Purpose Detective Slides Digital Detective Agency
The Purpose Files
Mission 01: Why did they write this?
The Big Question
How do we know if we can trust the information we find online?
YouTube Videos
Websites
Social Media
The P.I.E. Code
Persuade
The author wants to change your mind or make you buy something.
Commercials
Reviews
Inform
The author gives you facts and teaches you something new.
News Reports
Textbooks
Entertain
The author wants you to enjoy yourself, laugh, or feel something.
Comics
Movies
Detective Challenge
Imagine you are writing a science report about lions.
Which of these videos would you trust for your facts? Why?
A funny cartoon about a lion named Larry.
A commercial for "Lion-Strength" cat food.
A documentary by National Geographic.
Visual Comparison Here
Detective Vocabulary
Credible
Able to be believed; trustworthy.
Source
A person, book, or website that gives information.
Intent / Purpose
The reason why something is created.
Media
Ways that information is shared (TV, Internet, Books).
Ready to start Mission 01?
Let's Go!
Purpose Clue Worksheet The Purpose Files
Mission 01: Text Analysis
Name:
Date:
Instructions
Read each text snippet below. Determine if the author's primary purpose is to Persuade, Inform, or Entertain. Explain your evidence.
P
Persuade
I
Inform
E
Entertain
FILE #001
"The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system. It is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands."
Purpose:
Persuade
Inform
Entertain
Clues (Why?):
FILE #002
"Tired of boring sandwiches? You need the Ultra-Crunch Toaster! It makes every slice a golden masterpiece. Buy one today and get a second one half-price. Don't let your breakfast be a snooze-fest!"
Purpose:
Persuade
Inform
Entertain
Clues (Why?):
FILE #003
"The robot tripped over a rogue banana peel and executed a perfect backflip into the punch bowl. 'Well,' it beeped, 'that's one way to start a party!' Everyone cheered as the machine began to disco dance."
Purpose:
Persuade
Inform
Entertain
Clues (Why?):
Write Your Own Snippets
Challenge 1: Inform
Write 2-3 sentences about your favorite animal using only facts.
Challenge 2: Persuade
Write 2-3 sentences to convince a friend to try a new vegetable.
Purpose Detective Teacher Guide Teacher Resource Lesson 1
The Purpose Files
Instructional Guide for Media Literacy: Inform, Persuade, Entertain
Learning Objectives
Define and identify the three primary author purposes: Inform, Persuade, Entertain (PIE).
Analyze media snippets for specific clues (tone, vocabulary, intent).
Differentiate between credible information and biased persuasion.
Essential Question
"How does knowing an author's purpose help us decide if information is trustworthy for research?"
Materials Needed
Purpose Detective Slides
Purpose Clue Worksheet
Sample Videos (National Geographic, Cat Food Ad, Cartoon)
Lesson Procedure
1
The Hook (10 mins)
Show the three videos suggested in the slide deck. Ask students: "If you had to write a science paper, which video gives you the 'best' facts?" Guide them to see that while all are about the same topic (e.g., Lions), their intent is different.
Scaffolding Tip:
For ESL students, provide sentence frames: "I would trust Video X because it uses ________ (facts/funny jokes/prices)."
2
Direct Instruction: PIE Code (15 mins)
Use the slides to define Persuade, Inform, and Entertain. Use the "PIE" mnemonic. Focus on the vocabulary words: Credible and Source .
3
Guided Practice: The Worksheet (15 mins)
Distribute "The Purpose Files" worksheet. Do File #001 together. Point out clues like numbers, locations, and lack of "feeling" words as evidence for 'Inform'.
4
Independent Work & Wrap-up (10 mins)
Students complete File #002 and #003 independently. Conclude by asking: "Can a source be both Informative AND Entertaining? (Yes, like a documentary), but which is the PRIMARY goal?"
Worksheet Answer Key
File #001: Inform
Evidence: Uses specific numbers (2,900 reefs), geographical names (Queensland, Australia), and neutral facts without trying to sell or joke.
File #002: Persuade
Evidence: Uses exclamation points, emotional words (boring, masterpiece, snooze-fest), and a "call to action" (Buy one today!).
File #003: Entertain
Evidence: Uses a fictional scenario (dancing robot), dialogue, and words meant to make the reader laugh or visualize a funny scene.
