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Teaching Economic Inequality and Capitalism in Contemporary America pp 157–167Cite as

Teaching Social Inequality Through Analysis of Hidden Assumptions in Non-Academic Publications

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Abstract

As much as instructors wish it were different, college students receive far more information from non-academic than academic sources. As a result, they are inundated by over-information mixed with distortions and contradictions that are confusing. This paper discusses strategies to help students distinguish between information and misinformation regarding economic and social inequality in non-academic publications. The goal is to develop critical thinking skills that detect flawed popular arguments. The first strategy addresses evidence-based arguments. It helps students identify how the hidden assumptions about an argument and its supporting evidence mislead the reader. The second strategy deals with reason-based arguments. These tools help students develop questions to uncover an argument’s flawed implications and emphasize the importance of analyzing hidden messages in debunking popular misinformation.

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Acknowledgements

The author is grateful for the valuable comments and input provided by William L. Smith and Kristin Haltinner.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA

    Pidi Zhang

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  1. Pidi Zhang
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Correspondence to Pidi Zhang .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA

    Kristin Haltinner

  2. Department of Sociology, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, USA

    Leontina Hormel

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Zhang, P. (2018). Teaching Social Inequality Through Analysis of Hidden Assumptions in Non-Academic Publications. In: Haltinner, K., Hormel, L. (eds) Teaching Economic Inequality and Capitalism in Contemporary America. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71141-6_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71141-6_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-71140-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-71141-6

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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