Cheating

by Bonnie Szumski, Na

Overview

Opinions matter. Throughout our lives, people offer their own opinions, trying to influence ours and others. In order to understand these opinions and their value, it is important to learn what they are based on. People's opinions can be rooted in statistical evidence, prejudices, science, family or religious beliefs. Understanding this background will help you gain empathy for other's beliefs. This knowledge will benefit you as you form your own opinions and explore your reasons for holding them. The Matters of Opinion series takes a deeper look into important issues that young adults face. Each book features thought-provoking questions that are then addressed by a pro and con viewpoint. As students gather their own viewpoints on the topic, they are then asked to examine the opinions at the end of each chapter. This activity teaches critical thinking skills and introduces argumentative techniques. At the end of the book an activity allows readers to further develop their skills by writing their own essay. There are several opinions regarding the topic of cheating. Pressing questions include: Is cheating caused by a breakdown in society? Should cheaters be punished? Has the internet changed the rules of cheating? By examining the issue from two possible sides, readers can see how opinions can influence culture, society, and the legal system.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781599536057
Publisher:	Norwood House Press
Publication date:	07/28/2014
Series:	Matters of Opinion Series
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	830L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

Table of Contents

Time line 4

1 An Epidemic of Cheating 6

2 Is Cheating Caused by a Breakdown in Society? 17

Examine the Opinions: The Bandwagon Technique 28

3 Should Cheaters Be Punished? 29

Examine the Opinions: Scapegoating 40

4 Has the Internet Changed the Rules of Cheating? 41

Examine the Opinions: Bias 52

Wrap It Up! Write Your Own Essay 53

Notes 57

Glossary 59

Bibliography 60

Index 62

About the Author 64

Editorial Reviews

A briefly annotated two-page timeline immediately makes clear that there have always been cheaters—back to the times of the ancients Greeks—and that cheating occurs in a variety of fields such as sports, personal finance, and academics. An introductory chapter follows this. Three major questions with two different perspectives on how each could be answered comprise the body of this book. At the end of each “question” chapter, an “argumentative technique” is presented: the bandwagon technique, scapegoating, and bias in reporting. This book has several strong points including reasonably good annotation of source materials, a short glossary, a decent bibliography, and thorough index. Sidebars and color photographs break up the large print textual materials. It is marred by a couple of editorial flaws, however. On the bottom of page 48, a sentence begins, but does not continue smoothly onto the next page; it is unclear if parts of a sentence or several sentences have been left out. The second, more minor editorial miss is that the author talks about herself as more than one person on page 52, i.e., as if the two perspectives on answering the opening question were presented by different people. This entry in the “Matters of Opinion” series closes with a six-step exercise to write a research based essay. This would be a reasonable addition to a classroom or school library and useful for introducing or reinforcing student understanding of multiple perspectives on a given issue in their writing. Reviewer: Paula McMillen, Ph.D.; Ages 12 up.

Children's Literature - Paula McMillen

11/01/2014
Gr 5–9—In alignment with Common Core standards, this series explores four topics relevant to the lives of young readers with the intention of helping them strengthen their critical reading, argument formation, and essay-writing skills. A clear, engaging narrative presents opposing sides of the issues, and "Examine the Opinions" sections at the end of each chapter pose questions, encouraging students to analyze and form their own arguments. A "Wrap it Up!" section asks students to write a persuasive essay, backing up their opinions with facts, and gives six specific steps for doing so effectively. "Did You Know?" text boxes, along with full-color captioned photos, will keep readers engaged and informed. Students will respond to the interactive elements while learning how to find trustworthy sources and studying the nuances of complicated and controversial issues. Useful titles for provoking independent thought.

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