Writing Journal Assignment #1

Hello Everyone,

For your first Writing Journal assignment, please read the following article: “Truth: Can You Handle It?" by Monica Hesse, washingtonpost.com April 27, 2008. p. M01

- Go to the website for washingtonpost.com
- Then choose " Web: Results by Google" (next to the SEARCH: data field).
- Next, Type the article’s title in the SEARCH: data field, and perform your search.

You’re welcome to respond to the article however you wish. I do encourage you, though, to consider the following:

Consider Monica Hesse’s points. How does your own experience confirm or disprove what she says about conducting research in the current information age?

Considering the author’s explanation of “wikiality,” what (if anything) can students do to avoid that trap? What are some possible consequences of this phenomenon?

The author mentions the notion of discerning fact from opinion. How do you yourself tell the difference (in your sources for news, for instance)?

What do you think about the amount of time the one student, Hillary Swain, is willing to spend “to track down an answer before giving up”? How much time do you think is reasonable?

What can be done to encourage students to use research as an opportunity to educate themselves and deepen their knowledge rather than a chance to reinforce their own beliefs?

Please include the following information as a heading on your work:

Your name
Eng1050 – 20
Writing Journal Assignment #1

Please post your Writing Journal response to this article (200 - 250 words) by Thursday, September 17, 2009.

Have a good day.

Mr. Dierkes