. You have cited strong and thorough evidence. In
researching, you have analyzed authors& points-of-view. In writing your article, you have e(a!ined and
conveyed co!ple( concepts and ideas. Eost i!portantly, you have i!pressed your editor and !ade a
na!e for yourself. You are going to be an essential part of the organization&s writing staff.
Credits & Resources
http:++www.,ournalis!.org+resources+principles-of-,ournalis!+
http:++www.cdc.gov+vhf+ebola+
http:++www.who.int+!ediacentre+factsheets+fs1<"+en+
http:++www.cdc.gov+vhf+ebola+outbrea%s+<11-west-africa+united-states-i!ported-case.ht!l
http:++www.newscorpse.co!+ncW:+>p?116<
https:++celebrity.yahoo.co!+blogs+celeb-news+chris-brown-thin%s-ebola-is-a-for!-of-population-
control-1"""58155.ht!l
http:++thin%progress.org+health+<11+1<+<6+"586511+rush-li!baugh-oba!a-isnt-closing-the-borders-
because-he-thin%s-a!erica-deserves-ebola+
http:++www.bbc.co!+news+health-91<55"1
http:++www.globalresearch.ca+the-ebola-virus-pande!ic-a-weapon-of-!ass-destruction+5";1;86
http:++webFuest.sdsu.edu+Gesson'e!plate.ht!l