CPS_AmerGov_1WG_CS3_23-24

.  In response to public concern about downtown parking availability, a city’s mayor appoints a panel of traffic engineers, transportation officials and citizens to study the issue.  Six months later, the panel publishes a 30-page report documenting its findings.

Which factor will contribute to the credibility of the report as a source on the topic?. 

• The length of the report

• The cost of the report to the city

• The number of tables and charts in the report

• The qualifications of the contributor to the report

 Two speakers before the Newtown City Council are debating whether to build a bridge that leads to an undeveloped piece of land.

Read and evaluate the following for possible bias:

"This bridge would be a waste of money.  It would not be wise to build a bridge to a piece of underdeveloped land that is not guaranteed to be developed anytime soon."

- Kara Weintraub, City Economic Development Director

 

"Building a bridge over the river is a great idea.  The citizens of this town deserve a new bridge and now is the perfect time to build it!  This bridge will expand countless opportunities for every citizen of Newtown."

- Gene Morelli, Owner of land near the proposed bridge site

 

Identify which description of speaker bias would be accurate about on this issue and why.

• Kara Weintraub, the City Economic Development Director, would be the least biased on this issue. As the City Economic Development Director, she would not benefit financially from the project.She does not own the property and so wouldn't benefit from the bridge.

• Kara Weintraub, the City Economic Development Director, would be biased on this issue. As a public official, she should not be trusted by the public to serve the common good, only corporate interests.

• Gene Morelli, Owner of land near the proposed bridge site, would be the least biased because, as a resident of the land, he is the most expert opinion on the subject.

• Gene Morelli, Owner of land near the proposed bridge site, would be unbiased because he has no personal stake in the matter of land usage for the bridge and will not benefit financially through the construction of the bridge.

 People rely on public records and surveys as source materials to analyze issues.

Determine whether each statement describes public records or surveys.

"This source contains data collected by major polling organizations."

• Public Record

• Survey

 People rely on public records and surveys as source materials to analyze issues.

Determine whether each statement describes public records or surveys.

"Examples of this source may include county tax documents or a report issued by a state agency."

• Public Record

• Survey

 People rely on public records and surveys as source materials to analyze issues.

Determine whether each statement describes public records or surveys.

"This source may consist of opinions obtained through a representative sample of citizens."

• Public Record

• Survey

Select the boxes to identify the type of information that could be found for each of the sources listed.

• Specific facts about the events

• Opinions of people at the time of the events

• Expert research about the events

• An article in a scholarly journal

To ABRAHAM LINCOLN,

President of the United States

 VII. Let me call your attention to the recent tragedy in New Orleans, whereof the facts are obtained entirely through Pro-Slavery channels. A considerable body of resolute, able-bodied men, held in Slavery by two Rebel sugar-planters in defiance of the Confiscation Act which you have approved, left plantations thirty miles distant and made their way to the great mart of the South-West, which they knew to be the indisputed possession of the Union forces. They made their way safely and quietly through thirty miles of Rebel territory, expecting to find freedom under the protection of our flag… They reasoned logically that we could not kill them for deserting the service of their lifelong oppressors, who had through treason become our implacable enemies. They came to us for liberty and protection, for which they were willing render their best service: they met with hostility, captivity, and [worse]... They were set upon and maimed, captured and killed, because they sought the benefit of that act of Congress which they may not specifically have heard of… They sought their liberty in strict accordance with the law of the land…

 IX. I close as I began with the statement that what an immense majority of the Loyal Millions of your countrymen require of you is a frank, declared, unqualified, ungrudging execution of the laws of the land, more especially of the Confiscation Act. That Act gives freedom to the slaves of Rebels coming within our lines, or whom those lines may at any time inclose--we ask you to render it due obedience by publicly requiring all your subordinates to recognize and obey it… We must have scouts, guides, spies, cooks, teamsters, diggers and choppers from the Blacks of the South, whether we allow them to fight for us or not, or we shall be baffled and repelled.

  Yours,

Horace Greeley

New York, August 19, 1862

What is the perspective of the author?

• Slaves should be sent back to plantations to avoid further Southern rebellion.

• Union officers have done a good job of addressing the issue of runaway slaves.

• The rule of law has been ignored, so the President must act to ensure it is fully observed.

• Slavery is a Southern issue, so it should be left to the Southern state governments to handle.

To ABRAHAM LINCOLN,

President of the United States

 VII. Let me call your attention to the recent tragedy in New Orleans, whereof the facts are obtained entirely through Pro-Slavery channels. A considerable body of resolute, able-bodied men, held in Slavery by two Rebel sugar-planters in defiance of the Confiscation Act which you have approved, left plantations thirty miles distant and made their way to the great mart of the South-West, which they knew to be the indisputed possession of the Union forces. They made their way safely and quietly through thirty miles of Rebel territory, expecting to find freedom under the protection of our flag… They reasoned logically that we could not kill them for deserting the service of their lifelong oppressors, who had through treason become our implacable enemies. They came to us for liberty and protection, for which they were willing render their best service: they met with hostility, captivity, and [worse]... They were set upon and maimed, captured and killed, because they sought the benefit of that act of Congress which they may not specifically have heard of… They sought their liberty in strict accordance with the law of the land…

 IX. I close as I began with the statement that what an immense majority of the Loyal Millions of your countrymen require of you is a frank, declared, unqualified, ungrudging execution of the laws of the land, more especially of the Confiscation Act. That Act gives freedom to the slaves of Rebels coming within our lines, or whom those lines may at any time inclose--we ask you to render it due obedience by publicly requiring all your subordinates to recognize and obey it… We must have scouts, guides, spies, cooks, teamsters, diggers and choppers from the Blacks of the South, whether we allow them to fight for us or not, or we shall be baffled and repelled.

  Yours,

Horace Greeley

New York, August 19, 1862

Which factor provides credibility to the perspective you identified in the previous question?

• the publication date of the editorial

• use of detailed supporting evidence

• the author's educational background

• agreement of additional sources cited by the author

Citizens must choose between a plan to build a new city auditorium or a plan to restore the old one. Supporters of the new auditorium claim that building a new auditorium would be more economical than restoring the old one.

In evaluating the credibility of this claim, citizens should pay particular attention to

• the number of performances held in the auditorium each year.

• the amount of money the supporters spend on promoting their position.

• the popularity of the supporters as community leaders.

• the projected cost data provided by the architects and accountants.

A coalition of environmental groups released a study on how a proposed new housing development would impact local wildlife.

Which factor should be considered in evaluating the credibility of the study?

• cost of publishing the study

• use of graphs to display research data

• possible biases of the sponsoring organization

• public opinion about the housing development