Nate Alvarez, Meili Skov, and Ariana Hoohuli

Written Comm.

Professor Tika

October 6, 2021

 

Hard Facts vs. Constructed Arguments

Part I: Hard evidence or constructed arguments?

Discuss whether the following statements are examples of hard evidence or constructed arguments. Not all cases are clear-cut.

1. 1. Drunk drivers are involved in more than 50 percent of traffic deaths.

• • • Hard Fact

1. 1. DNA tests of skin found under the victim’s fingernails suggest that the defendant was responsible for the assault.

• • • Constructed Argument

1. 1. A psychologist testified that teenage violence could not be blamed on video games.

• • • Hard Fact

1. 1. The crowds at President Trump’s inauguration were the largest on record.

• • • Hard Fact

1. 1. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

• • • Constructed Argument

1. 1. Air bags ought to be removed from vehicles because they can kill young children and small-framed adults. (Based on the activities in Lunsford, p. 63)

• • • Constructed Argument

 

Part II: Plagiarism or not?

–Look at the prompt of plagiarism issues (Week 7 Module: PlagiarismActivities) by observing some scenarios and assessing if, or not, they constitute plagiarism; first, write Yes/No in the margins, and explain why. Then demonstrate how it could be done correctly by using APA format (Only Part A and B).

 

Part A –

• Yes, because she does not mention that she used information from Wikipedia. 

• Yes, because even though his class is reading the same novel, he still needs to include citations. 

• Yes, it is a form of self plagiarism.

• No, because there was no evidence that Chris’ work was not his own.

• Yes, even if you paraphrase you have to cite the author(s), and it was not indicated that she wrote a citation.

Part B –

• The citation is required because we cannot assume that readers will also assume that the ideas are from the same source.

• Citation is not required because the student did not take the date from any outside source.

• Citation is required if the information is from online, but if it is just common knowledge a citation is not necessary. 

• Citation is not required because it is a form of personal communication.

• The citation is required because it is a major theme of the book. 

• The citation is required because it is still the author’s ideas despite being summarized.