1

Important Announcement  Activity 3 of your lab contract has been changed to an optional assignment.  If you complete this assignment, it will be counted as extra credit.

Today’s Agenda  Go over next week’s work.  Review vocab so far.  Review last week’s reading.  Watch clip from The Daily Show clip.  Discuss evidence.  Work on group project. 3

Vocabulary Review Week 4 1. Even though he was wealthy, he was very ______ with his money. He spent as little as possible. 2. He accepted the job, ____ with some hesitation. 3.The event planner was _____, going over every detail of the day. 4. The local high _____s the racial divisions that already in the city by dividing students up in smaller groups. 5. Although it was not obvious, the commercial contains a _____ message that it was acceptable to drink and drive.  Perpetuate Meticulous Albeit Subtle parsimonious 4

Let’s sit in smaller groups.  I am going to give you a card.  Sit with people who have the same number as you. 5

Your group is assigned the following. Page 329 Group 1. Who is the writer? Group 2. What is the writer’s main argument? Group 3. If possible, list one or two unstated assumptions. Group 4. Is the evidence relevant? Group 5. What types of evidence are represented? Group 6. Is the argument worth considering? Do you accept the argument? 6

7 Review  Jon Stewart  The Daily Show  Comedian  This is a clip about CNN, but he also satirizes other cable news organizations.  What is his claim?  What assumptions does he make?  Do you accept the claim and the evidence he presents?

How good is the evidence? Take these statements:  Most U.S. senators are men.  Practicing yoga reduces the risk of cancer. 8

How do we know whether a claim is true?  Establishing the absolute truth or falsity of most claims is extremely difficult.  Instead, it is more useful to ask whether they are dependable. 9

How do we know if we can count on the claim?  The greater the quality and quantity of evidence supporting the claim, the more we can depend on it. 10

When we encounter a claim, we can ask these questions:  What is your proof?  Where’s the evidence?  Are you sure it’s true?  How do you know that’s true?  Why do you believe that?  Can you prove it? 11

What do you do if there’s conflicting evidence?  We need to make judgments based on the preponderance of evidence.  The more supporting evidence there is, the more we can accept the claim. 12

What do we mean by evidence?  It is the explicit information shared by the communicator that is used to back up or justify the dependability of a claim. 13

Relevancy  What kind of connection writer make between the evidence and the claim?  Does the evidence really support the claim?  The writer needs to explain the significance of the evidence to the claim. 14

Adequacy  Is the evidence reliable? Consistent? Valid? Not too biased?  Is the evidence authoritative? Who has written or published it? 15

Is it relevant & adequate? In a random survey last month of 470 members of the Sierra Club, 98 percent of those interviewed opposed drilling for oil in the Alaskan wilderness. Clearly then, the American people oppose such drilling. 16

Number Groups Each group number will receive an article, or maybe two, about a type of evidence an writer uses to support his or her claim. Read the article. As a group, find an example and a danger for that type of evidence. Danger refers to LIMITATIONS. Be sure you are able to explain what you have. 17

18 Cross out this part.

19 Statistics Add another section on the bottom.

Color Groups  Switch groups and sit according to you color.  Take turns sharing what you have.  By the time everyone is done, your handout should be complete.  I will collect this at the end of class. 20

Let’s apply what we’ve learned. 21

Identify the Claim and Evaluate the Evidence 1.Second Hand Smoke Video #1 from the American Lung AssociationSecond Hand Smoke Video #1 from the American Lung Association 2.Second Hand Smoke Video #2 from the Canadian GovernmentSecond Hand Smoke Video #2 from the Canadian Government 22

I am looking at coming to New York, NY next year. Can you tell me what the law is on smoking? I understand you cannot smoke in public spaces, so where can you smoke? If you can't smoke outside. Is it restricted to select areas (inside)? We in the UK are being lobbied by US representatives to ban smoking in public places here in London. It's political correctness gone mad. The car should be first thing to be banned if health is to be considered so important. 23 Letter Posted on NYC’s Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment

Let's remember, from the UK perspective America is the largest polluting country in the modern western world. So it does make you ask the question, does America know what they are doing? This is not supposed to be personal, and it does not mean all Americans are stupid. But the American constitution is being ignored in my opinion. Those opposed to smoking have used the tools and weapons to the very best ability. However, they are responsible for undermining their own constitution in favor of their own self interest. 24

They are setting a precedent that will affect their constitution, and will some day come back at them. Only then will they see their rights infringed. Unfortunately, it will be all too late. They can't complain because they set the new rules to operate by, and so they will be the ones to suffer. Thank you, Martin 25

4. From the Canadian Government 26

5. From Blue Cross Blue Shield 27

We have evaluated evidence in isolation. Let’s look at how it applies in relation to the other parts of an argument. You are your partner are going to receive two articles on the same side of a controversial issue. Compare and contrast the articles. 28

29 SimilaritiesDifferences Decide 1.Which writer uses more relevant and adequate evidence? 2.Because of the evidence, which article is more convincing?