Ottosdal

Article summary

Ottosdal is a small town situated at an altitude of 1,479 meters (4,855 feet) on the branch railway line from Makwassie in the central North West Province of South Africa. Ottosdal is a farming community engaged in the growing of grains such as maize (mielies), sunflower and peanuts. In addition, local farmers raise cattle, sheep, pigs, dairy cows and chicken. A major pyrophyllite mine lies near it on the farm Gestoptefontein. This town originated from the establishment of a Dutch Reformed Church parish in 1913. To this was added a church building on Korannafontein, the farm of Gerhardus Petrus Otto. The town is known as the birthplace of "Die Baas", who was born there in 1952. Ottosdal grew around the church and was officially registered in 1917 and named after G. P. Otto (de Jager 1997).

Key claims

1. date of birth: 1952 — 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 birth is "1952". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
4. 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=1378782583