In layman's terms Statistical Applications "Lies, damned lies, and statistics" is attributed to Mark Twain, referring to the persuasiveness of statistics, even when they may not really support a point. This exercise will help to uncover the power of data and its use in our world today. The purpose of this assignment is to apply research, writing, and critical thinking skills to statistics course content. Students will: Evaluate resources, ensuring unbiased reporting Report and explain statistics in a real-world application Summarize data using technology Evaluate and interpret statistics applied to the topic Form objective data-based conclusions, using supporting statistics Discuss the selected topic clearly and concisely, meeting college-level writing standards. Develop interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with peers This assignment must be a minimum of 600 words in length and a maximum of 1,000 word; , with a minimum of five resources. News sources, journals and articles from the database (UCC provides access, see the Library website), and generally online addresses ending in .gov, .edu, and .org are all good resources. , however, encyclopedia type resources may not be used to meet the requirement. They may be used among additional resources. Decide on a topic of interest to you for which there are differing points of view. There are many topics from which to choose. Some possibilities include: Mass shootings/gun control Undocumented immigrants Roe v. Wade War in Ukraine & US involvement Disease treatments Death with dignity Or lighter topics... Sports - playoff projections, trades, etc. Online gaming Other topics will be considered. Carefully, research multiple resources on the topic presented from varying perspectives and include at least two objective resources. The goal is to present an objective, rational report defending and/or disputing statistics reported, or maybe questioning the data, offering recommendations for further consideration. Perhaps, this exercise might deepen your conviction, change your perspective, or at least broaden your point of view. Some resources that may help you to evaluate the objectivity or perspective of resources include: https://www.makeuseof.com/top-unbiased-news-sources/ https://techpresident.com/unbiased-news-sources/ https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/trust-news-sites/ https://www.improvethenews.org/news Reliable Data Collection/Polls include Pew Research Center, Quinnipiac, Gallup, & Harris

determine what mix of sources will adequately cover the topic you choose meeting the criteria for this assignment. Write an introduction paragraph. Define statistics. Provide one or two sentences broadly describing the topic you will be addressing. Include one or two sentences about why you chose this issue. Summarize the topic in detail, stating the different perspectives on the issue. Include a paragraph on each point of view and include supporting data for each. Be sure to identify the type of statistics used and explain them in your own words based on course learning. Focus on questions such as: What kind of statistics were used - explain them? What people mean in the context of the situation? How were they applied to provide support, opposition, or insights? Any other relevant information appropriate to include. Next, consider what people have learned in this course and compare it to the data in this application. How does the discussion demonstrate what you learned? How does it enhance your understanding of statistics? What questions do you still have? Then use technology to apply relevant data. Excel is recommended as it is user friendly and a tool you will likely use in business. People may decide to determine some probabilities using Excel to apply what you learned in class, or consider organizing raw data discovered in your research. People may simply create some type of chart or graph comparing the two sets of data. Finally, be sure to write a brief conclusion statement as its own paragraph to wrap up the assignment.