1. What Do You Think? In a student project, participants were asked to sign a petition that would demand strict control or total elimination of a chemical found often in the American environment.

2. They were asked to consider this factual evidence about the chemical: 1.it kills thousands of people & animals each year 2.it is a major component in acid rain 3.it causes severe burns in its gaseous state 4.accidental inhalation is often fatal 5.it contributes to erosion of natural landscapes 6.it decreases the effectiveness of car brakes 7.it has been found in tumors of cancer patients 8.It contributes to the “greenhouse effect”

3. Would you sign the petition? YES… remain seated at your desk. NO… stand by the white board. UNSURE… stand by the door.

4. Fifty (50) people were asked if they supported a ban of the chemical. Forty-three (43) said YES Six (6) were UNSURE One (1) knew that the chemical was WATER

5. The project’s designer, a student at Eagle Rock Junior High, won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair. The student was attempting to show how conditioned we have become to alarmists practicing junk science and spreading fear of everything in our environment. The title of his prize-winning project was, "How Gullible Are We? " He felt the conclusion was obvious. http://www.snopes.com/science/dhmo.asp

6. On a sheet of loose paper, respond to these questions: 1.What was your answer regarding signing the petition? 2.How did you reach your decision? 3.What percentage of the class answered the way you did? 4.How did your class compare to the study participants? 5.Did anything about this activity surprise you? 6.Where else do we see this kind of information manipulation? (List at least three examples.)