Authority is Constructed and Contextual
Homework topic: South African Children’s Right

Discipline: 1st year Law students
Duration: 1 Hour
Venue: Library computer lab
Objective: To teach learners that authoritative sources come in different formats.


Learning outcomes or knowledge practices:

• Students should be able to define different types of authority such as subject expertise (scholarship), society position (public office or title), or special experience (participating in a historic event)
• Use markers of authority to determine the credibility of sources
• Recognize that authoritative content may be packaged formally or informally and may include audio visual and non-print sources.

Materials needed:

1. Access to the library OPAC

2. Computers with internet

Activities:

1. Learners will be required to search for 1 online article (on the internet), and 1 printed article (at the library) discussing the same topic.

2. Read the articles and question the credibility and quality of the sources by filling the following information:

• First determine the type of publication that the article appeared in – is it a scholarly or general database, scholarly or general magazine, academic journal, newspaper, etc.

• Who published the source?
• Is the information current?
• What are the author’s credentials?
• Who researched the information?
• Is there a list of references?
• Is the content a primary or secondary source?
• What is the message giving by the source? – Opinion, view point, etc.
• Suitability of the language used?

3. Learners will have to find 1 website discussing the topic; they will have to critically evaluate the website using the online sources evaluating criteria’s. Learners will have to give their views if they will or will not use the information from the website, and if yes give their reasons and if no also reason.

Disposition:

Learners will be able to evaluate sources using different evaluation criteria in determining whether the sources will meet their information needs. Learners will also be able to evaluate the credibility of online sources.