The "CRAP" Test for Reliability: A step-by-step framework for evaluating sources based on Currency, Reliability, Authority, and Purpose/Point of View. Students learn to distinguish between scholarly research, sponsored content, and "fake news."
Deconstructing Non-Fiction Structures: Investigates how informational texts are organized to guide the reader. This includes analyzing the use of Headings, Sub-headings, Sidebars, Glossaries, and Indexes to find specific data quickly.
Scanning and Skimming Techniques: Advanced strategies for "speed-reading" high volumes of text. Students practice skimming for the "big picture" and scanning for specific dates, names, or statistics without getting bogged down in every sentence.
Interpreting Visual Data: A dedicated module on "reading" non-prose information. Students learn to extract and analyze meaning from Infographics, Flowcharts, Statistical Tables, and Complex Maps, understanding how visual layout can emphasize certain data over others.
Identifying Bias and Propaganda: Teaches students how to spot "loaded" language and emotional appeals in news reports and documentaries. They learn to identify what has been left out of a text as much as what has been included.
The Art of Note-Taking: Moves beyond copying text to active processing. Students practice the Cornell Note-Taking System and Mind Mapping, learning how to summarize complex information into their own words to aid long-term retention.
Synthesizing Multiple Sources: Prepares students for senior research projects. Exercises challenge students to take three different texts on the same topic (e.g., climate change or a historical event) and identify the points of agreement and contradiction.
Fact vs. Opinion vs. Theory: Clearly defines the boundaries between objective truth, personal belief, and scientific or historical frameworks. Students practice categorizing statements to understand the "weight" of the information they are reading.
Academic and Technical Vocabulary: Focuses on the "Tier 2" and "Tier 3" words common in textbooks and reports—such as Correlation, Magnitude, Variable, and Infrastructure—ensuring students aren't intimidated by formal language.
Navigating Digital Spaces: Practical tips for effective searching. Students learn how to use Boolean Operators (AND, OR, NOT) and how to evaluate the credibility of URLs (e.g., .gov vs .edu vs .com) to streamline their online research.
Citation and Intellectual Honesty: A simple introduction to the importance of giving credit. Students learn why we cite sources and the basics of how to record where their information came from to avoid plagiarism.
Glossary of Information Terms: A guide to essential research terminology—such as Abstract, Bibliography, Quantitative, Qualitative, and Primary Source—equipping students for senior secondary inquiry.