Worksheet: Analyzing News - Source Reliability
English
Year 9
11 questions
~22 mins
1 views0 downloads
About This Worksheet
A worksheet designed to enhance Year 9 students' skills in analysing the reliability of sources within historical news reports. The passage presents a fictionalised account of a 19th-century newspaper report, prompting analysis of language, tone, and context.
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Worksheet: Analyzing News - Source Reliability
Subject: EnglishGrade: Year 9
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Untitled Worksheet
Grade Year 9
A
Source Reliability in Historical News
In the year 1848, amidst the tumultuous waves of revolution sweeping through Europe, a local newspaper, 'The Patriot’s Voice', published an account claiming that the uprising in Paris was entirely orchestrated by foreign agents seeking to destabilise the continent's fragile political balance. The report described vivid scenes of chaos and described the demonstrators in highly sympathetic terms, asserting that they were victims of deceit and manipulation. The article employed emotive language, such as 'treacherous plots' and 'brazen conspiracy', to sway public opinion. Yet, some historians argue that the report was sensationalised, designed to incite fear and unrest among the populace. While official sources from the French government dismissed the report as exaggerated propaganda, the newspaper's editor maintained that their account was based on eyewitness reports and confidential intelligence. Critics note that the report lacked corroboration from independent sources and used a series of dramatic anecdotes to paint a one-sided picture of events. This raises questions about the influence of bias, the purpose behind the report, and the reliability of the source for understanding the true nature of the uprising.
1.
What is the main claim made by 'The Patriot’s Voice' about the Paris uprising?
[2 marks]2.
Identify two words used to evoke an emotional response in the report.
[2 marks]3.
What does the text suggest about the credibility of the report?
[2 marks]4.
Which word describes the tone of the report: neutral, sensational, or objective?
[1 mark]Aa) Neutral
Bb) Sensational
Cc) Objective
5.
What is a possible motive for the newspaper to produce such a report?
[2 marks]6.
Describe one technique the writer uses to persuade readers.
[2 marks]7.
Why might historians question the reliability of this report?
[2 marks]8.
Identify a phrase in the passage that indicates the report was based on eyewitness accounts.
[2 marks]9.
Do you think this report is a reliable source for understanding the events? Why or why not? Provide reasons based on the passage.
[6 marks]10.
How might bias influence the way news stories are written, based on this example?
[2 marks]B
Creative Writing Task
Write a short newspaper article from the perspective of a journalist reporting on the same event. Use formal language and include at least three techniques to engage readers. You may include direct quotes or descriptions of the scene.
1.
Compose your article here, ensuring you include appropriate journalistic techniques such as emotive language, direct quotes, or vivid descriptions.
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Details
- Created
- 1/1/2026
- Updated
- 1/1/2026
- Type
- worksheet