Conspiracy
Thinking

Classwork:

1. Choose one of these conspiracies:

The JFK Assassination
AIDS is Manmade
Water Fluoridation
The Reptoid Elite
Chemtrails
The Philadelphia Experiment
9-11 was Planned by the US Government
UFO cover-up at Roswell
Holocaust Revisionism
The Moon Landings Were Faked
Secret Societies Control the World
Zionist Conspiracy
Clinton Body Count
Barack Obama Birth Conspiracy 

2. Create a 12-slide Presentation:

Slide 1: Attention-Getting Title, Extreme Image, your name, your partner's name
Slide 2: Conspiracy-Oriented Question (EX: Are Reptoid Aliens Taking Over The Internet?!??!?), Extreme Image
Slides 3-4: An explanation of  how your chosen conspiracy theory attempts to answer your question.
Slides 5-8: A further description of your chosen conspiracy theory, and its evidence - use images.

3. Research your topic on this site:  http://www.skepdic.com/contents.html
    (For example, if your topic is the Illuminati, go here.)

4. Add Slides 9-12:

Slide 9: Your definition of Occam's razor.
Slide 10: Your explanation of how Occam's razor can be used to "cut through" nonsensical explanations.
Slides 11-12: Show how your chosen conspiracy can be more accurately explained using a more simple, non conspiratorial explanation. Use Logic, not Supposition or unnecessary arguments.

5. Make sure each slide has an image. Choose ridiculous or silly images that show how ridiculous your conspiracy theory is. 

6. Add the phrase "Conspiracy theorists believe," before the claims in your earlier slides - so that no one confuses your opinion with the opinion of maniacal, stupid, or gullible people.

7. Make sure each slide does not have too much text. Summarize!

8. Email this 12-slide presentation to me.


Exit Ticket:
Be prepared to verbally answer the following questions:

"Why is it usually a waste of time to argue with a conspiracy theorist?"

"How can critical thinking enable us to not waste our time and energy on conspiracy theories?"