english 1213 session three: argumentative resources & statistics frederic murray, mlis
TRANSCRIPT
English 1213
Session Three: Argumentative Resources & Statistics
Frederic Murray, MLIS
Pew Research Center
Where Do You Fit ?
Pro/Con
TOPIC
Exercise: Argumentative Resources Worksheet
Topic: Oklahoma HB 2513 & HB 2211 Amends existing law to allow concealed handgun permit holders to carry concealed handguns on college or university property.
Question: Should this law be passed?
Argumentative Argumentative InformationInformation• Identify your topic• State the position you will support• Highlight points of your discussion• Use information to support your
position– Pro/Con Materials– Opinion Polls– Statistics
Helpful Keywords to UseHelpful Keywords to Use
• Issue• Controversy • Statistic• Ethical• Rights• Debate• Attitude• Trend• Condition
Examples:
Rights and povertydeath penalty and Controversyhousehold spending and Trends
Pro/Con ResourcesPro/Con Resources
• Book Series– Contemporary Issues– Opposing Viewpoints– Reference Shelf– Taking Sides
Pro/Con ResourcesPro/Con Resources
• CQ Researcher– contains information on current and
controversial issues concentric to the U.S. Government
• Issues and Controversies– provides up-to-date, objective
information on the most prominent and hotly debated issues of the day
Which sounds better?
• Oil over $100 is cause for concern.
• Harvard economists believe oil over $100 is cause for concern.
– A COLLECTIVE OPINION IS STRONGER THAN A SINGLE OPINION
Opinion or Fact?Opinion or Fact?
• Whales are mammals.• Whales are superior to dolphins.• Stephen King is talented.• Stephen King is a prolific writer.• Abraham Lincoln was the best
president the United States has ever had.
• John Adams was the second president of the United States.
Opinions vs. FactsOpinions vs. Facts• Pros (Strengths)
– A consensus of opinions are much stronger than a single opinion
– Reflects the culture and society that experience these issues and events (primary resource)
• Cons (Weaknesses)– Less concrete– A view formed by
someone’s belief which can be biased
– Not necessarily the truth
– Opinions can differ widely
• Pros (Strengths)– Very concrete– Based in
scientific/research methodology
– Data supports arguments
– Statistics helps determine the accuracy of information in the evaluation process
• Cons (Weaknesses)– Data can be
manipulated– Unless data collection is
a regular practice, data can become outdated and irrelevant
Which sounds better?
• A lot of freshman drop out of SWOSU each academic year.
• 40% of freshman drop out of SWOSU each academic year.– NUMBERS CARRY WEIGHT,
PEOPLE ARE INFLUENCED BY STATISTICS
Opinion ResourcesOpinion Resources
• Editorials on File– Ref 070.43 Ed48
• Gallup Poll – Ref 301.154 G13g– http://www.gallup.com– an organization studying human nature
and behavior for more than 70 years through public surveys
– collects attitudes and opinions of individuals and key groups within the American population concerning national and international issues and events
Statistical ResourcesStatistical Resources
– American Attitudes• 303.38 M6958a 2000
– Americans at Play• 790.068 W462a
– Education Statistics of the United States• 370.9021 Ed836
– Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics• 364.973 B9524 2003
– Statistical Handbook on the American Family• 301.421 St295 1999
– World Almanac• 317.3 W89
http://www.swosu.edu/library/infoservices/govdocs/gov.htm
Statistical ResourcesStatistical Resources
• Government Information– Provides statistical information
directly from the U.S. Government and the agencies who collect the data.
– Google U.S. Government Search http://www.google.com/ig/usgov
Online Surveys & ReportsOnline Surveys & Reports• Pew Research Center (Main Site)
– http://pewresearch.org• Pew Global Attitudes Project
– http://pewglobal.org• Pew Internet & American Life Project
– http://www.pewinternet.org• Pew Hispanic Center
– http://pewhispanic.org• Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life
– http://pewforum.org
World Wide Web: Resources• CNN Special Reports• http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/• Includes facts, statistics, interviews of supporters and
opponents, and much more on key issues. The site maintains an archive going back to 1995.
• National Center for Policy Analysis• http://www.ncpa.org• NCPA is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy research
organization whose goal is to develop and promote private alternatives to government regulation and control, solving problems by relying on the strength of the competitive, entrepreneurial private sector.
• SpeakOut.com• http://speakout.com/index.html• Provides issues arranged by topic categories. The site is
devoted to promoting activism in a variety of areas.
Ready to Argue
Finish the Worksheet:
• Identify three sources of information in support of your defense.– A.
– B.
– C.
Thanks!