BUILDING A BETTER SPEECH Argumentative Resources, Statistics, Surveys, and Evaluation Criteria Frederic Murray, M.L.I.S. Instructional Services Librarian.

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/

Thank You

Frederic Murray, [email protected]://faculty.swosu.edu/frederic.murray