1. Examine Self & Civic Identity
2. Identify an Issue
3. Research & Investigate
4. Develop an Action Plan
5. Take Action
6. Reflect & Showcase
Current Massachusetts Bills
Search the database to see what types of bills are currently being proposed.
There are over 464 topics in this database, all of them broken down by the following categories:
Web Resources
Lateral Reading (definition from ChatGPT):
Lateral reading is a critical thinking and information evaluation technique used in the context of online information and media literacy. It involves a method of quickly assessing the credibility and reliability of digital sources, such as websites, articles, or social media posts, by looking beyond the source itself and considering external information.
Rather than focusing solely on the content of a single source, lateral reading encourages individuals to open multiple browser tabs or windows to perform tasks like fact-checking, verifying the author's credentials, and examining the source's reputation. This approach allows individuals to gather information from various sources and cross-reference data to make more informed judgments about the accuracy and trustworthiness of the information they encounter online.
Lateral reading is particularly valuable in an era where misinformation and disinformation are prevalent, as it empowers individuals to become more discerning consumers of digital information and less susceptible to false or biased content.
Wikipedia is a great starting point for your research. Get an overview of your topic AND use Wikipedia's hyperlinks/sources from their articles.
Like Wikipedia, ChatGPT can be a great starting point for your research and can lead you to helpful sources. You must disclose to your teacher if you use ChatGPT at any point in the research process.
Massachusetts State Senators & Representatives
Who is my State Senator/State Representative in the Mass State House?
This is site will tell you the name of the State Representative and State Senator for your district.
Canton, MA 02021
Senator Paul R. Feeney Bristol and Norfolk
Representative William C. Galvin 6th Norfolk
US Senators & Representatives
FactCheck.Org: We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.
Fact-checking journalism is the heart of PolitiFact. Our core principles are independence, transparency, fairness, thorough reporting and clear writing. The reason we publish is to give citizens the information they need to govern themselves in a democracy.
When misinformation obscures the truth and readers don’t know what to trust, Snopes.com’s fact checking and original, investigative reporting lights the way to evidence-based and contextualized analysis. We always document our sources so readers are empowered to do independent research and make up their own minds. Snopes is now the oldest and largest fact-checking site online, widely regarded by journalists, folklorists, and readers as an invaluable research companion.
Links to agencies
Since 1967, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has provided the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. Federal agencies are required to disclose any information requested under the FOIA unless it falls under one of nine exemptions which protect interests such as personal privacy, national security, and law enforcement.
From www.foia.gov
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