In this assignment, you will practice using the Four Moves to evaluate a source.

Continue to imagine that you have been assigned a research essay on technology, and you have decided to write about how technology companies use knowledge of human psychology to design their products.

STEP 1: Watch Tristan Harris’s 2017 TED Talk, “How a handful of tech companies control billions of minds every day.” You can stop watching at minute thirteen, where his talk ends and a Q & A begins.

STEP 2: Next, evaluate this source using the “SIFT” acronym from the four moves:

1. STOP: Consider what biases you might bring to this topic, and in 3-6 sentences, reflect on how you can avoid acting on your biases when approaching this source.
2. INVESTIGATE: Find information about the author, publication, publication date, and genre of the source. Write about these findings in 3-6 sentences.
3. FIND BETTER COVERAGE: Find other comparable sources that are discussing this topic (1-3 sources). Post a link to each source, along with a 3-6 sentence discussion (per source) of how it compares with your original source.
4. TRACE CLAIMS: If possible, find the original source of any claims, quotes, or media. Paste links, and discuss any significant findings from this step.

After writing your answers, go find another source on this same topic, and evaluate this source in the same way you did the TED Talk (again with a minimum of three sentences per point). Keep in mind that you are not looking for a “perfect” source for this assignment. You are just showing that you understand each of the components of the Four Moves and can apply this method to any source.

Finally, reflect on your findings. In 3-5 sentences, discuss what the four moves showed you about the credibility, reliability, and relevance of your sources. Would it be appropriate to use in a research essay?

Rubric