Claim Fact-Check spec sheet
As we’ve learned from our Language of Argument readings, every claim is only as reliable as the facts that support it. Sometimes readers can be manipulated by faulty inductive and deductive reasoning, logical fallacies, shaky authority, questionable statistics, or just really persuasive language that appeals to our baked-in belief systems.
THE TASK
Your task is to find a current, single claim relating to a free-speech issue at a public school or college campus and check it for accuracy and reliability. To do that, you’ll need to track down the claimant’s supporting evidence and reasoning and then examine that proof for reliability according to the 6 forms of argument found in our readings. This paper will be in the form of a logical syllogism: first paragraph is the major premise (claim) and research question, body of the paper will be the minor premise (analysis of the evidence), and the final paragraph will be the conclusion (your supported judgment about the claim’s reliability). Your research question for this paper is given: Is this claim reliable?
THE FORMAT
- Use APA format
- Quote, contextualize, and cite the claim. [Introductory paragraph]
- Research the claim and present any evidence that proves it; also, present any evidence that disproves the claim. [Body paragraphs]
- Conclude by offering your supported judgment about the reliability of the claim, i.e., answer the research question. [Concluding paragraph]
Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
TIMELINE
2/11 Draft (including body and references pages) of Claim Fact-Check due–two
copies for peer reviewing in class (no cover page or abstract required yet)
2/13 Draft of Claim Fact-Check abstract due
2/18 Mark-up revision of Claim Fact-Check due (including cover page, abstract, body,
and references pages) along with
- Two completed peer review packets (from class 2/11)
- Abstract draft (from class 2/13)
- Copies of all sources cited in text and on References pages
- Print-out of this assignment spec sheet
2/25 &
2/27 Mandatory writer conferences by sign up
3/10 Final rewrites (clean copy—no mark ups) of Claim Fact-Check, along with
- Copy Stephanie wrote comments on
- Copies of all sources cited (including source of the claim)