Content Area: Language Arts Literacy

 

Index: 3.4B Grade 12 CPI 2

 

Standard: 3.4 - Listening

 

Strand: B - Listening Comprehension

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator: 2 - The student will evaluate the credibility of a speaker.

 

Grade: 12

 

Sample Activities:

 

·       Using a videotape of a trial from the Court TV channel, each student selects one witness to evaluate in terms of credibility using a predetermined list of criteria as a basis for judgment. In addition to the list, the evaluator writes a one-page summary statement explaining why the witness is or is not credible.

 

·       Students watch a segment of a news magazine show such as 60 Minutes. Using a predetermined list of factors, they then analyze each of the interviews in the segment to determine the credibility of each of the speakers. Responses to the speakers are compared in class.

 

·       Students are given a list of statements that could provoke discussion about topics, such as “testing drugs on animals is not helpful to humans” or “cigarette manufacturers are taking advantage of people in third-world countries.” Students are then asked to identify the kind of credentials the individual making such statements would need to have in order to be considered credible. Following this, students read editorials in The New York Times and note the information given about each author. They identify the writers they consider to be credible.