Check Yourself…
Check Yourself…Whether writing papers or reading social media, it’s always best to check your facts…
Giant squid in NZ? Sharia law donuts? Prison for using a rainbarrel? Saw it on Facebook or heard it from a relative: is it real? “Keep Calm and Check Snopes.” A model of fact-checking since 1995, Snopes is the quintessential site for investigating rumors and urban legends. Snopes also posts fact-clarifying news stories.
http://www.snopes.com/
“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” – The Princess Bride. Use the original crowdsourced dictionary to verify usage & definitions!
http://www.oed.com.ezproxy.drew.edu/
Numbers are among the most misrepresented and mangled of facts; government numbers doubly so. Elections? Education? Business? Income? Check data & sources through this subscription service building on a venerable government compendium.
http://statabs.proquest.com.ezproxy.drew.edu/sa/
At this time of year, donation requests pour in. But what charities make good use of them? CharityNavigator calculates & offers info based on IRS Form 990s. See also: CharityWatch.org, GuideStar.org.
https://www.charitynavigator.org/
Want to compare crime data with tobacco use? Social Explorer will help. Find tables and create maps based on Census, other social data. (Create free account to save.)
http://www.socialexplorer.com.ezproxy.drew.edu/ezproxy
From non-profit Annenberg Policy center, factchecking news & political claims. Check Out “How to Spot Fake News”: www.factcheck.org/2016/11/how-to-spot-fake-news/
http://www.factcheck.org/
Did gorilla Harambe get 15K votes in the election? Check Politifact’s Truth-o-Meter. (Hint: Pants on Fire). Factchecking politics & pundits, sponsored by the Poynter Inst.
http://www.politifact.com/
Which type of congregations are more likely to do social service? Who are Hutterite Brethren and where do they hang out? How many Sikhs in your county?
http://www.thearda.com/