1. BUILDING A BETTER SPEECH Argumentative Resources, Opinion Polls, Statistics, and Understanding Bias Through Evaluation Criteria

2. Forming an Argument

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Argumentative Resources

7. Print or E-Book Pro/Con Resources Book Series Contemporary Issues Opposing Viewpoints Reference Shelf Taking Sides

8. 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?

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Opinion Polls

12. 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

13. 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.”

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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

17. Statistics

18. 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

19. Electronic Statistical Resources LexisNexis Full-text information from over 5,600 sources Includes statistical resources GPO (Government Information) GPO Provides statistical information directly from the U.S. Government and the agencies who collect the data. Google US Government Search www.google.com/unclesam www.google.com/unclesam U.S. Census Bureau (Largest producer of statistics in the world) U.S. Census Bureau

20. 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

21. Another Electronic Resource Google Use a Site Specific Command Searches only specific domains What to type: immigration statistics: gov immigration statistics: org

22. Evaluating Resources

23. Evaluating Information Authority – Who? Accuracy – What? Objectivity – How? Why? Currency – When?

24. 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?

25. Domain Names Which one is right? www.whitehouse.com www.whitehouse.com www.whitehouse.com www.whitehouse.gov www.whitehouse.gov www.whitehouse.gov www.whitehouse.net www.whitehouse.net www.whitehouse.net www.whitehouse.org www.whitehouse.org www.whitehouse.org Whois.net www.whois.net www.whois.net www.whois.net.gov.org.mil.com.edu.net.int Indicates a reliable domain

26. 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

27. Step 3: Objectivity Books & Articles Biased or Objective? Persuasion/Emotion Author’s Point of View Newspapers Subscriptions ($) Advertising ($) Owners CJR review CJR review CJR review CJR review Web Pages Biased or Objective? Opinion/Fan sites Sponsoring Organization Agendas Political Propaganda Web hosting

28. 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

29. 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?

30. Exercise: Understanding/Detecting Bias National Network for Immigrant and Refuge Rights http://www.nnirr.org/ U.S. Customs and Border Protection http://www.cbp.gov/ Federation for American Immigration Reform http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer Hispanic News http://hispanic.cc/immigration.htm

31. Are you ready to get started?

32. Thank You Jane Long, Reference Services 774-3030 jane.long@swosu.edu http://faculty.swosu.edu/jane.long/Speech.htm http://faculty.swosu.edu/jane.long/Speech.htm