Examining Authority

  • Due No Due Date
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icon_deepdive_52px.png Context of assignment  

This assignment is designed to engage students in examining the authority of an author. 
  • Subjects this assignment is best suited for:  any
  • Class size best suited for:  40-50
  • This assignment will be worth [XX] number of points.

icon_target_52px.png Learning outcomes for students

  1. To  determine if an author is a reliable source
  2. To  identify an authors influence among others. 
  3. To identify potential bias from an author.

 icon_eye_52px.png What students will need to know before

  1. Guidance on how to research an author's background information

icon_assignment_52px.png Assignment:

For this step of your research project, you will begin by reading the module The Foundation of Authority.  After reading this module, find one resource related to your topic and evaluate the source's author. Use the questions below to evaluate your source and fill in the table with your answers. 

Criteria: Source:

Context:

What do you know about the author? Are they a professor or researcher? Do they hold a professional, social, or political position? Do they have special experience, like witnessing an event or working in an industry?

Knowledge:

What do they know about the subject? Is the depth of their knowledge sufficient, or are there potential gaps in their understanding?

Influence:

Authors usually have a community of peers. Who are they, and what do they have to say about the author? Is the author's work influential or frequently referenced? 

Bias:

Why might this author's opinion be more vocal than others? What about the author's community, race, gender, economic or social position make them seem to be more of an authority over someone else? What are the consequences of the author's potential bias? 

 

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Rubric

Find Rubric
Author Authority Rubric
Author Authority Rubric
Criteria Ratings Pts
Edit criterion description
Context
threshold: pts
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5 pts
Full Marks
The students described who the author was by identifying their experience with the topic as well as if they are a professor or researcher.
Edit rating Delete rating
0 pts
No Marks
The students did not describe who the author was by identifying their experience with the topic and if they were a researcher or professor.
pts
5 pts
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Additional Comments
Edit criterion description
Knowledge
threshold: pts
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5 pts
Full Marks
The students identified what the author knew about the topic as well as if their knowledge and experiences provide sufficient understanding of the topic.
Edit rating Delete rating
0 pts
No Marks
The students did not identify what the author knew about the topic as well as if their knowledge and experiences provide sufficient understanding of the topic.
pts
5 pts
--
Additional Comments
Edit criterion description
Influence
threshold: pts
Edit rating Delete rating
5 pts
Full Marks
The students describe the people who actively follow this author's work. The student identifies what people have said about this person's work as well as if it is frequently referenced.
Edit rating Delete rating
0 pts
No Marks
The student does not describe the people who actively follow this author's work. The student does not identify what people have said about this person's work as well as if it is frequently referenced.
pts
5 pts
--
Additional Comments
Edit criterion description
Bias
threshold: pts
Edit rating Delete rating
5 pts
Full Marks
The students evaluate the author's community, race, gender, economic, or social position to identify if the author may have more of an authority than others. The student identifies the potential consequences of a author bias.
Edit rating Delete rating
0 pts
No Marks
The student does not evaluate the author's community, race, gender, economic, or social position to identify if the author may have more of an authority than others. The student does not identify the potential consequences of a author bias.
pts
5 pts
--
Additional Comments
Total Points: 20 out of 20