Evaluating Sources - Welcome video
Text Version

(Visual description: Graphic shows title "Evaluating Sources" as upbeat music plays. Dissolves Josh and Jasmine sitting at a table in the library.)

Jasmine: We answered all of Mr. Lexington’s questions, so now we can decide how useful the picture is as a historical source. What do you think?

Josh: Well, it shows us the kind of boats the oystermen used, and what the dangers were. (Visual description: Camera cuts to close up of image on Josh's tablet) But I don't know what kind of newspaper it was for, so I don't know if I can trust it. Maybe it was one of those tabloids, like, just for gossip or fake news.

Jasmine: Hmmm… what do you mean? (Visual description: Camera cuts between Josh and Jasmimne)

Josh: Well, tabloids... sometimes they'll make things up or add things so that people will buy the newspaper. So maybe the author put a gun in there because he knew people would want to read the story. (Visual description: Camera cuts between Josh and Jasmimne)

Jasmine: Oh… I get it.

Josh: So I don't really know if I can trust it or not. What do you think? Should I keep it or get rid of it? (Visual description: Camera cuts between Josh and Jasmimne)

Jasmine: Well, I think it could still be a good source. But I also think that we should corroborate the evidence here with some other sources, just to be sure.

Josh: So I should try to find other historical sources that talk about the kinds of fighting that happened and see if they used guns? (Visual description: Camera cuts between Josh and Jasmimne)

Jasmine: Exactly! Let’s use the Chronicling America website by the Library of Congress. (Visual description: Jasmine turns to her laptop and camera cuts to screen showing Chronicling America website) Maybe we'll find more newspaper reports from the same time period.