BUILDING A BETTER SPEECH Argumentative Resources, Statistics, Opinion Polls and How to Understand Bias Through Evaluation Jason Dupree Head of Public Services

Forming an Argument

What kind of Information Sources should I use for my speech? Use both Electronic AND Paper Sources For current events, use materials published in the last 3-5 years Know BOTH SIDES of the story

Getting Started 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 in Searches Issue Controversy Statistic Ethical Rights Debate Attitude Trend Condition Examples: rights and abortion death penalty and controversy household spending and trends

Activity: Choose a Video NASA launches Controversy 2008 Feb. 26: Public outcry erupts over plans to build new launch site in wildlife refuge. Morbid Curiosity 2007 Jan. 3: Should the viewing of capital punishment and torture be allowed on the Internet? Transgender Rights Controversy 2008 May 14: Need for laws to protect an individual’s rights and gender expression. Violent Video Games 2007 Apr. 21: Is the rise in violent behavior related to the increasing number of violent video games?

Argumentative Resources

Print Pro/Con Resources Book Series –Contemporary Issues –Opposing Viewpoints –Current Controversies *title search in the Library Catalog

How do I choose a Database? 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

Exercise, Part 2: Argumentative Resources Worksheet Pro/Con: Three arguable points Select the side you are defending Identify three arguable points for your side only

Opinion Polls

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

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

Opinion Resources in Print Editorials on File –Ref Ed48 Gallup Poll –Ref G13g – –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

Electronic Opinion Resources LexisNexis –Full-text information from over 5,600 sources –National and regional newspapers, wire services, broadcast transcripts, international news NYT Online –Search or browse the full text of the New York Times from 1851–2004.

Opinion Resources on the Web Headline Spot Polling Report Ropert Center of Public Opinion Archives *Please refer to class website for more resources

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.

Statistics

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 in Print 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

Electronic Statistical Resources LexisNexis –Full-text information from over 5,600 sources –Statistical Resources GPO (Government Information)GPO –Provides statistical information directly from the U.S. Government and the agencies who collect the data. –Google Unclesam (Gov’t Search Engine) –U.S. Census Bureau (Larger producer of stats in the world)U.S. Census Bureau

Statistical Resources on the Web Statistics Resources Blog (What is a blog?)Statistics Resources Blog (What is a blog?) –A Subject Tracer Information Blog for monitoring statistics resources and sites on the Internet. Pew Research Center –A “Fact Tank” vs. “Think Tank” –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.

Statistical Resources on the Web STATS Fedstats Various government statistical sites *Please refer to class website for more resources

Exercise, Part 3: Argumentative Resources Worksheet Pro/Con: Three information sources Locate one opinion poll Locate one statistical source/report Locate one article discussing this topic.

Evaluation

Library Online Sources vs. the Internet: What’s the difference? Subscription vs. “free” resources aka “the hidden web” Evaluation time Not every good source that is available to you is in digital format

Evaluating Information Authority – Who? Accuracy – What? Currency – How? Why? Objectivity – 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? – – – – Whois.net –

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 reviewCJR reviewCJR reviewCJR review Web Pages –Biased or Objective? Opinion/Fan sites Sponsoring Organization Agendas Political Propaganda Web hosting

Objectivity Fox News Al Jazeera NPR

Understanding/Detecting Bias National Right to Life Organization Planned Parenthood Operation Rescue National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL)

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

Exercise: Evaluation

Remember to Evaluate! 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?

RESOURCE REVIEW: Pro/Con: Issues & Controversies, CQ Researcher, Opposing Viewpoints Collective Opinion: Editorials on File, Gallup Poll, LexisNexis, Polling Report Statistics: LexisNexis, Statistics Resource Blog, Pew Research, U.S. Census Bureau

Thank You Jason Dupree, Head of Public Services