Choose two topics from the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center that interest you and
locate a set of materials from the database for each topic. If you choose school violence
as one of your topics, for example, you might find a magazine article that argues that
violence in the media causes school violence and a Web site that persuasively argues
that violence in the media is not responsible for school violence.
•Conduct a similar search for your second topic. When finished, you should have two
sources per topic. Note: You may use sources from any combination of the Viewpoints,
Magazines, Academic Journals, News (use sources marked Editorial and Column), and
Web sites database sections.
•Use the form in Appendix D to critically analyze your four sources. Fill out one form for each resorce.
Provide the title of the source.
o Provide the source citation. Locate the citation by clicking on the Source Citation
link at the top of the page when viewing the source.
o Identify the principal issue presented by the source.
o Identify any examples of bias presented by the author. If none exist, explain how you
determined this.
o Identify any areas that are vague or ambiguous. If none exist, explain how you
determined this.
o Do you find the source credible? Explain your reasoning.
o Identify and name any rhetorical devices used by the author. If none exist, explain
how you determined this.
o Identify and name any fallacies used by the author. If none exist, explain how you
determined this.
o State one argument made by the author.
o Identify the premises and conclusion of the argument.
o Is the author’s argument valid or invalid, sound or unsound, strong or weak? Explain
how you determined this.
o Does the author use moral reasoning? If not, explain how you determined this.
1 answer