Why the hysteria around the ‘fake news epidemic’ is a distraction

Paper 3 – Argument Synthesis

For your third paper in this class, write an argument synthesis responding to the following prompt:

             The readings for this unit discuss the concept of false stories posing as legitimate journalism. In your papers, discuss the major reasons why people believe and share false stories. Write an argument synthesis with the information available in the assigned articles and construct your essay to answer the question:

“What are the main reasons people believe false stories posing as legitimate journalism and what can an

individual do to prevent believing and sharing false stories?”

Use four sources (listed below) and one additional piece of research that you locate to support your argument.

Your audience is professors/students in a 4-year university; assume they have not read the texts. The length of the paper will be 1000 words. The format is double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, MLA style.

Successful papers will:

· Include an effective introduction that gives a general overview of the topic and your project. This will need to include a definition of “false stories posing as legitimate journalism” and this topic’s context.

· Have a thesis statement that indicates the main idea of the essay, which is “What are the main reasons people believe false stories posing as legitimate journalism and what can an individual do to prevent believing and sharing false stories?”

· Be organized around the issues found in the assigned readings.

· Include effective body paragraphs that clearly state each issue and provide information with evidence from the assigned readings.

· Use persuasive appeals (logic, character/credibility, emotion) to influence your reader.

· Include a conclusion that restates the main points and explains the importance of the issue; why is it significant? What might be the consequence of not paying attention to your argument?

· Read the sample paper and rubric before your writing.

Assigned readings: All of these recordings, videos, and articles you need read is in the following.

Bennett, Bo. “Confirmation Bias.” YouTube. YouTube, 29 Mar. 2014. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_YkdMwEO

Domonoske, Camila. “Students Have ‘Dismaying’ Inability To Tell Fake News From Real, Study Finds.” NPR. NPR, 23

Nov. 2016. Web. 21 Jan. 2017. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwoway/2016/11/23/503129818/study-finds-

students-have-dismaying-inability-to-tell-fake-news-from-real

Eberhart, George. “Media Literacy in an Age of Fake News” American Libraries. Magazine 1 Nov. 2019. Web. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2019/11/01/media-literacy-in-an-age-of-fake-news/

Maheshwari, Sapna. “How Fake News Goes Viral: A Case Study.” The New York Times.

20 Nov. 2016. Web. 20 Jan. 2017. https://nyti.ms/2k1AjO8

Martin, Michel. “Misinformation around the Coronavirus” https://www.npr.org/2020/03/14/815916424/misinformation-around-the-coronavirus NPR. NPR, 14 March 2020. (4:54)

Mudde, Cas. “Why the hysteria around the ‘fake news epidemic’ is a distraction” The Guardian. 7 Feb. 2018.Web.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/07/hysteria-fake-news-epidemic-distraction

Pariser, Eli. “Beware online “filter bubbles”.” Eli Pariser: Beware online “filter bubbles” | TED Talk | TED.com. N.p.,

Mar. 2011. Web. 11 Jan. 2017. https://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubbles (8:57)

Steinmetz, Katy. “How Your Brain Tricks You Into Believing Fake News” Time. 9, Aug. 2019. Web. https://time.com/5362183/the-real-fake-news-crisis/