Check sources.Understand arguments.

An introductory programme for independent work with information. From a first impression to a question, verification and an evidence-based conclusion.

For people who work with information

Read

Notice how a message is structured; distinguish fact, interpretation and judgement.

Analyse

Trace the source and check the context and basis of an argument.

Discuss

Understand other explanations and ask questions that help the conversation.

Four learning modules

Open a topic to see the questions to work on.

Choose a message that caught your attention. Describe what prompted your reaction: a headline, an image, a familiar topic or the author's position. Separate your impression from the content.

Find the original material. Check the date, author, publication conditions and information missing from a brief summary.

Identify the claim, its evidence and the connection between them. Establish which assumptions are taken for granted and what can be verified.

Compare two explanations of one situation. Form a conclusion, state your level of confidence and list the questions for which evidence is still insufficient.

One message.Five questions.

Choose a publication on a public issue and prepare a short analysis.

What exactly is being claimed?

What supports the claim?

What is the original context?

What other explanations are possible?

What else do we need to know before drawing a conclusion?

Before you begin

Yes. Read the introduction, download the guide and choose your own example. You can then discuss your analysis with others.

Prepare a proposal describing the audience, topic and expectations. The contact page lets you save it as a text file for the team.

This page presents the programme and resources. Dates and the meeting format are agreed when a group is being organised.

Bring a learning group together

We will start with the audience, their questions and the examples they want to explore.