1. WRT 205: Critical Research
Dr. Rusty Bartels
Monday, January 28th, 2019
Week 3, Day 1

2. Overview 3 goals Goal A: Furthering self-awareness
Goal B: Bias & Truth in Media
Goal C: Media as entry point for Research
Wrap-up

3. 3 Goals
[A] an awareness of our identities, experiences, positions and how that shapes our views
[B] an awareness of the bias & veracity of the media landscape and how our contexts might shape or influence that
[C] using media conversation to connect to broader questions of research practices and gathering sources

4. Goal A: Self-Awareness
Otero’s self-reflection: her understanding of her self and her positions in relation to the work that she is doing.
In groups of 1, 2, or 3…
What do you like about her approach? What do you not like?
What ways does this help you think about yourself? What ways might you do this work differently?

5. Goal B: Bias & Truth FREEWRITE
Identify the outlets in the chart ( that:
You are familiar with/have heard of
You actively search out (e.g. Turn to a channel or go to a website)
Have passively consumed (e.g. CNN on airport TVs)
Having identified those outlets, how do you choose to get your news? Your information about what’s happening in the world?
If you largely rely on social media and the links/articles your network/feed shares there, how much do you pay attention to the news source of those pieces? How much do you rely on your trust of the page/person that shared it?

6. Goal B: Bias & Truth In small groups 2-4
The Horizontal Axis: Left, Right, Neutral
What is ‘neutral’? Is there such a thing?
What are pros/cons to being “neutral”?
The Vertical Axis: Fact Reporting, Analysis, Opinion, and Misinformation
Are facts “objective”? Can there be bias in facts? What is a “fact”?
What role does analysis and opinion have in helping us understand facts?

7. Goal C: Media & Research
Can apply our media discussion to research more broadly
How can we think about these things as we read books, analyze and design spaces and objects, look through a microscope, dig in to archives…
Essentially: who is sitting at the table with you in your research? Which voices are helping you to answer your questions?

8. Wrap-up
Today we:
Examined the media bias chart, discussing our own positions in relation to news, media, and research
Next time:
Workshop — come prepared to talk about your topic and process for this assignment
No reading due. No additional materials needed (other than something to write/type with)
OFFICE HOURS CHANGED THIS WEEK:
Today (Monday) 1-2
Wednesday 1-2
Friday 1-3 (as usual