Five Ws Audit Slides Digital Detective Agency
The Five W's Audit
Mission 02: Evaluating Website Credibility
Don't Get Tricked!
Some websites look professional, but the information inside is fake.
Just because it has a logo and a search bar doesn't mean it is true!
Think about it:
"Can anyone make a website?" (YES!)
Hoax Websites
Websites that lie to you on purpose.
The 5 W's Framework
Who
Who is the author? Are they an expert?
What
What is the purpose? (Inform, Persuade, Entertain?)
Where
Where does the info come from? Check the .gov or .edu.
When
When was it written? Is it outdated or new?
Why
Why should I trust this? Does it cite sources?
Domain Clues
.gov
Government websites (very trustworthy).
.edu
Education or Universities (usually trustworthy).
.org
Organizations (can be biased or one-sided).
.com
Commercial (could be selling something).
"Always check the 'About Us' page to find the Who!"
Time to Audit
You are now ready to audit your first website. Use your Credibility Checklist to see if the site passes the test or is a hoax!
Magnifying Glass? Check.
Let's Audit!
Credibility Audit Checklist Website Credibility Audit
Digital Detective Agency • Mission 02
INVESTIGATOR NAME:
Website URL:
Article Title:
Who created this?
Look at the 'About Us' or 'Contact' page
Author/Organization Name: ________________________________________________
They are an expert
I can't find an author
Unknown person
What is the purpose?
Recall the PIE code
Inform
Persuade
Entertain
Evidence: __________________________________________________________________________
Where is the domain?
Check the end of the URL
.gov
.edu
.com
.org
Other: _______
When was it written?
Look for a date near the title or bottom
Date found: _________________
Recent (Last 2 years)
Old (5+ years)
No date found
Why should I trust this?
Are there links to other reliable sources?
Does the website look professional (no weird ads)?
The Verdict
Is this source credible for research?
TRUSTED
SUSPECT
Hoax Hunt Teacher Guide Teacher Resource Lesson 2
The Five W's Audit
Mission Guide: Spotting the Hoax
The "Hoax Hunt" Strategy
Students will use the Credibility Audit Checklist to evaluate two websites. One is a legitimate educational site, and the other is a famous "hoax" site. This activity creates a "cognitive conflict" that proves why looking professional isn't enough.
Target Hoax Site
zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/
Note: The "Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus" site is a classic teaching tool. It looks real, has many links, and uses scientific language, but is 100% fake.
Setup Steps
Pre-load the Tree Octopus site on student devices.
Print 2 checklists per student.
Select a real site (e.g., National Geographic Kids) for comparison.
The Lesson Flow
1
The Reveal (5 mins)
Tell students they found a "new species" on a science website. Show the Tree Octopus site. Ask: "Does this look like a real website?" Most will say yes.
2
Training: The 5 W's (15 mins)
Use the slides to teach the framework. Focus on WHERE (domains like .gov) and WHO (author expertise). Explain that .org doesn't always mean "neutral."
3
The Audit (20 mins)
Students audit the Tree Octopus site. Watch for their discovery of the "Why" section (where the site links to fake stores or absurd claims like "sasquatch"). Then, have them audit the real science site.
4
Debrief (10 mins)
Ask: "What was the biggest clue it was fake?" (Usually the absurd photos or lack of external news corroboration). Connect this to why we need multiple sources.
ESL Scaffolding Tips
Visual Vocabulary: Point to the URL bar when discussing 'Where' and the 'About' link when discussing 'Who'.Verdict Cards: Give students red and green cards to hold up for their 'Verdict' to encourage non-verbal participation.Cognates: Use cognates if students speak Spanish (e.g., Credible/Creíble, Information/Información). Bias Spotter Slides Digital Detective Agency
The Bias Spotter
Mission 03: Facts vs. Opinions
What's the Difference?
FACT
"Something that can be proven true or false."
Based on evidence
Uses numbers/dates
Everyone agrees on it
OPINION
"How someone thinks, feels, or believes."
Personal feelings
"I think" / "The best"
People disagree on it
What is BIAS?
Bias is when an author favors one side over another.
It's like wearing tinted glasses. They only show you one color of the story.
Bias Clues:
Using strong adjectives (terrible, heroic).
Ignoring the "other side."
Telling you how to feel.
Spot the Spin
Two reporters wrote about the same soccer game. Can you find the Bias ?
Reporter A
"The Blue Rockets destroyed the clumsy Starfish in a 4-0 win. Their brilliant teamwork was unstoppable!"
