building a better speech argumentative resources, opinion polls, statistics, and understanding bias...
TRANSCRIPT
BUILDING A BETTER SPEECH
Argumentative Resources, Opinion Polls, Statistics, and Understanding Bias Through Evaluation Criteria
Forming an Argument
What kinds of Information Sources should I use for my speech?
Both Electronic AND Paper sources can be used
For current events, materials published in the last 3-5 years are good choices
Know BOTH SIDES of the issue
Getting Started Identify your topic State the position you will support Highlight points of your discussion Use information from credible
sources to support your position Pro/Con Materials Opinion Polls Statistics
Helpful Keywords to Use Issue Controversy Statistic Ethical Rights Debate Attitude Trend Condition
Examples:
ethics and journalism
death penalty and controversy
household spending and trends
statistics and health care
Argumentative Resources
Print or E-Book Pro/Con Resources Book Series
Contemporary Issues Opposing Viewpoints Reference Shelf Taking Sides
How do I choose a database? Subject Content Date or Year Range of Coverage Types of Material or Documents Indexed Currency (how often updated?) Format of information
Citation Only? Full-text? Both?
Electronic Pro/Con Databases
TOPICsearch articles in the database are associated with
a main topic or current event. A good starting point for topic selection.
CQ Researcher contains information on current and
controversial issues. Focus is on issues concentric to the U.S. Government.
Pro/Con Databases (continued) Issues and Controversies
provides up-to-date, objective information on the most prominent and hotly debated issues of the day. Includes both current and historical events.
Points of View Reference Center Contains essays that present multiple sides
of current issues. Each topic includes objective background/description, point, and counterpoint.
Opinion Polls
Which sounds better? Americans believe the war in Iraq
was not justified.
Of Americans polled, 56% believe the war in Iraq was not justified. A COLLECTIVE OPINION IS
STRONGER THAN A SINGLE OPINION
Opinion? Fact? According to the Oxford English
Dictionary, an opinion is “A judgement, belief, or conviction held by the majority of or many people; what is generally thought about something.”
On the other hand, a fact is “A thing done or performed. Something that has really occurred or is actually the case.”
Opinion or Fact? Dolphins are mammals. Sharks are more amazing than
dolphins. Danielle Steel is talented. Danielle Steel is a prolific writer. Abraham Lincoln was the best
president the United States has ever had.
Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States.
Opinions vs. Facts (Statistics) Opinion-Strengths
A consensus of opinions is 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
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
Statistics
Which sounds better? A lot of Oklahoma students drop
out of school each year. According to a report from the
Oklahoma State Department of Education, 40% of Oklahoma high school students drop out of school each year. NUMBERS CARRY WEIGHT,
PEOPLE ARE INFLUENCED BY STATISTICS
Electronic Statistical Resources LexisNexis
Full-text information from over 5,600 sources
Includes statistical resources GPO (Government Information)
Provides statistical information directly from the U.S. Government and the agencies who collect the data.
Google US Government Search www.google.com/unclesam
U.S. Census Bureau (Largest producer of statistics in the world)
Statistical Resources on the Web 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
Another Electronic ResourceGoogle Use a Site Specific Command Searches only specific domains What to type:
immigration statistics: gov immigration statistics: org
Evaluating Resources
Evaluating Information Authority – Who? Accuracy – What? Objectivity – How? Why? Currency – When?
Step 1: Authority Books &
Articles Who is
responsible for content?
Author(s)? Editor(s)? Publisher Credentials
offered?
Newspapers Writer(s) Editor(s) Columnist(s)
Web Pages Who is
responsible for content?
Webmaster? Web team? Organization? Institution? Company?
Domain Names Which one is
right? www.whitehouse.
com www.whitehouse.
gov www.whitehouse.
net www.whitehouse.
org Whois.net
www.whois.net
.gov .org .mil .com .edu .net .int
Indicates a reliable domain
Step 2: Accuracy Books &
Articles Can the
information be verified?
Bibliography Works Cited Peer-reviewed
(journals only)
Newspapers Interviews Eyewitness
Accounts
Web Pages Can the
information be verified?
Links to credible sites
Copyright Works Cited Fact check with
a printed source
Step 3: Objectivity Books &
Articles Biased or
Objective? Persuasion/
Emotion Author’s Point
of View
Newspapers Subscriptions
($) Advertising ($) Owners CJR review
Web Pages Biased or
Objective? Opinion/Fan
sites Sponsoring
Organization Agendas Political
Propaganda Web hosting
Step 4: Currency Books & Articles
When was it published?
Copyright date Important based
upon subject Science Social Science Allied Health Education Pharmacy Computer Science
Newspapers published daily
Web Pages When was it created
and last updated? Well maintained web
sites have an indication when it was last updated or modified
Accessibility Dead links
Stability Changes URLs
frequently
Always remember the importance of Evaluation! Authority
Who created it? Who is responsible? What credentials do they hold? What makes
them qualified to discuss the topic? Accuracy
Can the information be verified? Check the facts!
Objectivity How is the information being presented? Is it objective or biased? What’s the point of
view? Currency (important based on subject)
When was it published? When was it last updated?
Exercise: Understanding/Detecting Bias National Network for Immigrant and
Refuge Rightshttp://www.nnirr.org/
U.S. Customs and Border Protectionhttp://www.cbp.gov/
Federation for American Immigration Reformhttp://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer
Hispanic Newshttp://hispanic.cc/immigration.htm
Are you ready to get started?
