How to write more accurately and improve your grade, by Celia Webb

Fact checking is an important part of writing an accurate article. Meticulous authors do research prior to committing their thoughts to paper. Not all authors are so careful. Editors and readers serve society and themselves well when they read with a judicious eye. Just because a piece is written and printed does not necessarily make it true. The ability to check facts, coupled with an openness to a possible bias on the part of an author, will enable the discernment of truth or distortion.

Editors have a responsibility to fact check before printing an article or book. Some editors do this very well. Others do not. If you are an editor, the tips below could help you produce better articles thereby building a reputation as a reliable source.

Readers could benefit from these tips by being able to ascertain whether what they are reading is actually true, elaborations on truth, or, just plain inaccurate. In these days of information being rapidly accessed on the Internet where anyone can publish anything, it is vital to know how to pick out what is factual information and what is not. Readers should be aware that facts can be twisted or interpreted incorrectly also, that they can be used as the basis to support a poorly reasoned conclusion. So the fact could be correct, but the logic used to support a particular argument could be defective. This article does not address how to pick out faulty logic.

The Process of Fact Checking. Here is a sequence of steps to follow in fact checking. If you are writing for publication or academic purposes, you will want to do the final step of recording what you find. If you are fact checking for your own edification, this step may not be important to you.

a. Read the material.

b. Read the material a second time, marking passages for checking.

c. Write down the claims to check and list keywords and potential resources to research.

d. Do the research.

e. Record results including the source.

Who is the Author?

The first thing to determine is the qualifications of the author. Experts writing in their field may be given credit as more likely to be knowledgeable and accurate. However, the author may harbor a bias. The use of inflammatory language is one overt clue to bias. The use of subtle innuendo is a covert one. Check for degrees, certifications, awards, and years of experience. Next, look for evidence of due diligence by the author. Are sources listed for claims made? Did the author do original research?

Is the Source trustworthy?

In the case of an editor or author, a “source” would be those references used by the author to support his argument. In the case of a reader, “source” also includes the author of the material. Sources should be reliable, knowledgeable, and unbiased in order to be trustworthy. Ask yourself these questions.

a. Is the source reliable?

Each fact used in a publication needs to come from a reliable source. Authors who list their sources help make your research easier because you can check the source directly and you can make a determination whether that source has provided information in the past which turned out to be accurate. The more well-known the institution or research agency which generated the original information, the more likely it is that the information is reliable. Institutions and research agencies not only do primary research, they also tend to do peer reviews of information prior to its release, and many other interested parties carefully scrutinize their work once it has been released.

b. Is the source knowledgeable?

Look for sources which have credentials in the area of expertise from which the claim emanates. For example, in the case of medical claims, check with organizations and agencies like the National Institutes of Health or the Centers for Disease Control or individuals who have medical degrees. Look for years of related experience and published research. People who have worked at or studied a subject extensively have more understanding of their topic.

c. Is the source unbiased?

Independent laboratories and agencies are the most likely source for unbiased information. Who funds cited research projects? Unfortunately, funding often seems tied to the outcome of the research. Research funded by organizations with significant monetary stakes in the outcome of the research should be viewed with healthy skepticism.

If the author did not list his sources, then more work is required to determine whether the source was reliable. Assessing source reliability is most difficult when the source is listed as a “well-placed source” or “an anonymous source”, or some equally unspecific citing is given. In those cases, treat the information as possibly suspect. Two methods can be pursued at this point. Wait to see how events play out before deciding to treat the information as true or search for collaboration or refutation of the claim from other sources.

Search the Internet with care.

Just because you find something on the Internet does not make it true. Many blogs, newsletters, and articles are not well edited, not reviewed for accuracy, and do not follow journalistic standards. One of the most common mistakes is assuming that because something appears on the Internet, especially if it occurs multiple times, it is true. Since many authors just restate what they read somewhere else without checking the facts, readers can see multiple iterations of inaccurate information. Remember to verify the source. Find the originator of the information and assess their trustworthiness.

If you are researching political statements, you might wish to check FactCheck.org which specializes in researching the issues which appear on the political scene. Other websites which provide more consistently edited and reviewed information include Wikipedia, sites ending with “.gov”, and major newspapers.

Ask a Subject Matter Expert.

As an editor, I occasionally run across something for which it is difficult to find an answer. I turn to experts by searching on the Internet and then send an e-mail request for assistance. Depending on the subject, I might ask college professors, coaches, or whatever other category of expert applies. I provide a short description of my question and ask for their help. I usually send up to five requests which increases my chances of getting at least one response. This has been a successful strategy. I always send a “thank you”!

Ask a Research Librarian.

If you are at a loss for how to check a piece of information, ask your local research librarian. They are well-versed in research techniques and authoritative publications, government, and Internet sources and can refer you to appropriate material in their own reference section.

Check with the Library of Congress.

You can also use the vast resources of the Library of Congress to check on the accuracy of information. Their online “Ask a Librarian” program lets you submit a request for information and their librarians will research the issue and e-mail a response.

Fact checking is worth the effort. Editors will improve the trustworthiness of their publication by ensuring the facts are well-supported and accurate. Readers will be confident about understanding issues and making sound decisions when they know the facts presented are true.

