Exam 4: Credibility

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. "Contrary to popular belief,'The Star-Spangled Banner' has been the nation's official song only since 1931." -James Kilpatrick,syndicated columnist

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. "[Atmospheric nuclear] tests do not seriously endanger either present or future generations." -Edward Teller,physicist,one of the "fathers" of the atomic bomb,1958

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:Whether it's possible for a person to have an "out of body" experience. a.a psychic b.a physicist c.a person who claims to have had such an experience d.a physician e.a philosopher f.a magician g.a psychologist

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:What levels of mercury and other metals in fish are high enough to make consumption of them hazardous to humans? a.an article in a journal called Diet and Health,published for vegetarians b.a commercial fisherman c.a family medical doctor d.a spokeswoman for the National Institutes of Health e.a toxicologist who works for the Los Angeles coroner's office

Did life evolve,or was it created? Giving at least one reason for your choice,discuss whose opinion is the more credible. a.a biologist b.a minister

How many homicides involve the use of a stolen firearm? Giving at least one reason for your choice,discuss whose opinion is the more credible. a.a Democratic U.S.senator b.a Republican U.S.senator

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. "In the history books,the personal-computer slump of 1985 will be a footnote compared to the Japanese assault on the American semiconductor industry." -Newsweek

Are there conditions in which your own observations may not be totally reliable? Explain in a brief essay.

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:Whether the verdict in the O.J.Simpson civil trial proves that Simpson was actually guilty of the crime of which he was acquitted in the criminal trial. a.a professor of criminal law b.Greta Van Susteren (lawyer and commentator on the Simpson trials for CNN and now a host on Fox) c.Oprah Winfrey d.Geraldo Rivera

If the claims of an expert turn out to be in error,were you unreasonable in having accepted them in the first place? Why,or why not? Explain your response in a brief essay.

Giving at least one reason for your choice,which of two current movies would you be more apt to like? a.one recommended by a movie critic whose opinions you enjoy listening to b.one recommended by a friend

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. "With due regard to the recent experience by certain individuals in the Russian city of Voronezh,the Space Brothers who landed and exited from their craft were on a peace mission....What was thought to be and reported mistakenly as a knife held in the hand of one of the Space Brothers was a thought,only in the mind of the reporter....What was being held was a communication device....This device was translating the thoughts of the Space voyager into the language that could be understood in that particular part of the world." -Press release,Unarius Academy of Science

Issue:A proposal for legislation regarding automobile insurance rates is on the ballot.Giving at least one reason for your choice,discuss whose opinion on the benefits for consumers is more credible. a.a spokesperson for the insurance industry b.Ralph Nader

In a brief essay,discuss the conditions under which it is reasonable to regard an eyewitness account as credible.

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. NO CHOLESTEROL! -Label on Crisco Corn Oil

Whom would you trust as most reliable? Discuss the credibility and authority of each individual or group listed with regard to the following issue: A number of your friends have taken up jogging,and you wonder whether your taking it up might have genuine health benefits for you. a.your family physician b.a magazine for runners c.a friend who teaches physical education in high school d.the author of a best-selling book on sports medicine e.a friend who is president of a local runners club

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. Huddie Ledbetter ("Leadbelly")was not only a writer and performer of songs but also an unusually powerful man.Alan Lomax,the historian of American folk music,wrote that "in the Texas Penitentiary he was the number one man in the number one gang on the number one farm in the state-the man who could carry the lead row in the field for 12 or 14 hours a day under the broiling July and August sun." He could pick a bale of cotton in a day-that's 500 pounds! -Adapted from liner notes to the record Leadbelly (Everest recording FS-202)

Keeping in mind the sources cited,discuss the credibility of the claim(s)made in the following passage: "Based on a survey of more than 100,000 people,Toshitaka Nomi and Alexander Besher have drawn up some startling conclusions about blood type and personality.If you are type O,you are probably aggressive and realistic.Type A? You are naturally industrious,detail-oriented,and peace-loving.Type Bs are creative and individualistic.ABs tend to be rational,but moody.YOU ARE YOUR BLOOD TYPE presents detailed analysis of the different blood types and explores the compatibility between the different types." -From a news release from Pocket Books about the first Western account "of the Japanese pop-phenomenon of blood-type analysis"

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. Reported after a debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama,who were running for the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 2008:"James Carville,a Clinton advisor and supporter,declared his candidate the 'winner' in the debate,saying she'd made her case more strongly."

What percentage of American high school students have smoked marijuana? Giving at least one reason for your choice,discuss whose opinion is the more credible. a.USA Today b.Americans for Legalized Marijuana (ALM)