Alcan

Article summary

Alcan was a Canadian mining company and aluminum manufacturer. It was founded in 1902 as the Northern Aluminum Company, renamed Aluminum Company of Canada in 1925, and Alcan Aluminum in 1966. It was rebranded once more in 2001, to Alcan Incorporated. During that time, it grew to become one of the world's largest aluminum manufacturers. Alcan was purchased by Australian-British multinational Rio Tinto for $38 billion in 2007, becoming Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. in 2008. It was headquartered in Montreal, in its Maison Alcan complex.

Key claims

1. date of foundation: 1902 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of foundation: 1902 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of foundation: 1948 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of foundation is "1902". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of foundation is "1902". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of foundation is "1948". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
6. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1378865303