Introduction
The "Fake News Project" went through many changes. Actually, this project was originally about conspiracy theories, not fake news. It all began sometime in November 2016, right after our first project exhibition, and right before winter break. We were in Dr. P's humanities, having a class discussion. Somehow, our class discussion went off-topic, and we started talking about conspiracy theories. When we came back from winter break, Dr. P introduced his plan for the next project: Conspiracy theories!
The essential questions for our Conspiracy Project were:
The "Fake News Project" went through many changes. Actually, this project was originally about conspiracy theories, not fake news. It all began sometime in November 2016, right after our first project exhibition, and right before winter break. We were in Dr. P's humanities, having a class discussion. Somehow, our class discussion went off-topic, and we started talking about conspiracy theories. When we came back from winter break, Dr. P introduced his plan for the next project: Conspiracy theories!
The essential questions for our Conspiracy Project were:
- How do I find the truth in this crazy world?
- How certain can I ever be about anything?
- What is it about conspiracy theories that make them so appealing?
For more information about our original "Conspiracy Project", check out the file below.
Conspiracy Project Decription | |
File Size: | 315 kb |
File Type: |
Learning About Conspiracy Theories
We spent a few of the following weeks learning about conspiracy theories. Each of us researched and made a slide presentation about a conspiracy theory. My presentation can be found here.
My research topic was the conspiracy theory that the CIA assassinated JFK. My automatic impression of conspiracy theories is generally disbelief because they carry a shady connotation. After researching, I still don't think my conspiracy is real. However, I suspect that the CIA gets into a lot of dirty business, so it wouldn't surprise me to hear that the CIA actually did assassinate JFK.
We spent a few of the following weeks learning about conspiracy theories. Each of us researched and made a slide presentation about a conspiracy theory. My presentation can be found here.
My research topic was the conspiracy theory that the CIA assassinated JFK. My automatic impression of conspiracy theories is generally disbelief because they carry a shady connotation. After researching, I still don't think my conspiracy is real. However, I suspect that the CIA gets into a lot of dirty business, so it wouldn't surprise me to hear that the CIA actually did assassinate JFK.
Shifting Gears: Conspiracy Theories to Hoaxes
After learning about conspiracy theories, the focus of our project shifted from conspiracy theories to "hoaxes". Our new project goal was to learn about hoaxing and to eventually hoax our entire school. To start, Dr. P gave our class a sample website and asked us to determine whether the website was real or fake. We found out that it was a fake website created by Dr. P himself. Here is a link to
Dr. P's hoax website.
After learning about conspiracy theories, the focus of our project shifted from conspiracy theories to "hoaxes". Our new project goal was to learn about hoaxing and to eventually hoax our entire school. To start, Dr. P gave our class a sample website and asked us to determine whether the website was real or fake. We found out that it was a fake website created by Dr. P himself. Here is a link to
Dr. P's hoax website.
Creating Our Own Hoaxes
After learning a bit about hoaxes, Dr. P has us write our own hoax stories. Here is mine. My hoax story was basically a science report about why a certain bush that grows at HTHCV stinks so much. In making my hoax, I came across a dilemma: If the hoax was no big deal, nobody would pay attention to it - end of story. If the hoax made too much noise, people would expect to see it on the front page, which - or course - was out of the question. I decided to write a science report about the stinky bushes at HTHCV because it related to the people at HTHCV, but would not involve people outside of the school. Striking this balance is a challenge that would later be the downfall of the Hoax Project.
After learning a bit about hoaxes, Dr. P has us write our own hoax stories. Here is mine. My hoax story was basically a science report about why a certain bush that grows at HTHCV stinks so much. In making my hoax, I came across a dilemma: If the hoax was no big deal, nobody would pay attention to it - end of story. If the hoax made too much noise, people would expect to see it on the front page, which - or course - was out of the question. I decided to write a science report about the stinky bushes at HTHCV because it related to the people at HTHCV, but would not involve people outside of the school. Striking this balance is a challenge that would later be the downfall of the Hoax Project.
"My Story So Far" Essay
After we wrote our own hoax stories, we - as a class - decided upon one hoax story with which we would hoax the school. From there, we started revising the story and preparing to hoax. Along the way, we came across a number of problems. Mainly, that it would be very difficult to create a story big enough to catch the attention of our fellow high schoolers without catching the attention of national news. In other words, we were to be either met with "crickets" or a totally whacko story that nobody would believe.
