From Sources Notes Chapter 1: “Understanding Evidence and Reasoning” to Exercise 6 (p. 40-62) 1) The credibility of the thesis depends on the evidence and reasoning. a) Evidence refers to any kind of concrete information that can support a thesis. Evidence can take several forms: i) Facts and statistics, especially in social science.
Depend on generalizing from a representative sample, based on an appropriate “population” (use limited evidence to predict opinions of a much larger group by assuming the opinions of a smaller group reflect proportionately to the opinions of the larger) iii) Examples- a single representative instance that serves to support a thesis. iv) Anecdotes- stories- extended examples with a beginning, middle, and end- that illustrate the point the author wants to make. (2) Attract and interest the reader, but do not prove a thesis.
v) Appeal to authority- authors often support their thesis by referring to their own work or work of other acknowledged authorities. (3) Data and examples are more credible when endorsed by sources with a reputation as experts in the field. (4) Should provide reasonable detail in these cases, and, if possible, convey the strength of the source’s credentials. 2) Questions to ask when looking for evidence: b) Does the author use facts and/or statistics to support the thesis? If so, do they seem reliable? c) Does the author use examples and anecdotes? If so, are they the main or only evidence for the thesis?
d) Are the sources for the evidence acknowledged? e) Do these sources seem credible? f) Are there some points that aren’t supported by evidence? g) Does the author seem biased? h) Based on the evidence provided, do you accept the author’s thesis? 3) Implications i) Explicit statements within a piece also include indirect implications. 4) Inferences j) Also acceptable to draw a conclusion that isn’t implicit in the source, as long as the conclusion is reached through reasoning based on sound evidence. k) To infer means to form a probable conclusion from a statement by reasoning.
The Essay on Sources Of Support
Local authority Your local authority will have co-ordinators that will help to support people studying or working in early years. They will put you onto a pre-registration briefing to help you with the process. On the briefing they will also give information on the training they offer. The local authority will offer other training where necessary. E.g paediatric first aid, safe guarding. They also ...
Unlike implication, inference requires the analysis of information. Inferences draw on one’s own knowledge of the subject or experience of life. l) The text implies; the reader infers. m) Inferences require that the source be cited and documented 5) Unsupported inferences n) It is possible to push inferences too far and end up with an assertion for which there is no basis in the source. 6) Differentiating among statement, inference, and implication o) Statement- the information is provided in the text even though the wording may be different.
p) Implication- the text suggests an idea that is not directly stated in the source. q) Inference- through reasoning, the reader can form a probable conclusion that is not implicit in the text. 7) Using Logical Reasoning r) The structure of most texts used in research consists of a logical progression of general points that lead to an overall thesis or conclusion; each point may be followed by more concrete statements of supporting evidence. The sequence of general points is determined by logical reasoning. s) Two types of reasoning- deductive and inductive 8) Deductive Reasoning
t) Deduction means reasoning from general statements to form a logical conclusion. u) The classic form for deductive reasoning is syllogism, which consists of a series of carefully limited statements, or premises, pursued to a subscribed conclusion. vi) The opening statement of a syllogism is usually a statement that the reader will be willing to accept as true without explicit proof. vii) Deductive reasoning follows an almost mathematical rigor; provided the premises are accepted as true and the line of reasoning valid, the conclusion must necessarily be true.
Writers Tend Reader Essay Author
Many writers use several diverse ways to persuade readers into believing them. Some writers may tell a story, provide facts and information, or other ideas to encourage his or her reader to agree with the argument. Aristotle's rhetorical triangle describes three diverse appeals: logos, pathos, and ethos. Logos is based on facts and reasons explaining logical arguments that rely on information and ...
9) inductive reasoning v) Induction means reasoning from specific evidence to form a general conclusion. w) Conclusions reached through inductive reasoning are always conditional to some extent, showing the possibility that new evidence may be introduced to suggest a different conclusion. viii) Inductive reasoning uses the available evidence to construct the most likely conclusion. 10) Using Logic to Establish Common Ground with the Reader x) Most authors use elements of inductive and deductive reasoning.
