Information Literacy - How to Differentiate Quality Information from Misinformation & Rhetrickery

Information Literacy – How to Differentiate Quality Information from Misinformation & Rhetrickery

Information Literacy refers to the competencies associated with locating, evaluating, using, and archiving information. You need to be strategic about how you consume and use information in order to thrive, much less survive in a global information economy — an economy where information functions as a capital good such as money or social influence. Avoid being duped by sophists (people who are engaged in rhetrickery to lie and persuade you to swallow misinformation). Learn about the core concepts informing critical literacy by reviewing Information Literacy Ecosystem – Core Concepts. After clarity and rhetorical reasoning (especially audience awareness), learn why authority & credibility are such a major concern of knowledge workers in the 21st century -- especially now that bots can write as well or better than most humans. Explore Western conceptions of information ethics (e.g., academic integrity; copyright; intellectual property, plagiarism). Question how traditional measures of academic integrity are being upended by the rise of GAI (generative artificial intelligence) tools. And, perhaps most importantly, develop your ability to critically evaluate information. For instance, familiarize yourself with the SIFT method for assessing the authority of sources, or the CRAAP method.

A pic of J.D. Vance from 2017 and a quote from from 2024, ""If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, that that's what I'm going to do..."

J.D. Vance quote from a CNN interview with Dana Bash, saying "If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, that that's what I'm going to do..." J.D. Vance's statement exemplifies modern sophistry (also known as "rhetrickery)" -- i.e., prioritizing emotional appeals (pathos) over logical reasoning (logos). Sophists do not allow truth to stand in the way of persuasion. They willingly ignore the context of the situation, and they relying on unsubstantiated claims rather than facts or evidence-based discourse. When asked to provide evidence for his claim, Vance retorted, "It comes from firsthand accounts from my constituents." He did not name his constituents nor did he provide any credible evidence. In short, by stating he would "create stories" to gain media attention, Vance demonstrates a willingness to manipulate narratives and stoke immigration fears, engaging in "rhetrickery" that sacrifices truth for political gain. As Patrick Moynihan famously quipped, "You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts." This sentiment is particularly relevant here, as constituents may have opinions or make claims, but these do not necessarily constitute facts. The facts of this situation are that Springfield's City Manager, Bryan Heck, informed Vance and his staff that there was no credible evidence supporting these claims after thorough researching the unsubstantiated claims. As Governor DeWine, the republican governor for Ohio, aptly stated, "The statements are wrong ... frankly, they need to stop." Governor DeWine called the statements "very hurtful" and "very disruptive" to the community, particularly affecting young students and their parents. In Springfield, Ohio, the impact of Vance's unsubstantiated claims were severe. His assertions about migrants eating pets resulted in multiple bomb threats and death threats, forcing schools and city buildings to close. Haitian immigrants, many of whom legally live and work in Springfield, reported facing threats and intimidation.

Table of Contents

What is Information Literacy?

Information Literacy refers to

the ability to recognize “when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate and use the needed information” (American Library Association, 1989)
“a cluster of interconnected core activities, frameworks” that constitute information ecosystems (ACRL 2015)
a subject of study
- Consuming, evaluating, producing, managing, using, and archiving information–these are topics of ongoing scholarship in information studies, writing studies, and related disciplines. This topic is under constant evolution as new communication technologies evolve.

Synonymous & Related Terms

Information Literacy may also be called

Data Information Literacy
Science Communication
STEM Literacy for Learning.

What is Information?
Information refers to everything your senses perceive, including visual, auditory, or kinesthetic data (more).

What is Literacy?
Literacy refers to the ability to identify, interpret signs, and communicate with signs, using whatever medium or semiotic system the audience expects you to use.

“Though we may know how to find the information we need, we must also know how to evaluate it. Over the past decade, we have seen a crisis of authenticity emerge. We now live in a world where anyone can publish an opinion or perspective, whether true or not, and have that opinion amplified within the information marketplace” (Obama, 2009).

Why Does Information Literacy Matter?

In order to thrive, much less survive in a global information economy — an economy where information functions as a capital good such as money or social influence — you need to be strategic about how you consume and use information. If you accept what people tell you without engaging in critical literacy practices, such as evaluating the authority, accuracy, and relevance of information, you may

receive poor grades in school and a loss of clients at work
be spammed, tricked, or fooled by bad actors
be uninformed about the best, most relevant information on a topic
make decisions based on emotions rather than reason
confuse fake news for real news
make poor decisions, contrary to the decisions you would make if you had engaged in strategic searching.

By using critical perspectives when consuming, evaluating, or producing information, people develop competencies that have been conceptualized as “a basic human right in a digital world” (Alexandria Proclamation 2005).

Image of Trump and beneath it one of Trump's tweets claiming climate change is a hoax. — On November 6 2012 Donald Trump tweeted The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non competitive This statement highlights the critical importance of information literacy In our complex information ecology not everything we read can be trusted We must critically evaluate sources In this instance Trump later attempted to downplay the tweet saying it was intended as a joke stating in a 2016 interview I often joke that this is done for the benefit of China Obviously I joke But this is done for the benefit of China because China does not do anything to help climate change Yet to really assess whether President Trump believes global warming is a marketing narrative pitched by China you would have to consider his other statements about climate change For instance on January 29 2014 Trump tweeted Snowing in Texas and Louisiana record setting freezing temperatures throughout the country and beyond Global warming is an expensive hoax More recently in April 2024 Trump told host Stuart Varney on Fox Business that climate change is a hoax He added In my opinion you have a thing called weather and you go up and you go down These statements illustrate the necessity of information literacy in discerning fact from opinion or fiction in public discourse especially regarding complex issues like climate change The ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education provides a interpretive lens for distinguishing between opinion fact and speculation Its emphasis on authority being constructed and contextual and information creation as a process can you help you critically evaluate the authority of a sources claims

Writing with Artificial Intelligence - WC — With AI tools generating vast amounts of information todays students must sharpen their information literacy skills more than everunderstanding how to distinguish between facts opinions and AI generated content is key to navigating the complexities of academic integrity in the digital age

What Competencies Are Associated with Information Literacy?

Related Concepts

a word cloud of words used in citation article

Citation – Types of Citation Styles in Academic & Professional Writing

Literacy

Cognitive, Intrapersonal, and Interpersonal Literacies
Communication
Critical Literacy
- Interpretation – Interpretative Frameworks
- Textuality – Intertextuality
Digital Literacy
Quantitative Literacy
Semiotics: Sign, Signifier, Signified
Symbolic Communication
Symbolic Systems
Visual Language
Visual Literacy
Writing

Research Deepfakes & Misinformation

References

Alexandria Proclamation on Information Literacy and Lifelong Learning, 2005. Information literacy. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/access-to-knowledge/information-literacy

Association of College and Research Libraries. “Visual Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education.” Text. Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), October 10, 2019, http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/visualliteracy.

ACRL (Association of College and Research Libraries) (2015) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education, http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ilframework, 12/21/19.

CWPA 2011. Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing, http://wpacouncil.org/aws/CWPA/pt/sd/news_article/242845/_PARENT/layout_details/false, 3/3/20.

Obama, B. H. (2009, October 1). Presidential proclamation on National Information Literacy Awareness Month. The White House. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/presidential-proclamation-national-information-literacy-awareness-month