Exam 4: Credibility

Whom would you trust as most reliable? Discuss the credibility and authority of each individual or group listed with regard to the following issue: You have saved up for a vacation and are considering taking a cruise on a cruise ship.You are unsure whether this would be the right kind of vacation for you and,if it is,what kind of cruise would be best for you and your budget. a.a travel agent b.a cruise line representative c.a friend who has been on a cruise d.a newspaper travel writer

Assess the following as probably true,as probably false,as requiring further documentation before judgment,or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated.Consider both the nature of the claim and the source. Q:Did Marilyn Monroe keep a diary about her relationships with John and Robert Kennedy? A:No. -Walter Scott's Personality Parade,Parade

A surprising claim,one that seems to conflict with our background knowledge,requires a more credible source than one that is not surprising in this way.

Giving at least one reason for your choice,discuss whose opinion on the condition of the tires on your car is more credible. a.a salesperson at Goodyear b.a mechanic at a garage certified by the American Automobile Association

Assess the following as probably true,as probably false,as requiring further documentation before judgment,or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated.Consider both the nature of the claim and the source. "[G]ram for gram,trans fat [found in hydrogenated oil] is nearly as bad for your blood-cholesterol levels as saturated fat is....Brandeis University scientists...concluded that trans fats may be worse than saturated fats...." -Consumer Reports On Health

In a brief essay,discuss the news media as a source of information about current events.

Whom would you trust as most reliable? Discuss the credibility and authority of each individual or group listed with regard to the following issue: You are looking at a sailboat that you're considering buying,but you've never owned one before and don't know whether you should buy this one. a.the boat salesman at the marina that owns the boat b.a boat salesman from another marina c.a friend who has owned several similar boats d.a buyer's guide published by a sailing magazine e.your own appraisal

Except when we have the means to record our observations immediately,they are no better than our memories happen to be.

Factual claims that conflict with what we think we know ought to be rejected,but only if we can disprove them through direct observation.

For the following issue,discuss which source you'd trust more,and give at least one reason why.You may want to add to or otherwise modify our list of sources.And do keep in mind that we are glad our livelihoods do not depend on a general consensus on our rankings. Issue:Does violence on television contribute to violent behavior on the part of young viewers? a.the president of the National Association of Broadcasters b.the president of an organization called "Parents Against TV Violence" c.a university sociologist d.regular panel members of a program such as "The McLaughlin Group"

Assess the following as probably true,as probably false,as requiring further documentation before judgment,or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated.Consider both the nature of the claim and the source. "The American word 'yup' means 'sex' in Russia." -Comedian Yakov Smirnoff (who was born and lived in Russia for sixteen years before emigrating to America in 1977).Smirnoff uses the claim in question as a basis for "yuppie" jokes.

Assess the following as probably true,as probably false,as requiring further documentation before judgment,or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated.Consider both the nature of the claim and the source. Letter to the editor:"Your editorial page of October 15 contained a cartoon that was highly offensive...." -Midfield Sentinel

Assess the following as probably true,as probably false,as requiring further documentation before judgment,or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated.Consider both the nature of the claim and the source. You've taken your car in to the local branch of a nationwide chain of brake and muffler shops for an advertised "free brake inspection." After the inspection,the service manager tells you:"I'm afraid your linings are almost completely gone and the drums need turning.You need a complete brake overhaul."

For the following issue,discuss which source you'd trust more,and give at least one reason why.You may want to add to or otherwise modify our list of sources.And do keep in mind that we are glad our livelihoods do not depend on a general consensus on our rankings. Issue:Should lawyers allow their clients to lie? a.the U.S.Supreme Court b.a law school professor c.a political science professor d.the American Bar Association e.a practicing defense attorney

Giving at least one reason for your choice,discuss whose would be the best weight-lifting regimen to follow. a.Arnold Schwarzenegger b.Paris Hilton

Assess the following as probably true,as probably false,as requiring further documentation before judgment,or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated.Consider both the nature of the claim and the source. Remark heard in a coffee shop:"There is a disproportionate percentage of left-handed people in politics."

Based only on the information given in this biography,discuss the credibility and authority of the person described on each of the topics in the list that follows: Mike O'Neill is a scientist at the U.S.Department of Agriculture Forest Service's Northeastern Forest Experimental Station in Durham,New Hampshire.He graduated from Humboldt State University in California with a degree in biology (1988)and earned a Ph.D.in plant pathology from the University of West Virginia (1995).After serving for seven years as a consultant to the Pennsylvania state park system,he was employed by the U.S.Forest Service as a specialist in tree diseases.His major area of research has been in the resistance mechanisms of trees to injury and infection. a.the effects of improper pruning techniques on fruit trees b.the kind of fertilizer to use on ornamental shrubs c.resistance mechanisms of mammals to disease and infection d.the characteristics of various types of softwoods relative to their use in the building industry e.how to transplant a small tree f.use rates of campground facilities in Pennsylvania state parks g.methods of controlling garden pests

If you have reason to believe that an expert is biased,you should reject that expert's claim as false. The possibility of bias is occasion to question his or her claims,to suspend judgment on them,to give more weight to alternative claims from unbiased experts,and so on-this is different from rejecting the original expert's claims as false.

Assess the following as probably true,as probably false,as requiring further documentation before judgment,or as a claim that cannot properly be evaluated.Consider both the nature of the claim and the source. "Lottery director Mark Michalko said Thursday that allegations that Californians are squandering money they once used for food to buy lottery tickets 'are just not correct.'...California Grocers Association president Don Beaver raised the issue earlier in the week,saying five supermarket chains had complained that grocery sales dropped about 5 percent after lottery tickets went on sale October 3." -Sacramento Bee

In a brief essay,make up an issue and a list of sources and give your own ranking of the credibility of the sources you listed.