GEN 499 WEEK 4 CRITICAL THINKING
PRACTICE SOLUTION 2026 TESTED MATERIAL
EXPLAINED
◉ What are some factors that can give us good reason to doubt the
reliability of personal experience? Answer: (1) Impairment
(2) Expectation (e.g., when police officers expect to see a weapon
and mistake a phone for a weapon)
(3) Innumeracy and the Gambler's Fallacy (We are not good at
guessing about probabilities)
◉ What is anecdotal evidence? Answer: Based on or consisting of
unscientific reports or observations
◉ An example of anecdotal evidence? Answer: Testimonials or a
telling of an individuals personal experience
◉ What are some weaknesses of anecdotal evidence? Answer: (1)
"cherry-picking"
(2) selective memory of the witness
(3) the "person who" fallacy
(4) informal gathering, documentation, presentation of evidence
(5) "post hoc ergo propter hoc"
,◉ Why do we generally have good reason to doubt advertising
claims and to be wary of advertising's persuasive powers? Answer:
(1) The purpose of advertising is to sell or promote something.
(2) Advertising has a reputation for—and a history of—misleading
messages.
◉ What should you do when evaluating sources? Answer: (1) Read
critically
(2) Size up authors, bloggers, and publishers
(3) Sort out claims.
(4) Compare sources.
(5) Try to discern the source's purpose
(6) Check alternative news sources.
◉ What is fake news? Answer: Deliberately false or misleading news
stories that masquerade as truthful reporting.
◉ What are some of the effects of fake news? Answer: (1) Sews
distrust among people
(2) Pushes political conflict to the boiling point
(3) Exaggerates disagreements and social conflicts
(4) Incites confrontation and violence by proclaiming the reality of
imaginary events.
, ◉ Is fake news a lie? Answer: Fakes news is a lie because it is a
deliberate attempt to deceive.
◉ Are false statements a lie/fake news? Answer: False statements
that arise because of mistakes, errors, or misunderstandings are not
lies and do not constitute fake news.
◉ What is propaganda? Answer: Deliberately biased or misleading
information designed to promote a political cause or point of view.
◉ Is propaganda fake news? Answer: Propaganda and fake news are
distinct, but the latter (fake news) can be used in the former
(propaganda).
◉ Is opinion writing fake news? Answer: Writing expressing
opinions or advocating change (advocacy journalism) is not fake
news unless there is a deliberate attempt to deceive.
◉ What is biased journaling? Answer: Cherry-picking facts to
support one's arguments, ignoring contrary evidence, and
mischaracterizing opponents' views.
◉ Is biased journaling fake news? Answer: Bad journalism and
dishonest, but not fake news unless there is intentional deception.
PRACTICE SOLUTION 2026 TESTED MATERIAL
EXPLAINED
◉ What are some factors that can give us good reason to doubt the
reliability of personal experience? Answer: (1) Impairment
(2) Expectation (e.g., when police officers expect to see a weapon
and mistake a phone for a weapon)
(3) Innumeracy and the Gambler's Fallacy (We are not good at
guessing about probabilities)
◉ What is anecdotal evidence? Answer: Based on or consisting of
unscientific reports or observations
◉ An example of anecdotal evidence? Answer: Testimonials or a
telling of an individuals personal experience
◉ What are some weaknesses of anecdotal evidence? Answer: (1)
"cherry-picking"
(2) selective memory of the witness
(3) the "person who" fallacy
(4) informal gathering, documentation, presentation of evidence
(5) "post hoc ergo propter hoc"
,◉ Why do we generally have good reason to doubt advertising
claims and to be wary of advertising's persuasive powers? Answer:
(1) The purpose of advertising is to sell or promote something.
(2) Advertising has a reputation for—and a history of—misleading
messages.
◉ What should you do when evaluating sources? Answer: (1) Read
critically
(2) Size up authors, bloggers, and publishers
(3) Sort out claims.
(4) Compare sources.
(5) Try to discern the source's purpose
(6) Check alternative news sources.
◉ What is fake news? Answer: Deliberately false or misleading news
stories that masquerade as truthful reporting.
◉ What are some of the effects of fake news? Answer: (1) Sews
distrust among people
(2) Pushes political conflict to the boiling point
(3) Exaggerates disagreements and social conflicts
(4) Incites confrontation and violence by proclaiming the reality of
imaginary events.
, ◉ Is fake news a lie? Answer: Fakes news is a lie because it is a
deliberate attempt to deceive.
◉ Are false statements a lie/fake news? Answer: False statements
that arise because of mistakes, errors, or misunderstandings are not
lies and do not constitute fake news.
◉ What is propaganda? Answer: Deliberately biased or misleading
information designed to promote a political cause or point of view.
◉ Is propaganda fake news? Answer: Propaganda and fake news are
distinct, but the latter (fake news) can be used in the former
(propaganda).
◉ Is opinion writing fake news? Answer: Writing expressing
opinions or advocating change (advocacy journalism) is not fake
news unless there is a deliberate attempt to deceive.
◉ What is biased journaling? Answer: Cherry-picking facts to
support one's arguments, ignoring contrary evidence, and
mischaracterizing opponents' views.
◉ Is biased journaling fake news? Answer: Bad journalism and
dishonest, but not fake news unless there is intentional deception.
