Ashford 3: – Week 2 – Discussion 2

Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates. Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and the depth of your responses. Reference the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric for guidance on how your discussion will be evaluated.
 

Scholarly   Versus Popular Sources

Complete the “Using the   Ashford University Library” discussion before beginning this discussion.

In this week’s “Using the Ashford   University Library” discussion, you were introduced to the AU Library and   learned some tips for working with databases. This discussion will give you   practice developing your research skills, as you search for and compare information   found online and in the AU library. To prepare, explore the                     GEN103 Scholarly &   Popular Resources   tutorial then begin to follow the steps below.

Prepare:
Step 1: Choose a Popular Claim and Supporting Popular Source
  Imagine that a friend or coworker makes one of the claims listed below (your   choice) and references one of the corresponding popular sources as evidence   for the claim. You may select a topic not on this list that you are   particularly interested in if you so choose. Now that you know the importance   of carefully considering information and sources, consider your friend or   coworker’s claim and explore one of the corresponding popular sources.  “College is too expensive.” http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21600131-too-many-degrees-are-waste-money-return-higher-education-would-be-much-better http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dropping-out-is-college-worth-the-cost/ “Drinking red wine is good        for your health.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/19/red-wine-health_n_1018934.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/10931370/A-glass-of-red-wine-please-Doctor.html “Marijuana has positive        health benefits.” http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127773447 “Carbohydrates lead to        obesity.” http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/274783.php http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140330151318.htm http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn25325-obesity-linked-to-our-ability-to-digest-carbohydrates.html#.U83ypPldWSo “Factory farming causes        unnecessary suffering to animals.” http://www.voanews.com/content/article/180541.html http://science.time.com/2013/10/25/reports-pegs-lingering-problems-with-meat-production-in-the-u-s/ “Charter schools provide        better choices to low-income families.” http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/07/21/333573812/high-performing-charter-schools-may-improve-students-health http://hpherald.com/2014/07/02/charter-schools-subject-of-urban-education-institute-talk/ http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-charters-stats10-2010jan10-story.html “Legalizing drugs will lead        to lower crime.” http://www.msnbc.com/all/does-marijuana-lower-the-crime-rate http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/07/denver_marijuana_crime_louisia.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2680499/Crime-tax-revenues-11million-Six-months-Colorado-voted-legalize-marijuana-sky-fallen-stoner-state-long-term-consequences-unclear.html

Step 2: Find a Scholarly Source from the Ashford University   Library
  Next, you will find a scholarly source related to the same topic in   the Ashford University Library. Watch the   [email protected] tutorial and strategies from the  GEN103 Ashford   University Library: Keywords are Critical tutorial to help you find a scholarly source related to   your chosen topic from the Ashford University Library. Using the [email protected]   search box on the library home page, locate a scholarly research article on   the same topic that either confirms the claim of your friend or   coworker or refutes it. Either way, ensure the scholarly article   covers the same topic. Make sure you put a check in the box for   scholarly/peer reviewed before clicking search when using the databases.

Reflect:
Discuss the Differences
  In your discussion post, consider the differences between the news article   your friend or coworker referenced in relation to their claim and the   scholarly article you found in the library. You may wish to use the   Venn Diagram Template to help you organize your thoughts before completing your   discussion.

Write: Engage in this discussion by answering the questions   below:  What similarities and        differences do you notice between the popular source your friend or        coworker referenced and the scholarly source you found in the Ashford        University Library?  Thinking about your        experience searching and watching this week’s tutorials, when is a        scholarly source more appropriate to use? When is a popular source, such        as a news article, more appropriate?  How would you respond to your        friend or coworker regarding their claim, based on the scholarly article        you found? Remember to set aside your personal opinion and challenge        yourself to create a response that is based upon the scholarly article        you found. 

Be sure to include the author,   date, title, and publication of the scholarly article from the Ashford   University Library at the end of your discussion. Put the claim you are   addressing in the subject line of your post.

To maximize the opportunity for   vigorous discussion, you must post to this discussion on at least three   separate days of the week and your posts must total at least 600 words as you   address the questions noted above. Your first post must be completed by Day 3   (Thursday) and the remainder of your posts must be completed by Day 7   (Monday). You must answer all aspects of the prompt at some point during the   week. Also, be sure to reply to your classmates and instructor.

Respond to Peers: As your reply to your classmates, attempt to take the conversation   further by examining their claims or arguments in more depth or responding to   the posts that they make to you. Keep the discussion on target and try to   analyze things in as much detail as you can. For instance, you might consider   reflecting on your classmates’ response to their friend or coworker’s claim   and the differences they found between the popular source and the scholarly   source. Did they select a scholarly article that related to their topic in a   meaningful way? Do you believe the information they found was credible? Why   or why not?

  Respond