Opinions can be clearly seen when material is used

Opinions can be clearly seen when material is used for
argument . An argument is a presentation or discussion in
which disagreement is expressed. It can also be described as a
position, or thesis. An argument will use facts, or evidence , to
persuade people that it is based on the right opinion. Of course,
an argument is generally very biased. For example, you may

Lesson 1, page 24 Canadian and World Issues CGW4U-A
Copyright © 2007 The Ontario Educational Communications Authority. All rights reserved.
argue that India’s population is growing too fast and that it will
eventually hurt the country’s economy. You may present data
that shows how fast the population has increased over time, as
well as demonstrate that there has been a slowing down in the
economic well-being of the average Indian citizen. Others may
argue that population growth adds strength to the workforce
and to the size of the market. Perhaps the evidence can be used
to show that a slowdown in the economy is due to global forces
beyond India’s control.
Three Kinds of Sources
In this course, you will be asked to write paragraphs and essays
on a variety of topics. You will make statements and draw
conclusions based on supporting information that you find
through research. How can you be sure that the information you
use is sound and unbiased? If at all possible, take information
from primary sources , or first-hand records of an event. They
can include accounts by actual people involved, photographs,
diaries, and newspaper items. A primary source for population
data, for example, would be the data collected and reported on
the population census. Population numbers gathered by the
U.S. Census Bureau are as factual as technology and accurate
counting can allow. Statistical data from government sources
is generally sound. When summaries of primary data are put
together, secondary sources of information are formed. For
example, a piece about trends in Canadian tourism statistics
by the World Tourism Organization, an agency of the UN,
is an example of a secondary source. Tertiary sources of
information, which are the product of writers or organizations
using secondary interpretations in their presentations, may
result in distortions. If you want to know about Canadian
tourism, for instance, gather information from Statistics Canada,
which actually collects the data. Your interpretation of the data
then becomes a secondary source. If you use the World Tourism
Organization’s interpretation, you may end up summarizing a
summary and miss important details.

Copyright © 2007 The Ontario Educational Communications Authority. All rights reserved.
Canadian and World Issues CGW4U-A Lesson 1, page 25
Researching a Topic
When compiling research on a topic, use primary sources as often
as possible. Facts are indisputable. When you consult secondary
and tertiary information, such as in an article in a journal, you
need to distinguish between fact and opinion. Look for as many
clues as you can to determine the reliability of the source. One