When practiced, SIFT helps us learn to read, view, or listen effectively before reading an article or other information online.
- Stop before you share or use the source.
- Learn about the author: What’s their expertise? Their agenda? Their record of fairness or accuracy?
- Find Better Coverage or other sources that may or may not support the original claim.
- Check on claims: Are they broadly accepted? Rejected? Something in-between?
- Don’t take evidence at face value. Is it presented in its original context, or with a certain frame that changes its meaning for the reader or viewer?
Want to learn more about the SIFT Method? Visit this guide.
The SIFT Method portion of this guide was adapted from "Check, Please!" (Caulfield). The canonical version of Check, Please! exists at http://lessons.checkplease.cc (CC-BY)