Reporter B
"The game ended 4-0. The Blue Rockets scored four goals. The Starfish goalkeeper made six saves during the match."
Which one is Biased?
Which one is Objective?
Your New Tool
Detectives use a Highlighter to spot "Emotive Language." If the words sound like a cheerleader or an angry critic, it's probably BIAS!
Mission 03: The Bias Spotlight Activity
Bias Spotlight Worksheet The Bias Spotlight
Mission 03: Detective Work
Name:
Detective Protocol
Use a highlighter or circle words that show bias (strong feelings, "spin," or emotive language). Then, rewrite the sentence to be a Neutral Fact.
Suspect Sentence 1
"The new school cafeteria food is absolutely disgusting and nobody likes the terrible pizza."
Clue Words Spotted:
Neutral Rewrite (The Facts):
Suspect Sentence 2
"Professor Brainy is the smartest person in the entire world , and everyone must listen to his heroic ideas."
Clue Words Spotted:
Neutral Rewrite (The Facts):
Suspect Sentence 3
"The annoying rain ruined the perfect weekend, making everyone miserable ."
Clue Words Spotted:
Neutral Rewrite (The Facts):
THE BIAS CHALLENGE
Read the two short paragraphs about homework. One is biased , one is objective . Circle the biased paragraph.
Paragraph A
Research shows that 5th-grade students spend an average of 50 minutes on homework per night. Some teachers assign math practice, while others focus on reading logs.
Paragraph B
Homework is a evil tradition that steals childhood joy. Greedy teachers give way too much work, making every student's life a nightmare .
Bias Detective Answer Key Teacher Key Lesson 3
The Bias Spotlight
Answer Key & Instructional Notes
Bias Spotlight Key
SENTENCE 1: Cafeteria Food
Clue Words: absolutely disgusting, nobody, terrible.
Neutral Rewrite: "The cafeteria serves pizza for lunch. Some students do not like the food."
SENTENCE 2: Professor Brainy
Clue Words: smartest, entire world, everyone must, heroic.
Neutral Rewrite: "Professor Brainy has many ideas. People listen to his presentations."
SENTENCE 3: The Rain
Clue Words: annoying, ruined, perfect, miserable.
Neutral Rewrite: "It rained during the weekend."
The "Highlighter" Strategy
When students struggle to spot bias, tell them to look for words that show a feeling . If they can't take a picture of it, it might be an opinion. You can take a picture of "rain," but you can't take a picture of "annoying."
Common Misconceptions
• "If it's in a book, it's a fact." (Correct this by showing biased editorials).
• "Facts can't be used to be biased." (Correct this by explaining how leaving out certain facts creates bias).
The Bias Challenge Key
Answer: Paragraph B
Paragraph B uses extreme emotive language (evil, steals, greedy, nightmare) which clearly indicates author bias against homework.
Fact Check Mission Slides Digital Detective Agency
Fact Check Mission
Mission 04: Cross-Checking & Corroboration
The Golden Rule
"Never trust just ONE source."
SOURCE A
SOURCE B
SOURCE C
Does the story stay the same?
Corroboration
What is it?
Corroboration is when you find the same fact in multiple reliable places.
Think like a Detective:
"If only one person says it happened, maybe they are mistaken. If three people say it, it's likely true!"
Step-by-Step
1
Read a claim.
2
Leave that website!
3
Search for the same info elsewhere.
Lateral Reading
Don't just read UP and DOWN a website.
Read SIDEWAYS (Laterally) by opening new tabs.
The Expert Move:
Search: "What do other people say about [Website Name]?"
Tab 1
Tab 2
Tab 3
Mission: Fact-Check Challenge
You will be given 3 "Surprising Facts." Your mission is to find 3 different sources for each fact. If you can't find them, the fact is a fake!
Begin Corroboration Challenge
Fact Check Mission File Top Secret
Fact-Check Mission File
Digital Detective Agency • Mission 04
Investigator:
Mission Objective: Verify the three claims below. To "Confirm" a claim, you must find at least two other reliable sources that say the same thing. If you find zero or only one source, mark it as "Unverified."
Claim #01
LEVEL: NOVICE
"Wombats have cube-shaped poop."
Corroboration Source 1:
Corroboration Source 2:
Verdict:
CONFIRMED
FAKE
Claim #02
LEVEL: ADVANCED
"Bananas grow on trees."
