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BUILDING A BETTER SPEECH
Argumentative Resources, Statistics, Surveys, and Evaluation Criteria
Frederic Murray, M.L.I.S.Instructional Services Librarian
Pro/Con
NASA launches Controversy
2008 Feb. 26: Public outcry erupts over plans to build new launch site in wildlife refuge
Exercise: Argumentative Resources Worksheet
Topic: Environmentalism/Conservation
Question: Should NASA build a new launch site at the cost of destroying a fragile ecosystem?
Information Literacy
• Determine the extent of needed information
• Access and use needed information effectively and efficiently
• Evaluate information and its sources critically
• Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base
Information Literacy
• Find it• Interpret it• Validate it• Act on it
- -Karen Bruett- Director of Education and Community
Initiatives - Dell Inc.
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• Use information literacy skills to
select the most authoritative information
Argumentative Argumentative InformationInformation• 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
• Issue• Controversy • Statistic• Ethical• Rights• Debate• Attitude• Trend• Condition
Examples:
rights and abortion
death penalty and controversy
household spending and trends
Print Pro/Con Resources
• Book Series– Contemporary Issues– Opposing Viewpoints– Current Controversies
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
Which sounds better?
• Oil over $200 is cause for concern.
• Harvard economists believe oil over $200 is cause for concern.
– A COLLECTIVE OPINION IS STRONGER THAN A SINGLE OPINION
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
Newspaper Databases
• LexisNexis– Full-text information from over 5,600
sources– National and regional newspapers,
wire services, broadcast transcripts, international news
– Statistical Resources • NYT Online
– Search or browse the full text of the New York Times from 1851–2004.
Online Surveys & Reports“fact tank” vs. think tank
• Pew Research Center • 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.
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 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.
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
• 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
Statistical Resources
• Google U.S. Government Search- Google U.S. Government Search offers a single location for searching across U.S. government information, and for keeping up to date on government news. Choose to search for content located on either U.S. federal, state and local government websites or the entire Web -- from the same search box.
• Government Information– Provides statistical information directly from the
U.S. Government and the agencies who collect the data.
Now Knowing What You Know
Complete the Worksheet!
Exercise: Argumentative Worksheet
Topic: Environmentalism
Question: Should NASA build a new launch site at the cost of destroying an ecosystem?
RESOURCE REVIEW:
• Pro/Con: Issues & Controversies/Opposing Viewpoints
• Collective Opinion: Editorials on File/ Gallup Poll/ Pew Research
• Statistics: Google U.S. Government Search/ Library Gov’t Webpage
Writing Your Paper
• Writing Center– Located in the basement of the
library– Call for appointment #774-7083
• MLA Style– Style Sheets– MLA Handbook at Reference &
Circulation Desk– http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/