About the Author

Celia Webb is President of Pilinut Press, Inc., publishers of advanced readers for children and ESL students. Check out www.pilinutpress.com for more free articles on developing reading-related skills, word games and puzzles, and activity sheets for the company’s entertaining and educational books.

By Gene Grzywacz

Effective study habits are essential for achieving and maintaining a high GPA. More importantly, effective study habits help you to store information in long-term memory, allowing you to use the learned information in a novel setting. Applying the following rules for studying will aid you in earning excellent marks in school.

Do:

1. Keep the area around your desk neat and tidy. If possible, the area should also be quiet. If you are having trouble finding a quiet place to study, try the local library or park. The library is a perfect place to have peace and quiet. The park may not be as quiet, but the fresh air can make studying less nerve-racking. If these options are unavailable, then try listening to some music while studying.

2. Have a scheduled study time for each school day. Remember that one classroom hour should be reinforced by two hours of studying at home.

3. Sit down for 45 minute intervals, followed by 15 minute breaks. Having an easily attainable goal, like sitting for set duration of time, is effective for increasing motivation.

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4. Reward yourself if and only if you have met your goal for that study session. For example, if you plan to study one chapter and succeed, then you may reward yourself by doing something pleasurable. Examples of positive reinforcement are: food, exercise, videogames, etc.

5. Make correspondences between your class notes and your textbook. This will help you to fill in any background information not covered in class.

6. Prepare questions about the chapter that will be discussed in the following class. This will help you identify areas that you don’t understand.

7. Put any new words or concepts to use. The more you use the learned information, the more likely you will be to remember it. This is especially true for language classes.

8. Finally, review what you have studied just before you go to bed. You will find that you will remember the words very strongly the next morning.

Don’t:

1. Procrastinate. Cramming is not beneficial for producing long term memory.

2. Highlight. Highlighting is a form of procrastination, because you are saving note taking for later. This means you must use the book twice instead of once. Instead, make careful notes to compliment your classroom notes, along with page numbers so that you can refer back to the book if necessary.

3. Study on the computer. You are bound to be tempted to check your email or surf the net.

4. Leave your cell phone on during study time. No matter who is calling or texting you, usually it can wait 45 minutes. Having your cell phone on during study time can be a major distraction and is not conducive to learning.

5. Study just after you have eaten. Studies have shown that thinking is slower after having a meal.

6. Space out. When you feel your mind begin to wander, remind yourself to concentrate. If you are reading, using your finger is a good way to keep your mind on track. The movement of your finger on the page forces you to pay attention to what you are doing.

About The Author

Gene Grzywacz is dedicated to teaching college study skills to serious students and is author of The Brute Force Study Guide. To learn more visit: http://bruteforcestudyguide.com/page4.html

By Celia Webb

When you study English, you will probably reach a point where you feel you are no longer making progress. Once you can talk and read well enough to do common tasks, what do you do if you really want to be able to carry on a conversation naturally? Perhaps you wish to write well or read easily at a higher level. How do you get better? Read the tips below to perfect your English skills.

Ask for help. Your best resource is a native speaker who can tell you how to correctly pronounce a word or show you the way to use words in a sentence. Perhaps you know someone who would be willing to help you. If so, be brave and ask for their help. If you do not know anyone, you can find ESL teachers willing to help at “Dave’s ESL Cafe’s Student Discussion Forums“.

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Practice, practice, practice. You will lose your English language skills if you do not use them. Make it a daily habit to practice your skills. You can find fun and interesting ways to practice on websites with a variety of learning activities. Try “Interesting Things for ESL Students” . Search on the keyword “ESL” to find more helpful websites.

Study for the TOEFL. The Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL is the standard way to measure a student’s understanding of and ability to use English. The test is normally taken by people wishing to attend an English university. Even if you do not plan to attend a university, you might want to try studying for this test because the process of studying for the test will improve your use of English. You can find all sorts of study tips and help on the internet by searching on the keyword “toefl”. You can also check out study guides from local libraries or purchase study guides from a bookstore or over the internet.

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Keep a vocabulary notebook. Building vocabulary is a key way to improve your use of English. Add at least one new word to your vocabulary each day. The word can come from something you read or from a “Word a Day” service which you will find on many websites. Dictionary.com is one such source and you can sign up for their free e-mailing service which will send the word directly to you. Study your new word. Look closely at how it is spelled. Read the definition. Write it out. Post it on your desk. Try to use the word in a sentence. Write it in your vocabulary notebook. The more times you use a word, the more likely it is you will remember it for future use.

Read English every day. Read newspapers, novels, travel guides, or websites. Read anything which is interesting to you and written in English. Keep your dictionary handy for the inevitable words you do not know, but challenge yourself to spend at least 30 minutes a day reading. You will gain reading speed, new vocabulary, and insight into the use of English.

Using the ideas above will lift your understanding of English to the next level. Study hard!

About the Author

Celia Webb is an author, illustrator, and company executive. She and her husband, Mack H. Webb, Jr., founded Pilinut Press, Inc., publishing advanced readers for children and ESL students. Their website http://www.pilinutpress.com offers more free articles on developing reading-related skills, word games and puzzles, and activity sheets for their entertaining and educational books.

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