More Than Two SidesWhen researching a controversial issue, it is important to remember that there are often more than two perspectives. Consider the historical debate over slavery in the 1860s. While the question seems straightforward (Should slavery continue in the US?), there were many different perspectives including large plantation owners, small-farm owners, northern industrialists, factory workers, politicians (each party with a different view!), women, enslaved Africans, and free Africans, not to mention all of the viewpoints from outside of the United States!
In this exercise, we will practice our ability to discern bias and perspective. It is important to remember that bias exists everywhere, even (or perhaps especially) in the news. This does not mean the information is unusable, it simply means you need to find opposing views as well. Visit each of these pages, then create at least 3 categories to group similar perspectives. Consider the author/publisher of the article and decide the main argument. This is great practice for your own research. Think about the perspectives that would be important to include for your own topic. If you notice you have less support from a certain perspective in your own sources, do your best to find more in order to balance the perspectives presented in your findings. You can always stop by the library for assistance!
Vaccine Information from ProCon.org |