The core of the reasoning is usually deductive, consisting of a series of premises or assumptions that the reader shares—or can be persuaded to share—with the author. These premises often depend on common cultural values. That is why a thesis can lose its force over time as values change. y) To be fully convincing, the reasoning that follows from your premises must be inductive as well as deductive. It must be supported by a range of evidence, which you present, analyze, and interpret for your reader. 11) Logical Flaws and Fallacies
z) Logical fallacies are breakdowns in reasoning; they occur when an author draws unjustifiable conclusions from the available evidence. ix) Begging the question- may persuade the careless reader that the point has already been proven, or only telling part of the story as evidence (i. e. “clearly… everyone knows… it goes without saying…”) x) Post hoc ergo propter hoc- “after this, therefore because of this. ” This fallacy assumes that because one event precedes another, it must somehow cause the second event. (5) Problem of generalization.
xi) False dilemma- an author limits the ground for disagreement by proceeding as if there are only two alternatives; everything else is ignored xii) Hasty generalization- the tendency to oversimplify or base claims on insufficient evidence xiii) Ad hominem- a personal attack in which the author criticizes a prominent person who holds opposing views without considering whether the criticism is relevant to the issue xiv) False analogy- the two ideas or circumstances being compared are not actually comparable (6) Analogy refers to the idea that if two things are alike in some ways, they will be alike in most or all ways.
The Essay on Five Credibility Boosting Elements for Web Sites
Who are you, really? And why should I trust you? Without face-to-face contact or a trusted intermediary who has vouched for you, visitors to your web site often have these two questions paramount in their minds when considering doing business QTZ80A Tower Cranes with you. Use these five elements to boost your perceived trustworthiness and coax possible customers to step forward and buy. 1. Contact ...
xv) Misrepresenting evidence- prods the careful reader to question the author’s trustworthiness and credibility 12) Analyzing an Author’s Logic: {) What assumptions is the author making as the basis for the thesis? Is it reasonable to assume that the reader shares these assumptions? |) Does the text provide a logical sequence of assertions that can be easily followed and that leads to a persuasive conclusion? Are there any convincing alternatives to the author’s conclusion? }) Is the reasoning primarily inductive (deriving generalizations from probabilities established by the author) or is it deductive (deriving specific conclusions from broad assertions that are tested and proved)? ~) Are appropriate and sufficient data examples provided?) Are the sources of the evidence clearly indicated? ) Has the author lapsed into any fallacies that distort the logic and support a false conclusion? ) What inferences does the author make from the evidence provided? Are they reasonable, or does the author attempt to manipulate the reader’s perception of the evidence to suit the purposes of the thesis? Chapter 8: “Evaluating Print Sources” to “Exercise 28: Evaluating Internet Sources”- p. 339-362 1) In evaluating print sources, one must make judgments on substance and tone, understand the work in terms of plausibility and appropriateness, and make sure it’s relevant to your topic. A good source should be authoritative.
a) Credentials- at the most basic level, you should find out whether the author can be trusted in regards to the topic he/she is writing about i) Look into education and professional experience- academics and field of specialization? ii) Find out about an author’s background by: (1) Checking the preface (2) Read the blurb on the jacket cover (3) Look for thumbnail bios at the beginning or end of a periodical article; be aware that brief biographies can be vague or even misleading (4) Do a web search using the author’s name (5) Consult biographical dictionaries and encyclopedias on the web (6) Check the book review index on the web
xii) Scan the search engine’s results list looking for Web sites sponsored by academic institutions or government agencies, and access them first. xiii) One or two reliable, comprehensive sites can lead you, via hyperlinks, to the best material about your subject on the Web. g) Credentials xiv) With Web sources, credibility is linked to the knowledgeability and seriousness of the individual or the disinterested commitment of the organization that originated and maintains the site. If the name of an individual appears on the site as owner, then you must try to assess that person’s background and credentials and determine his or her likely credibility in your area of research: (13) Does the site contain a link to the owner’s home page?
The Essay on New York Times Site Web Article
Introduction The New York Times company delivers to millions of people all around the world. They are one of the worlds leading English newspaper retailers, and can be compared to big names such as The Washington Post. However, being one of the top retailers is not enough for these newspaper article writing guru's. They wanted everyone to have access to the articles, and spreading free newspapers ...
Is there a section of the site specifically about the owner (often called “About Me”)? (15) What else has the owner published? (16) Does he appear in other writers’ bibliographies? (17) Has he/she any professional experience in a discipline appropriate to the subject? (a) Sponsoring organization: evaluating credibility (i) Commercial or nonprofit organization? (ii) What’s the reason for creating a site about this topic? (iii) Is there a political or cultural agenda? (iv) If the sponsor is commercial, what’s the reason for expending resources on this web site? (v) Documentation is important in both web sources 1. Look for basic presentation of academic scholarship- i. e. bibliographies, references, endnotes (hyperlinks or other resources) h) Impartiality- web sites are created usually with the intention to sell something; bias isn’t to be avoided on the web, but considered a legitimate basis for self-presentation xv) Consider the nature of the content: (18) Does the site have a discernible thesis or point, or was it put on the Web purely to indulge the owner’s desire for self-revelation? (19) Is there a clear context established for the material? (20) Does the author make an initial statement of intention, purpose, and scope? xvi) Many sites are the spatial equivalent of a soundbite. Their authors don’t engage in complex analysis and argument: (21) Is there supporting evidence? (22) Is there a logical sequence of ideas or just a series of claims? Is there a convincing level of fact and detail? (23) Does the author anticipate and deal with potential objections to opinions?
