Pro/Con Resources for Argumentative Topics

1. Pro/Con Resources for Argumentative Topics Jane Long MLIS, University of Oklahoma MA, Wright State University Reference Services Librarian Al Harris Library jane.long@swosu.edu

2. Pew Research CenterWhere Do You Fit ?

3. Potential Topics Based on Current Issues in the News • Why should I care about the environment? • What is happening with health care reform? • Why are U.S. troops fighting in Afghanistan? • If flu-like illnesses are prevalent, who should be vaccinated? • Is the American economy improving?

4. Pro/Con Green: Yes or No?

5. Where do I start? • TOPICsearch • Pro/Con Resources • Contemporary Issues • Opposing Viewpoints • Reference Shelf • Taking Sides • Pro/Con Resources • CQ Researcher • Issues and Controversies • Points of View Reference Center

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

7. TOPICsearch • An Ebsco product • Use Limiters to Narrow Search • Example: Environment • Current Events • Full Text • Topics • Document Type

8. Pro/Con Resources • Book Series • Contemporary Issues • Opposing Viewpoints • Reference Shelf • Taking Sides

9. Pro/Con Resources • CQ Researcher • contains information on current and controversial issues concentric to the U.S. Government • Points of View Reference Center • provides a variety of essays presenting multiple sides of a current issue • Issues and Controversies • provides up-to-date, objective information on the most prominent and hotly debated issues of the day

10. 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 • Opinion Polls • Statistics

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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 Opinions vs. Facts

14. 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

15. Opinion Resources • 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

16. 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

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

18. Statistical Resources • Government Information • Provides statistical information directly from the U.S. Government and the agencies who collect the data. • Google U.S. Government Search http://www.google.com/ig/usgov

19. Online Surveys & Reports • 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

20. 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.

21. Ready to Select a Topic?

22. Exercise: Argumentative Resources Worksheet Topic: Environmental Concerns Locations around the world are considering the significance of recycling and the importance of conservation. Greening brings about the need for many changes in the way things are done. Is it necessary? Question: What can communities do to protect their natural resources? Is living green necessary?

23. Questions? • Contact me: • Jane Long • 774-3030 • jane.long@swosu.edu • http://faculty.swosu.edu/jane.long/

24. Thanks!