Fact or Fake PowerPoint (200 points)

Due Date: Friday March 10th

In search of...truth on the web.
You mission is to research a topic of controversy and verify its validity based on web research. Your research will present both sides of the issue. After considering all sides, you will need to state your conclusion on the topic. You can present your research and PowerPoint to the class upon completion for bonus points.
As you search for information on your topic, think about the quality of information that is available on the web. Think about why it is easy or hard to find information about your topic. What makes an online resource different from a printed resource when researching these kinds of topics?
Assignment checklist - make sure that you have taken care of these items.
- do you have at least 15 slides?
- slide transitions and custom animation on every slide?
- did you find two websites for each side of your hoax or controversy? You must have a total of four websites in your bibliography.
- did you cite these resources?
- did you research one of the authors of your website resources? Look at #4 below.
- did you list results from three search engines? Look at #6 below.
- what is your conclusion? DO you think that your hoax is believable?
Save your PowerPoint as your username followed by the hoax. Like this: webberhoax.ppt
  1. For each topic, find two sites that support each side.For example, if you have chosen Bigfoot as your topic you might find one website that shows photographic proof of our furry friend while another discusses someone's contact with Bigfoot while camping. Your other two sites would take the opposite viewpoint - a discussion by a biologist on the unlikely possibility that Bigfoot exists and a site that shows Bigfoot photos to be hoaxes.
3. Properly cite each web resource
4. Learn about the author or organization that created one of your online resources. Choose one of the websites that you used in your research and provide information about the author's credentials. Here are some items to include:
-what credentials do they have? (what college or university degrees do they list, where do they work?).
-why is this organization providing this information?
-would you consider them a hobbyist, self-proclaimed expert or professional?
-are they selling something? If so, what?
-is the website current with new information posted this year or is it stale?
-search for the author's name in a search engine and see what you can learn about that person?
5. Based on your observations, what do you conclude? Support your conclusions with a least three pieces of evidence from your web research. Use your own words to craft your conclusion-do not copy and paste.
6. Record the number of results from three Boolean searches. Note the search engine used as well. Use at least two different search engines. Example:
bigfoot NOT hoax 26,000 results - google.com
bigfoot AND photographs 55,000 results - yahoo.com
bigfoot OR yeti 125,000 results - dogpile.com
7. Create a PowerPoint containing the following elements:
-title page
-statement of controversy. Example: "For hundreds of years, the Pacific Northwest has been center of reports of large, bipedal mammals...."
-slides as needed that represent both sides of the issue or controversy. Use images or video as examples of evidence. Do not copy and paste text from other websites - use your own words.
-slides as needed to present your conclusion.
-slide with complete citations for all four websites.
-a slide that analyzes the author or organization who created one of your resources.
-slide with results of your Boolean searches.
-each slide should have a Slide Transition and Custom Animation.
Your slideshow should have at least 15 slides including the title slide. "The End" does not count as a slide.
Example Topics / words for searching
-moon landing
-bigfoot
-alien abduction
-Loch Ness monster
-urban legends
-Area 51
- Illuminati / -Tupac is alive
-Lake monsters Champ or Memphre
-who killed JFK?
-ghosts
-crop circles
-virus hoaxes / -the Bermuda Triangle
-secret planes: Aurora
-Atlantis
-UFOs
-Elvis lives
-Ebola Virus Hoax
...or your choice, with approval. / -Boolean: searches using and, or, not.
-hoax: an act intended to deceive or trick.
-skeptic: one who doubts or questions.
-debunk: to expose the falseness of a claim or idea.
/ /
Fact or Faked PowerPoint
Design / Theme does not detract from topic and text/graphics. Choice of background is consistent from slide to slide and is appropriate for the topic. Customization of the theme has also been included. / Theme does not detract from topic and text/graphics. Choice of background is consistent from slide to slide and is appropriate for the topic. / Theme does not detract from topic and text/graphics. / Theme and background makes it difficult to see text or competes with other graphics on the page.
Slides / 10 Slides total with a Title and Source slide. Slides contain all required content; one image, subtitle, description, non-distracting transition, and at least one animation. / 10 Slides total with a Title and Source slide. Slides contain most required content; one image, subtitle, description, non-distracting transition, and at least one animation. / 10 Slides total with a Title and Source slide. Multiple slides are missing two or more required content; one image, subtitle, description, non-distracting transition, and at least one animation. / Presentation does not meet 20 slide requirement and/or Title and Source slide are not included. All slides are missing multiple required content; one image, subtitle, description, non-distracting transition, and at least one animation.
Presentation / Slides are designed in a clear, concise, and prompting manner to facilitate an excellent presentation. The topic is presented utilizing the PP as an enhancing tool. / Slides are designed in a clear, concise, and prompting manner to facilitate an good presentation. The topic is presented using the PP as the major portion of the presentation. / Slides are designed in an unclear manner to facilitate an poor presentation. The topic is presented using the PP as the sole presentation. / Slides are designed in an unclear manner and the presenter reads all content from the PP presentation.
Source Citation / Sources are cited in proper order and include Author, Title, Copyright, Access Date, and Website URL. If multiple sources are cited, they are alphabetized by author. / Sources are cited in proper order and include most of the requirements; Author, Title, Copyright, Access Date, and Website URL. If multiple sources are cited, they are alphabetized by author. / Sources are cited in an improper order and include most of the requirements; Author, Title, Copyright, Access Date, and Website URL. If multiple sources are cited, they are not alphabetized by author. / Sources are cited in an improper order and include only the website URL or are not cited at all.