In light of this realization, Dr. P had us write an essay, which he labeled: "My Story So Far". These essays were basically a way for us to give Dr. P our perspective and vision for the future of the project, which had - unfortunately - come to a grinding halt.
After we wrote our own hoax stories, we - as a class - decided upon one hoax story with which we would hoax the school. From there, we started revising the story and preparing to hoax. Along the way, we came across a number of problems. Mainly, that it would be very difficult to create a story big enough to catch the attention of our fellow high schoolers without catching the attention of national news. In other words, we were to be either met with "crickets" or a totally whacko story that nobody would believe.
In light of this realization, Dr. P had us write an essay, which he labeled: "My Story So Far". These essays were basically a way for us to give Dr. P our perspective and vision for the future of the project, which had - unfortunately - come to a grinding halt.
Project Rebirth and Final Incarnation: Fake News!
After a long weekend, Dr. P announced the abandonment of the Hoax Project, and the launch of a new era: The Fake News Project! Over the next several weeks, we learned some researching techniques and practiced differentiating between real and fake news. Below are some things we did in learning about fake news.
After a long weekend, Dr. P announced the abandonment of the Hoax Project, and the launch of a new era: The Fake News Project! Over the next several weeks, we learned some researching techniques and practiced differentiating between real and fake news. Below are some things we did in learning about fake news.
We looked at a mysterious case involving Winston Peacock and had to determine whether it was a case of murder or suicide. This is the police report that we wrote.
There is a veteran journalist named Dan Rathers, who made a documentary about his career and his opinions regarding fake news. We watched some clips of Dan Rather's documentary to learn more about fake news. This is an essay we wrote after learning about fake news.
After learning some characteristics of fake news and fake ads, we made our own fake ads. This is mine.
Fake News Olympics
As a final test of our fact-checking skills, we did something called the "Fake News Olympics". By this time, we had compiled a list of rules - which we called a "baloney/bullshit detector" - to help us spot fake news. In short, the Fake News Olympics was the task of using our baloney detectors on articles from the web to determine their credibility.
As a final test of our fact-checking skills, we did something called the "Fake News Olympics". By this time, we had compiled a list of rules - which we called a "baloney/bullshit detector" - to help us spot fake news. In short, the Fake News Olympics was the task of using our baloney detectors on articles from the web to determine their credibility.
Creating Our Own Fake News Stories
After learning about fake news, it was time to write our own fake news stories. Here is my fake news story. My fake news story was that NASA has discovered green plant life on Mars. I came up with this idea because I take interest in space-related news, and also because I was reading "The Martian" at the time. To make my fake news article convincing, I had to eliminate all "red flags" by referencing the baloney detector that we had made. It was challenging not only to make the writing itself sound convincing, but also to make the document on which the article is written look like it came from the internet. I modeled my news report after some real news articles form the internet.
After learning about fake news, it was time to write our own fake news stories. Here is my fake news story. My fake news story was that NASA has discovered green plant life on Mars. I came up with this idea because I take interest in space-related news, and also because I was reading "The Martian" at the time. To make my fake news article convincing, I had to eliminate all "red flags" by referencing the baloney detector that we had made. It was challenging not only to make the writing itself sound convincing, but also to make the document on which the article is written look like it came from the internet. I modeled my news report after some real news articles form the internet.
This is the baloney detector, broken up into five categories: Context, credibility, construction, corroboration, and comparison.
Exhibition
The exhibition for the Fake News Project included our fake news articles and our baloney detector. Here was Dr. P's vision for exhibition night. If you take a look at our updated project description, you can see how the project had deviated from it's original form.
The exhibition for the Fake News Project included our fake news articles and our baloney detector. Here was Dr. P's vision for exhibition night. If you take a look at our updated project description, you can see how the project had deviated from it's original form.
Reflection
I believe our exhibition had a fair turn-out. Our exhibition room looked quite nice, and people seemed to enjoy it. However, I think the project as a whole was a flop. I believe that it was insufficiently thought-out and planned, which lead to many blunders along the way. I am glad that we learned how to spot fake news, but I think that learning goal could have been accomplished much more efficiently. On the bright side, we know that the fake news project should not be repeated next year!
I believe our exhibition had a fair turn-out. Our exhibition room looked quite nice, and people seemed to enjoy it. However, I think the project as a whole was a flop. I believe that it was insufficiently thought-out and planned, which lead to many blunders along the way. I am glad that we learned how to spot fake news, but I think that learning goal could have been accomplished much more efficiently. On the bright side, we know that the fake news project should not be repeated next year!