1. English 1213 Dr. Jones Argumentative Resources Frederic Murray, MLIS Instructional Services Librarian

2. Did You Know

3. 21 st Century Skills Knowing more about the world Thinking outside the box Becoming smarter about new sources of information Developing good people skills How well informed are you? Take the QuizHow well informed are you? Take the Quiz

4. Argumentative Information Identify your topic State the position you will support Highlight points of your discussion Use information to support your position –Pro/Con Materials –Research Materials –Opinion Polls –Statistics

5. Helpful Keywords to Use Issue Controversy Statistic Ethical Rights Debate Attitude Trend Condition Examples : Rights and poverty death penalty and Controversy household spending and Trends

6. Pro/Con Resources Book Series –Contemporary Issues –Opposing Viewpoints –Reference Shelf –Taking Sides

7. Pro/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

8. Opinion or Fact? Halliburton benefits from the war in Iraq. Halliburton was charged with selling nuclear technologies to Iran. Stephen King is a prolific writer. Stephen King is talented. Bottled water is cleaner than tap water. To meet American demand of bottled water, requires 1.5 million barrels of oil annually.

9. Opinions vs. Facts (Statistics) 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process Cons (Weaknesses) –Data can be manipulated –Unless data collection is a regular practice, data can become outdated and irrelevant

10. Opinion Resources Editorials on File –Ref 070.43 Ed48 Gallup Poll –Ref 301.154 G13g –http://www.gallup.comhttp://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

11. 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

12. 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

13. http://www.swosu.edu/library/infoservices/govdocs/gov.htm

14. Statistical Resources Google U.S. Government Search –Directional search of.gov domain 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.

15. Online Surveys & Reports Pew Research Center (Main Site) –http://pewresearch.orghttp://pewresearch.org Pew Global Attitudes Project –http://pewglobal.orghttp://pewglobal.org Pew Internet & American Life Project –http://www.pewinternet.orghttp://www.pewinternet.org Pew Hispanic Center –http://pewhispanic.orghttp://pewhispanic.org Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life –http://pewforum.orghttp://pewforum.org

16. 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.

17. Censorship & Disinformation U.S. media & news sources prefer entertainment and fear tactics over journalism –Journalists Avoiding the NewsJournalists Avoiding the News –Keith Olbermann’s video on Political Fear TacticsKeith Olbermann’s video on Political Fear Tactics –Bad News (New York Times article)Bad News (New York Times article) –Broadcast Journalism: About News or Entertainment?Broadcast Journalism: About News or Entertainment? International media & news sources provide better coverage of current events –The BBC: How to be Impartial During WartimeThe BBC: How to be Impartial During Wartime –Why Americans Don’t Trust the News Media (Chronicle of Higher Education article)Why Americans Don’t Trust the News Media (Chronicle of Higher Education article) –Who Do You Trust?Who Do You Trust?

18. Ready to Argue

19. Questions? Contact me: –Frederic Murray 744-7113 frederic.murray@swosu.edu

20. Thanks!