When reading complex material, take notes and keep lists. Always note the author and title of the source.

For example, the news release from the Economic Policy Institute, "Wealth Flows to the Wealthiest as the Percentage of Americans Who Own Stock Falls" has statistics about the concentration of wealth in America which you can use in your essay. The main points are easily listed:

• the wealthy got wealthier
• home ownership increased
• stock ownership became more concentrated among the wealthy
• household debt grew
• economic differences between the races persisted
• many Americans are financially unprepared for retirement.

These assertions are backed up by statistics, many of which compare the present to the recent past in order to show an increase in inequality.

If you use these statistics, you must attribute them to the Economic Policy Institute (because other economists use different, often contradictory, statistics). For example:

According to the Economic Policy Institute (2006), "In 2004, the median wealth of black households was just one-tenth that of white households, $11,800, compared to $118,300" (para. 12). See Citation

In general, you should use such statistics

• to show why some economists believe globalization increases inequality
• to describe a tendency toward inequality in the American economy
• to support your position on globalization and inequality.

Such statistics also can be

* contrasted with other statistics
* criticized as inaccurate or misleading
* defended from criticism

Types of sources

The first articles we read--on child labor in India, on disease in the Congo, on Mexican immigration--were news articles. News articles are supposedly objective; they supposedly do not have a point of view.

In contrast, the articles we are reading for the first essay have a point of view, They defend a position, take a stand, answer a question. They participate in the debate over globalization. Some authors argue that globalization is harmful; some argue that it is beneficial. Some authors claim globalization alleviates inequality; others claim the opposite. Some authors think offshoring destroys jobs; others argue that offshoring creates jobs.

In other words, these articles all have a thesis, the main assertion the author is defending.

Examples of theses:

• Income inequality is caused by changing technology, not by globalization.
• Trade rules should be changed to provide a more equitable distribution of income.
• Globalization causes income inequality.
• Congress must end tax subsidies for companies that offshore American jobs.

Authors use arguments to support their thesis.

In Globalization Is Grrrreat!, for example, Tom G. Palmer begins with a question:

"It’s common for opponents of globalization to use the term as a catchall for all the features of human life that they don’t like. I’ll use “globalization” more precisely to refer to the diminution or elimination of state-enforced restrictions on exchanges across borders and the increasingly integrated and complex global system of production and exchange that has emerged as a result. The pressing questions are what the effects of globalization actually are and whether they’re beneficial or harmful."

Palmer divides his arguments into the "Myths About Globalization" and "Benefits of Globalization." In "Myths About Globalization," Palmer refutes the arguments of the opponents of globalization.

For example, opponents of globalization argue that globalization eliminates jobs, but Palmer claims that trade policy--an aspect of globalization--does not change the number of jobs, but only changes the kinds of jobs. The opponents of globalization are wrong.

Once Palmer has refuted his opponents's arguments, he lists the "Benefits of Globalization." By refuting the arguments of his opponents, and making arguments in favor of free trade, Palmer answers his question: Globalization is more beneficial than harmful.

Conservative vs. liberal

Palmer's arguments are typical conservative arguments; he is associated with the Cato Institute, a conservative think tank. In contrast, the Economic Policy Institute is a liberal think tank.

You can see from Palmer's article that most conservatives strongly believe in the free market. They feel that the economy should be as little regulated as possible, that the economy works best for everybody when the government does not interfere and does not attempt to redistribute wealth.

In contrast, liberals believe in some government regulation and some redistribution of wealth. Liberals feel that an unregulated economy creates inequality, as too much income and wealth accrue to the wealthy, and not enough to the rest of the population. Thus liberals usually support higher taxes on the wealthy and social programs for the middle class and poor, in contrast to conservatives, who advocate cutting taxes and eliminating or reducing social programs.

In general, both liberals and conservatives support globalization, but liberals are more likely to believe that unregulated trade will tend to favor the rich countries and rich individuals, whereas conservatives like Palmer believe that free trade helps everybody.