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Spears: Developing Critical Reading Skills
Developing Critical Reading Skills, 6/e
Deanne Spears, City College of San Francisco

Exercises

Online Exercises

  1. To test your skills in detecting sloppy thinking and manipulative appeals, choose an area of controversy that you are interested in. Some examples are the death penalty, the debate on abortion, illegal immigration, the gender wars, firearms policy, race relations, and so forth. Then troll Internet Newsgroups to start your search. Follow these directions for easy access. Note: Not all computers are equipped to access Newsgroups. Only fully-installed versions of Netscape or Outlook Express, for example, will give you unlimited access. If you are in doubt about getting to a complete list of the thousands of Newsgroups out there, ask your college reference librarian for help. Or follow these simple directions to get you started, which should work from any computer:
    First, go to this site: groups.yahoo.com
    Then click on "Cultures and Community."
    Next, scroll down to "Issues and Causes" groups.
    Choose one that appeals to you, and you will be on your way.
  2. On pages 316 - 317 of the text is a boxed list of some excellent websites for studying logical fallacies. Access all three, see what features they offer, and work through some exercises to sharpen your ability to detect these insidious forms of thinking.
  3. What are the arguments for and against using animals as entertainment in circuses? Which side of the debate do you sympathize with, and why? Now that you know how to access Newsgroups (see item 1 above), use the same technique to locate Newsgroups devoted to this subject. Also check the home page of the animal rights organization known as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to see what information is available there. Before starting this assignment, be sure to read Kathy Snow Guillermo's editorial in the text on pages 333 -334. PETA's address is www.peta-online.org/.