letter to the editor scientifically based

How Error Prone Is Popular Reasoning?

This project provides an estimate of the frequency with which errors are made in reasoning about individuals, societies, and social processes.

ULOs:

Locate appropriate sources
Identify errors in reasoning
Communicate information professionally

Instructions:

Select issues from a daily newspaper. Locate the letters to the editor in each.
Read each letter to the editor, and circle all those that make assertions about individuals, societies, and social processes; that is, about the social world.
Identify examples of any of the four errors in reasoning in those letters. (Overgeneralization, Selective or Inaccurate Observation, Illogical Reasoning, & Resistance to Change) (Search through more newspaper issues, if necessary, until you find at least two examples of errors in reasoning about the social world.)

In the Discussion area:

Present your two “flawed” letters to the editor with an application to the four errors in reasoning.
Propose a solution to resolve the error.
Present a reference for both letters (e.g., Newspaper name and date)

Last Completed Projects