Transcript EVALUATING INFORMATION

English 1213
Dr. Jones
Session 3:
Argumentative Resources, Statistics & Surveys
Frederic Murray, M.L.I.S.
Reference Librarian
Save Time/Get Better Grades
• Catalog
– SWOSU
– WorldCat
• Databases
– EBSCO/Facts on File/CQ/LexisNexis
• Services
– Reference/ILL/Instruction
• Internet
Pro/Con
TOPIC
Exercise:
Argumentative Resources Worksheet
Topic: 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?
What kind of Information Sources
should I use for my paper?
• Use both Electronic AND Paper Sources
• For current events, use materials
published in the last 3-5 years
• Know BOTH sides of the story
• Use information literacy skills to select
the most authoritative information
Identifying Keywords
• Identify the significant terms and
concepts that describe your topic from
your thesis statement or research
question.
• These terms will become the key for
searching catalogs and databases for
information about your subject.
Sample Topics:
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school uniforms and dress codes
the immigration issue
Harry Potter
abstinence-only education in public schools
spring break dangers
elementary school curriculum
mandatory drug tests in schools
best source of comics: Marvel or DC
smoking bans
parents choosing sex of their babies
gay rights to marriage
abortion
defense of hunting
Argumentative Information
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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 Use
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Issue
Controversy
Statistic
Ethical
Rights
Debate
Attitude
Trend
Condition
Examples:
rights and abortion
death penalty and controversy
household spending and trends
Print Pro/Con Resources
• Book Series
– Contemporary Issues
– Opposing Viewpoints
– Current Controversies
How do I choose a Database?
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Subject Content
Date or Year Range of Coverage
Types of Material or Documents it Indexes
Currency (how often updated?)
Format of information
– Citation Only?
– Full-text?
– Both?
Electronic Pro/Con Resources
• CQ Researcher
– contains information on current and
controversial issues specific 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 Resources in Print
• 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
Newspaper Databases
• LexisNexis
– Full-text information from over 5,600
sources
– National and regional newspapers, wire
services, broadcast transcripts,
international news
– Statistical Resources
• NYT Online
– Search or browse the full text of the New
York Times from 1851–2004.
Online Surveys & Reports
“fact tank” vs. think tank
• Pew Research Center
• The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan
"fact tank" that provides information on the
issues, attitudes and trends shaping America
and the world. It does not take positions on
policy issues.
Opinion or Fact?
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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. Facts (Statistics)
• Opinion-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)
• Opinion-Weaknesses
– Less concrete
– A view formed by
someone’s belief which
can be biased
– Not necessarily the truth
– Opinions can differ
widely
• Facts-Strengths
– Very concrete
– Based in
scientific/research
methodology
– Data supports
arguments
– Statistics helps
determine the accuracy
of information in the
evaluation process
• Facts-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
Statistical Resources
• Reference Collection (Behind Ref Desk)
– American Attitudes
– Americans at Play
– Education Statistics of the United States
– Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics
– Statistical Handbook on the American
Family
– World Almanac
Statistical Resources
• Statistics Resources Blog
– A Subject Tracer Information Blog for monitoring
statistics resources and sites on the Internet.
• Government Information
– Provides statistical information directly from the
U.S. Government and the agencies who collect
the data.
– Google Unclesam (Gov’t Search Engine)
www.google.com/unclesam
Now Knowing What You
Know
Complete the Worksheet
Exercise: Argumentative Worksheet
Topic: 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?
RESOURCE REVIEW:
• Pro/Con: Issues &
Controversies/Opposing Viewpoints
• Collective Opinion: Editorials on File/
Gallup Poll/ Pew Research/Newspaper
Databases
• Statistics: Statistics Resource
Blog/Google Unclesam/Gov’t Webpage
Writing Your Paper
• Writing Center
– Located in the basement of the library
– Call for appointment #774-7083
• MLA Style
– Style Sheets
– MLA Handbook at Reference & Circulation
Desk
– http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/
Thank You
Frederic Murray, M.L.I.S.
774-7113
[email protected]
http://faculty.swosu.edu/frederic.murray