Wayne Flynt

Article summary

James Wayne Flynt (born October 4, 1940) is University Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at Auburn University. He has won numerous teaching awards and been a Distinguished University Professor for many years. His research focuses on Southern culture, Alabama politics, Southern religion, education reform, and poverty. He was the first Editor-in-Chief of the online Encyclopedia of Alabama. Flynt received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard College (shortly before its reorganization as Samford University) in 1961 before taking his Master of Science (1962) and Ph.D. (1965) from Florida State University. After teaching at Samford for 12 years, he joined the faculty at Auburn University in 1977, where he remained until his retirement in 2005. He was a friend of author Harper Lee.

Key claims

1. date of birth: 1940-10-04 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. publication date: 2010 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. publication date: 1980 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. publication date: 1971 — 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 "1940-10-04". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the publication date is "2010". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the publication date is "1980". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the publication date is "1971". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
7. 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=1372303462