Trace information to its source
Learning goal: Recognize when a quote or statistic lacks enough context.
A headline may summarize a report incorrectly, or a quote may have been shortened so much that the meaning changes. Look for the complete source and its publication date.
Check whether a number describes a survey, an estimate, a confirmed count or a personal account. These categories mean different things and should not be treated as interchangeable.
When you cannot find the original source, it is better to say that a claim remains unverified than to present it as established fact.
Practice
Choose a public statistic with a linked source. Find its original publisher, date and what exactly was measured.
Do this privately, in a notebook or on your own device. Nothing you write is collected by this site.