Pro/Con Resources
Frederic Murray
Assistant Professor
MLIS, University of British Columbia
BA, Political Science, University of Iowa
Instructional Services Librarian
Al Harris Library
frederic.murray@swosu.edu
Information Literacy
• Search Strategies
– Keywords/Boolean AND/OR/NOT
• Organization of Information
– Catalogs Al Harris/WorldCat/Ebrary
– Databases i.e. Ebsco Products
– Popular vs. Scholarly resources
– Periodical Lists – Citation Searching
Information Literacy
• Critical Evaluation
– Authority, Accuracy, Objectivity,
Currency
– Google: Site Specific Search edu/gov
• Subject Specific Resources
– Match Subject to Database
Pew Research Center
Where Do You Fit ?
Different ways to look at:
Pro vs. Con
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Objective vs. Biased
Balanced vs. Unbalanced
Two-sided vs. One-sided
Indifferent vs. Persuasive
Good vs. Bad
Benefits vs. Drawbacks
Pro/Con
TOPIC
JSTOR
Google
• Who wrote the information in your
source? (google their names)
• Where did the author of your source
get their information?
• What makes the author of your source
an expert?
• Why should we respect the opinions or
findings of your article/web page?
Where do I start?
– TOPICsearch -database
– Pro/Con Resources - books
• Contemporary Issues
• Opposing Viewpoints
• Reference Shelf
• Taking Sides
– Pro/Con Resources - databases
• CQ Researcher
– Author
• Issues and Controversies
– Keywords
Helpful Keywords to Use
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Issue
Controversy
Statistic
Ethical
Rights
Debate
Attitude
Trend
Condition
Examples:
• Rights and poverty
• death penalty and
Controversy
• household spending and
Statistics
TOPICsearch
• An Ebsco product
• Use Limiters to Narrow Search
• Example: Environment
– Current Events
– Full Text
– Topics
– Document Type
Pro/Con Resources
• Book Series
– Contemporary Issues
– Opposing Viewpoints
– Reference Shelf
– Taking Sides
Pro/Con Resources
• CQ Researcher
– contains information on current and
controversial issues concentric 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
Online Surveys & Reports
• Pew Research Center (Main Site)
– http://pewresearch.org
• Pew Global Attitudes Project
– http://pewglobal.org
• Pew Internet & American Life Project
– http://www.pewinternet.org
• Pew Hispanic Center
– http://pewhispanic.org
• Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life
– http://pewforum.org
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
• Google Site Search:
i.e. Wind Power statistics Oklahoma site:gov
• Al Harris Library: Government Information
– Provides statistical information directly from
the U.S. Government and the agencies who
collect the data.
http://www.swosu.edu/library/infoservices/govdocs/gov.htm
Argumentative Information
• Use information to support your position
– Pro/Con Materials
– Opinion Polls
– Statistics
Exercise:
Argumentative Resources Worksheet
Topic: Oklahoma HB 1083 & SB 1101
Amends existing law to allow
concealed handgun permit holders to
carry concealed handguns on college
or university property.
Question: Should this law be passed?
Legislation: 2015
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SB 557 // Senator Ralph Shortey // The legislation allows any full-time, part-time or adjunct faculty member of a
public college, public university or technology center who is in possession of a valid handgun license issued
pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to carry a weapon on campus. The faculty member
must provide proper notification to the college, university or technology center of the intent to carry licensed
weapon on campus.
SB 461 // Senator Nathan Dahm // The legislation allows individuals with a valid handgun license to carry a
concealed weapon onto public college or university property or a public technology center property. Additionally,
under no circumstances shall consent to carry a concealed handgun by a citizen with a valid handgun license on
any public college, public university or public technology center school property be denied by the public college or
public university president or public technology center school administrator unless evidence is shown that the
licensee has previously been involved in a violent incident that showed deliberate or reckless disregard for the
health or safety of faculty, other students or any other person. The legislation also allows an individual who has
been issued a handgun license pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to carry a concealed
or unconcealed weapon onto a private college, private university or private career technology center property
provided a policy has been adopted by the governing entity of the private university, private college or private
vocational-technical school that authorizes the carrying and possession of a weapon on private university, private
college or private vocational-technical school property.
SB 212 // Senator AJ Griffin // The legislation requires the board of regents for every institution within the
Oklahoma State System of Higher Education to provide notice to the public utilizing a public method that sets out
the firearm policy relevant to that campus and the procedure for requesting permission to carry on the college,
university or technology center campus.
HB 1143 // Representative George Faught // The legislation allows a citizen in possession of a valid handgun
license issued pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to carry a concealed handgun into or
upon any public college, public university, or public technology center school property.
HB 1265 // Representative Ken Walker // The legislation allows an individual who has been issued a handgun
license pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to carry a concealed or unconcealed weapon
onto a private college, private university or private career technology center property provided a policy has been
adopted by the governing entity of the private university, private college or private vocational-technical school that
authorizes the carrying and possession of a weapon on private university, private college or private vocationaltechnical school property.
Finish the Worksheet:
• Identify three sources of
information in support of your
defense.
– A.
– B.
– C.
Ready to Argue
Information Literacy
• Search Strategies
– Keywords/Boolean AND/OR/NOT
• Organization of Information
– Catalogs Al Harris/WorldCat
– Databases i.e. Ebsco Products
– Popular vs. Scholarly resources
– Periodical Lists – Citation Searching
Information Literacy
• Critical Evaluation
– Authority, Accuracy, Objectivity, Currency
– Google: Site Specific Search edu/gov
• Subject Specific Resources
– Target what you seek
Questions?
• Contact me:
– Frederic Murray
• 774-7113
• frederic.murray@swosu.edu
Thanks!