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Critical Thinking and the Library: Exercise

Learn more about how the library plays a role in developing critical thinking skills.

Is 'rainbow fentanyl' a threat to your kids this Halloween? Experts say no

NPR recently aired a story about the threat of rainbow fentanyl and the possibility of exposure to children, especially around Halloween.

Read or listen to the story, and note the contradictions in warnings the DEA issued and what drug experts think.

Whether you read or listen, click through some of the links to the story, to see how NPR has "cited" its sources.

Questions:

  1. What do you think of the drug expert's opinions, compared to the DEA warning?
  2. What are some of the convincing arguments on both sides?
  3. Who do you think more accurately reflects the truth about the situation?
  4. What particular arguments made you think this?
  5. How do some of the websites NPR linked to back-up or refute some of the arguments made, on either side?

Now take a look at this article by Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware.

  1. What are the credentials of author? Do you think they make him an expert on this topic?
  2. How does his history and context of this issue reinforce or change your mind about the original story?

Search Library Resources

Now check the library for articles about rainbow fentanyl and Halloween, and also works by Prof. Best.

  1. What kind of results do you see? Are they news articles? Scholarly or peer reviewed articles?
  2. What do you think the results tell you about this topic?
  3. What kind of articles and books do you see written by Joel Best? How does seeing Prof. Best's scholarly work affect the way you view him as an expert? How might this affect how you feel about the story, as well?

How Do I Set Up My RefWorks Account?

RefWorks long in with Create account link at bottom of page1. On the RefWorks website, select 'Create account' at the bottom of the box. (skip "Use login from my institution").

RefWorks enter UT email2. Enter your UT email address to create your account.

Useful Citation Websites

Why Cite?

  • Academic Integrity
  • Plagiarism Avoidance
  • Source fact-checking and validation
  • Consider how being able to look at the sources in the NPR story helped you to evaluate the arguments being made

The Online Writing Lab at Purdue (OWL Purdue) - Excellent resource. In addition to their up-to-date versions of the most popular citation styles, they also host a number of helpful handouts dealing with writing and grammar.

CSE (Council of Science Editors) - Citation and style often used with the natural sciences. This quick citation guide provided by PennState University Libraries.

CitationMachine, EasyBib, BibMe, etc. - These online tools can be helpful, but it's always best to check your citations against the official models available at OWL Purdue, or the stylebooks available in the library (ask at the Circulation Desk).

Macdonald-Kelce Library - The University of Tampa - 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. - Tampa, FL 33606 - 813 257-3056 - library@ut.edu - Accessibility