Corroboration Source 1:
Corroboration Source 2:
Verdict:
CONFIRMED
FAKE
Claim #03
LEVEL: EXPERT
"There is a species of octopus that lives in trees in the Pacific Northwest."
Corroboration Source 1:
Corroboration Source 2:
Verdict:
CONFIRMED
FAKE
Detective Reflection
Why is it important to check MORE than one website when you find a "strange" fact?
Fact Check Mission Key Teacher Key Lesson 4
Fact-Check Key
Corroboration Mission Briefing
The Verdicts
Claim #01: Wombat Poop
VERDICT: CONFIRMED
This is a surprising but true fact. Reliable sources like National Geographic, Smithsonian, and various university biology departments all confirm this. This is the "Hook" to show that even weird things can be true if they are corroborated.
Claim #02: Banana Trees
VERDICT: FAKE (Mostly)
This is a common misconception. Bananas actually grow on giant herbs, not trees (they have no woody trunk). While many sources might loosely call them trees, scientific sources will correct this. This teaches students to look at specific language.
Claim #03: Tree Octopus
VERDICT: FAKE
This revisits the hoax from Lesson 2. Students will find that the only source for this is the zapatopi website. No news sites, universities, or encyclopedias mention it. This is the ultimate proof of why corroboration is vital.
Lateral Reading Tips
STEP 1: Teach students to type "is [FACT] true?" into Google to see if fact-checking sites like Snopes or Britannica appear.
STEP 2: Encourage them to check "Google Images" for Claim #03. They will see photoshopped images, which is a great talking point about digital manipulation.
Chief Editor Slides Digital Detective Agency
Chief Editor Challenge
Final Mission: Curation & Synthesis
The Scenario
You are the Chief Editor for "Space Today" magazine.
Your writers have brought you 6 different sources for an article on Mars Exploration .
Only the most credible sources can be used. Which ones will you pick?
Your Task:
Examine the "Source Menu."
Apply the 5 W's.
Pick the top 3 and justify your choices.
Selection Criteria
AUTHORITY
Is the Who an expert in space science?
CURRENCY
Is it new? Mars info changes fast!
OBJECTIVITY
Is it neutral or is it trying to sell Mars real estate?
Graduation
After completing your Editor Mission, you will receive your Digital Detective Badge.
"Stay critical. Stay curious. Stay smart."
Chief Editor Challenge Worksheet Chief Editor Challenge
Final Synthesis Mission • Space Today Magazine
Chief Editor:
The Scenario
Your writer is writing an article: "Life on Mars: The Next Frontier." You must select the 3 most credible sources from the menu below. Cross out the ones you reject!
ID: 001
Mars-Rocks.com
"Buy your own piece of the Red Planet! Authentic Mars meteorites for sale. Mars is beautiful and we love it!"
.com Purpose: Persuade
ID: 002
NASA.gov - Mars Exploration
"Latest data from the Perseverance Rover. Published Jan 2026. Scientific findings on water signatures in Jezero Crater."
.gov Expert Author
ID: 003
The Martian Blog (Blogspot)
"I think NASA is hiding the truth! My cousin saw a green light on Mars last night. Click here for the secret pics!"
No Expert Bias: High
ID: 004
Arizona-State.edu / Astrobiology
"University study on the possibility of microbial life in Mars soil. Peer-reviewed research article (2025)."
.edu Inform
ID: 005
NatGeo Kids - Mars Facts
"10 Cool Things about the Red Planet. Simple facts about gravity, size, and temperature. Verified for young researchers."
Trusted Org Corroborated
ID: 006
Mars (1912 Newspaper Clip)
"Scientist claims to see canals on Mars built by an ancient civilization. Mars is full of water and forests!"
Outdated Not Credible
Final Selection
1
Source ID: _________ Why? ________________________________________________________________
2
Source ID: _________ Why? ________________________________________________________________
3
Source ID: _________ Why? ________________________________________________________________
Critical Thinking Question:
Why did you reject Source #006? Even though it was written by a scientist, what made it a "bad" choice for research today?
Digital Detective Badge Certificate Official Certification
Digital Detective
This is to certify that
has successfully completed the Digital Detective Agency training and demonstrated mastery in evaluating digital sources, spotting bias, and corroborating facts.
Chief Investigator Signature
Class of 2026
Date of Mission Success
