MGEB11H3 (LEC01) – Winter 2022 – Term Assignment – Revised
The term assignment has two parts:
1. A book report on Smith, Gary. 2016. Standard Deviations, Flawed Assumptions, Tortured Data,
and Other Ways to Lie with Statistics, Duckworth Overlook (2016). ISBN-978-0-7156-5103-2.
The purpose is to acquaint you with memorable real-life examples of statistical analysis gone
wrong, so you can avoid the same mistakes yourselves in personal or professional analysis.
(5 marks)
2. An analysis report where you give an illustration of how to lie with statistics. The purpose is to
apply what you have read in the book and to practice some EXCEL skills, (5 marks)
Required content for the book report:
• For each chapter of the book: Please summarize the main message of the chapter in a sentence
or two and very briefly summarize one anecdote from the chapter that illustrates the message.
The point is to clearly demonstrate that you have read the chapter.
• For the book as a whole: What was the most useful thing you learned from the book?
Required content for the analysis report:
• Tell an accurate covid-related story from published government data: Choose either the Ontario
Public Health dataset or one of the Statistics Canada datasets posted. Choose at least two data
time series to compare from the dataset you choose. Do your own calculations, summaries, and
displays of the data using EXCEL In one data chart or graph, and one table of descriptive
statistics, provide an accurate comparison of the data series you have chosen. Briefly
summarize in words what the chart/graph and the table show.
• Apply what you have read from the book: Use the same data series but aim to create a more
frightening picture of covid (“clickbait”). Use any of the techniques in the book you wish.
Chapter 5 provides examples of how to mislead with displays. Create one or two misleading
data charts/graphs. Briefly summarize in words how you are misleading your audience. Enjoy
the exercise!
Format expected: Please report in full sentences, and type rather than hand-write. Try to make your
report easy to read and follow. Embed your EXCEL charts/graphs and tables in your written report.
Submission: Please post pdf files for your report to the Quercus Term Assignment portal. There should
be one pdf file for your book report, and one for your analysis report. Post your xls or xlsx files
separately, for audit purposes. Only the pdf reports will be marked.
Due date: Monday March 28, 2022, midnight.
Solo work: Each person should read the book on their own. If the marker notices two book reports
with one or more portions that seem copies of each other, both book reports will receive a zero mark.
Team work: You can work on the analysis report with another student. Both partners should submit
the same report. The report should identify both partners. March 18, 2022
MGEB11H3 (LEC01) – Winter 2022 – Term Assignment – Revised
The term assignment has two parts:
1. A book report on Smith, Gary. 2016. Standard Deviations, Flawed Assumptions, Tortured Data,
and Other Ways to Lie with Statistics, Duckworth Overlook (2016). ISBN-978-0-7156-5103-2.
The purpose is to acquaint you with memorable real-life examples of statistical analysis gone
wrong, so you can avoid the same mistakes yourselves in personal or professional analysis.
(5 marks)
2. An analysis report where you give an illustration of how to lie with statistics. The purpose is to
apply what you have read in the book and to practice some EXCEL skills, (5 marks)
Required content for the book report:
• For each chapter of the book: Please summarize the main message of the chapter in a sentence
or two and very briefly summarize one anecdote from the chapter that illustrates the message.
The point is to clearly demonstrate that you have read the chapter.
• For the book as a whole: What was the most useful thing you learned from the book?
Required content for the analysis report:
• Tell an accurate covid-related story from published government data: Choose either the Ontario
Public Health dataset or one of the Statistics Canada datasets posted. Choose at least two data
time series to compare from the dataset you choose. Do your own calculations, summaries, and
displays of the data using EXCEL In one data chart or graph, and one table of descriptive
statistics, provide an accurate comparison of the data series you have chosen. Briefly
summarize in words what the chart/graph and the table show.
• Apply what you have read from the book: Use the same data series but aim to create a more
frightening picture of covid (“clickbait”). Use any of the techniques in the book you wish.
Chapter 5 provides examples of how to mislead with displays. Create one or two misleading
data charts/graphs. Briefly summarize in words how you are misleading your audience. Enjoy
the exercise!
Format expected: Please report in full sentences, and type rather than hand-write. Try to make your
report easy to read and follow. Embed your EXCEL charts/graphs and tables in your written report.
Submission: Please post pdf files for your report to the Quercus Term Assignment portal. There should
be one pdf file for your book report, and one for your analysis report. Post your xls or xlsx files
separately, for audit purposes. Only the pdf reports will be marked.
Due date: Monday March 28, 2022, midnight.
Solo work: Each person should read the book on their own. If the marker notices two book reports
with one or more portions that seem copies of each other, both book reports will receive a zero mark.
Team work: You can work on the analysis report with another student. Both partners should submit
the same report. The report should identify both partners.