In completing primary research in ENG 201, many of my students are unaware of the difference between causation and correlation. The link below to a NYTIMES article discusses the difference using how a story was reported that traffic causes fat bellies. The article is a great example of an argument in and of itself as it gives evidence and explains claims clearly and succinctly, ultimately concluding that this “correlation as causation” fallacy is made by journalists all too often.
THE DEBUNKER
No, You Can’t Blame Your Belly on Traffic
BY NICHOLAS ST. FLEUR
NY TIMES June 2, 2015
A recent study found an association between traffic noise exposure and an increase in abdominal body fat. But it was only an association.
Teaching Writing at John Jay College 