Unit 6 Lesson 5: Compiling Research Flashcards
analysis
a thorough examination of a complex topic with the goal of understanding it
reflection
the act of looking back on something that happened and drawing a personal conclusion
When a writer is gathering information on a topic, they will come across a variety of sources from which to draw information. Sources may have different formats:
- visual (involving an image or video)
- textual (based on written information)
- quantitative (focused on numbers or statistics)
- oral (containing an audio component, such as a podcast, speech, or other sound recording)
Sources also vary according to the types of evidence they provide:
- anecdotal: personal stories or case studies
- testimonial: expert opinions
- statistical: numbers, percentages, measurements
- analogical: comparisons to similar situations
One reason that writers want to draw evidence from various sources is to support ? of their topic
analysis
What may an analysis involve
An analysis is a thorough examination of a complex topic with the goal of understanding it. It often involves separating something into the parts that make it up.
bias
a personal feeling in favor of or against something
Sonja wants to write about vertical farming methods. She decides to draw from a variety of sources so that she can analyze how and why this farming method works. She could pull the following:
- statistical evidence showing the numerical output of vertical farms compared to standard farms
- visual evidence such as photographs comparing produce grown with standard or vertical farming methods
- oral evidence such as interviews with farmers about what works or doesn’t on their farms and why
- textual evidence such as informed agricultural guides and manuals
distorted
misrepresented or altered from its normal state
exaggerated
magnified as larger, worse, or better than the truth
fallacious
false or mistaken
There are many types of errors in reasoning that can lead authors to make false or misleading statements. Some common missteps involve insufficient evidence: Hasty Generalization:
rushing to a conclusion without gathering enough evidence.
There are many types of errors in reasoning that can lead authors to make false or misleading statements. Some common missteps involve insufficient evidence: Assuming Causation
deciding that the first event caused the second without examining other possible causes
There are many types of errors in reasoning that can lead authors to make false or misleading statements. Some common missteps involve insufficient evidence: Anecdotal Argument
relying solely on personal experience or an individual example instead of data and quantitative scientific evidence.
Example of Assuming Causation
Example: I accidentally swallowed some water when I went swimming this morning and now, I feel sick. The water must have made me sick.
Example of Hasty Generalization
Example: The politician did not have many supporters at the debate, so he will likely lose the election.
Example of Anecdotal Argument
Example: Anoushka did not like the art class she tried, so the arts would not add anything meaningful to education.
There are many types of errors in reasoning that can lead authors to make false or misleading statements. Some common missteps involve insufficient evidence: Either/Or
presenting an argument as having only two choices instead of recognizing other possibilities.
Example of Either/Or
Example: If you care about your community, you’ll donate to my campaign.
Fallacious reasoning includes other types of logical missteps as well, such as the following: Circular Argument
supporting a claim with a restatement of the claim instead of giving evidence to prove it.
example of circular arugment
This book is popular because people seem to like it.
Fallacious reasoning includes other types of logical missteps as well, such as the following: Slippery Slope
making an illogical jump that one thing will inevitably lead, through a series of consequences, to an undesirable outcome without sufficient support.
Example of slippery slope
If we raise our prices on produce, customers will shop elsewhere. Then, we will not turn a profit, which will force us to declare bankruptcy and close our doors.
Fallacious reasoning includes other types of logical missteps as well, such as the following: straw man
oversimplifying or misrepresenting an opposing argument in order to attack it
example of straw man
You support green energy, so you’re pushing for coal miners to be unemployed.
transitions
words or phrases that connect ideas
synthesize
to combine information, facts, and ideas from different resources to build an analysis or interpretation