Is the evidence mostly anecdotal, depending on stories (“It happened tome”)? (24) Are examples and anecdotes relevant to the topic? i) Style and tone xvii) Ask yourself: (25) Is the material clearly focused and coherent? (26) Is the tone dispassionate, or conversational, or hysterical? (27) Is the language inflammatory? Frivolous? Is it full of superlatives? (28) Is the argument presented in neutral language, or are there innuendoes about those holding opposing views? (29) Does the writer follow the basic rules of grammar? (30) Can the material be summarized or paraphrased? Be particularly wary with blogs, as the uncredentialed blogger is likely to post self-indulgent opinionated entries.
The Term Paper on Toys Site Web
Toys'R'Us INTRODUCTION In this assignment I have chosen to focus on explaining what kind of company Toys'R'Us is, giving a brief, short summary of the firms history, their corporate responsibilities, what their competitive advantages are and how they implement their strategies through retailing and merchandise. I also found it relevant to explain the market situation in the toy-industry and what ...
xviii) Consider the audience xix) Consider the appearance of the site itself: (31) Any logic to its construction? Well designed? Easy to use? Or sprawling and hard to follow? (32) Does it have a plan or method of organization? If it’s a large site, are there links that allow you to go directly to the page that interests you? (33) Are there graphics? Do they help your understanding of the site, or do they distract you? j) Currency- in print sources, currency is measured in decades; in web sources, it’s a matter of months or even days xx) Check the date at the end of each web site xxi) Note the date of the site’s last update k) Evaluating sources chart on p. 352 with Credentials, Impartiality, Style and Tone, and Currency l) Balancing your sources- don’t get all or most of your sources from the internet xxii) Many authors still publish in print form; to not include these sources will cause your work to lack balance and completeness m) Integrating Sources xxiii) Sources must be compatible xxiv) Ask yourself: (34) Does the content seem theoretical or practical? (35) How often does the author offer concrete evidence to support conclusions? What kind of evidence? Facts? Examples? Anecdotes? Documentation? (36) What is the scope of the work? Does it include many aspects of your broad subject, or does it focus on one? (37) How abstract or technical is the language? Do you have difficulty understanding the sentences or following the argument? xxv) The sources you choose should have the same level of difficulty 3) Choosing Your Sources n) Consider the following:
xxvi) The scope of the work and the extent to which it deals with your topic xxvii) The depth of detail, the amount and kind of evidence presented, the documentation of sources, and the level and analysis of theory xxviii) The degree to which you understand and feel comfortable with the author’s language and style xxix) The way in which possible sources could be used in your essay Chapter 9: “Accommodating Arguments in your Paragraphs” to “Integrating your Sources: Recruiting in College Athletics” p. 410-416 1) Presenting an Inductive Argument a) When you write a paragraph based on induction, the topic sentence should clearly summarize the evidence being cited i) Paragraphs citing inductive evidence tend to be long 2) Presenting a Deductive Argument
The Essay on Describe How The Present Democratic System Works In The Uk And Suggest How It Might Be Improved To M
Describe how the present democratic system works in the UK and suggest how it might be improved to make it more representative and more relevant to the electorate. In Britain we have a representative system of democracy that is supposed to ensure that everyone has a say in the government of the country. This essay will explore the British system of democracy and then will consider whether ...
b) In contrast to specific examples of induction, deduction tends to follow a series of premises 3) Presenting Both Sides of an Argument- don’t be one sided c) It is useful to acknowledge some merit in your opponents or in their argument 4) Presenting Arguments Fairly d) Present both sides of the argument ii) Don’t misrepresent the strength of the opposition e) Provide a complete account of the argument iii) If you choose to quote or paraphrase from only one section of the work, then you must also inform your readers that these statements aren’t entirely representative of the writer’s overall views f) Make sure that you- and your reader- understand whether the source really supports the idea that you’re citing g) Provide a fair presentation
