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Pro/Con Resources for Argumentative Topics Jane Long MLIS, University of Oklahoma MA, Wright State University Reference Services Librarian Al Harris Library [email protected] Pew Research Center Where Do You Fit ? Potential Topics Based on Current Issues • What can be done to maintain our natural resources? • Do Americans need health care? What does the taxing of health care mean? • Is traditional marriage going out of style? • Do Americans need more security when they are using the Internet? • What has happened to the automotive industry in the United States? • Why are U.S. troops fighting in Afghanistan? Where do I start finding ideas for my topic? – Library Catalog • Reference Area • Search the catalog for: – Books, ebooks, videos – Databases • TOPICsearch • CQ Researcher • Issues and Controversies • Points of View Reference Center • Newsbank Access World News, Newspaper Source Plus Helpful Keywords to Use • • • • • • • • • Issue Controversy Statistic Ethical Rights Debate Attitude Trend Condition Examples: • Rights and poverty • death penalty and Controversy • household spending and Statistics TOPICsearch • An Ebsco product • Use Limiters to Narrow Search • Example: Environment – Current Events – Full Text – Topics – Document Type Pro/Con Resources • Ebooks – Greenwood Ebooks – Ebrary Academic Complete Collection Pro/Con Resources • CQ Researcher – contains in-depth, unbiased coverage of current issues • Issues and Controversies – provides up-to-date, objective information on the most prominent and hotly debated issues of the day • Points of View Reference Center – provides a variety of essays presenting multiple sides of a current issue Argumentative Information • • • • Identify your topic State the position you will support Highlight points of your discussion Use quality information to support your position – Pro/Con Materials – Opinion Polls – Statistics 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. 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 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 Opinions 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 Opinion Resources • Editorials on File – Ref 070.43 Ed48 (from 1970 to 2003) • 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 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 Statistical 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 & 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 • • • National Center for Policy Analysis • • • 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. 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/activism/issues/ Provides issues arranged by topic categories. The site is devoted to promoting activism in a variety of areas. Pro/Con Environmental Change: Yes or No? Study the Resources Consider Topic Possibilities Formulate a Research Question Topic: Environmentally Friendly Transportation People around the world are considering the significance of conserving our resources. For many, this changes the way they think about travel within their communities. Question: How can methods of transportation be changed to save natural resources and improve community spirit? Questions? • Contact me: – Jane Long • 774-3030 • [email protected] • http://faculty.swosu.edu/jane.long Thanks!