Evaluating Sources using IMVAIN with the Middle Schoolers at New York’s IS303
When it comes to judging the credibility and reliability of news reports, news consumers have two main concerns: evidence and sources. Evaluating the reliability of information sources involves rating them based on a number of objective criteria.
A simple memory aid called IMVAIN helps these sixth, seventh and eighth grade students at IS303, a middle school in Coney Island, New York, remember how to evaluate sources they are exposed to in their weekly News Literacy classes. It can help you too!
Key Concept:
Source Evaluation Using the IMVAIN mnemonic:
Independent vs. Self-interested
Multiple vs. Lone or Sole source
Verifies vs. Asserts
Authoritative/Informed vs. Uninformed
Named vs. Unnamed
Video
Guiding Questions:
- Can you think you think of a recent news story in which IMVA/IN would come in handy?
- How do you currently evaluate sources in a news story? Are those ways different than how you evaluate the actual source of news?
- What is the difference between a news source and a source of news?
- Have you seen a story that only contained a single source? How do you think it would have changed if more sources had been included? Is there ever a time that a news story can only have one source?
- What makes a source unreliable? What would they need to become reliable?
- What are the red-flags that a news consumer must be aware of when encountering a news source?
Additional Resources:
