Assignment:Comprehensive Argument Analysis
The OpposingViewpointsResourceCenter database at the University Library provides a wealth of arguments to which you can apply your critical thinking skills. Find this database by logging into to the Library and selecting the Article Databases-Specialized .
· Resources: Appendix A, Appendix D, and the University Library
· Choose two topics from the OpposingViewpointsResourceCenter 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 foreach source.
o 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.