Writing: Argument

Read the following passage.

Bike riding should be allowed in public parks. Both cyclists and walkers can easily share the trails as long as they follow the rules of the park. According to the rules, cyclists should stay on the right side of the trails and always let walkers pass first. Some people may argue that cyclists do not always follow the rules. The parks department should make sure that the rules are clearly posted in the parks. This will remind people of how they should share this space.

Which of the following details from the passage anticipates a counterclaim to the argument that bike riding should be allowed in public parks?

• “Bike riding should be allowed in public parks.”

• “According to the rules, cyclists should stay on the right side of the trails and always let walkers pass first.”

• “Some people may argue that cyclists do not always follow the rules.”

• “Both cyclists and walkers can easily share public trails…”

The following passage is written for teachers. Use it to answer the question below.

School buses should play music in the morning for students. As a teacher, imagine how much more energized, focused and ready to learn your students would be if they were motivated by the music they enjoy. I love listening to music in the morning. Other students would certainly enjoy this, too. It would also give students the chance to relax and reflect before beginning the school day.

Which detail from the passage provides the best example of appealing to an audience?

• “As a teacher, imagine how much more energized, focused and ready to learn your students would be...”

• “I love listening to music in the morning.”

• “School buses should play music in the morning for students.”

• “Other students would certainly enjoy this, too.”

Read the following passage.

I should be allowed to go to the dance because it will be awesome. I’ll get to see my friends and show off my dancing talents. I’ve been practicing a new dance for two months! Going to the dance will help build my social skills, and there will be teachers chaperoning the whole time.

Which detail is the weakest part of the argument?

• “Going to the dance will help build my social skills…”

• “...there will be teachers chaperoning the whole time.”

• “I should be allowed to go to the dance because it will be awesome.”

• “I’ll get to see my friends and show off my dancing talents.”

Read the claim below.

Fishing is a great way to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

Select the piece of evidence that best supports this claim.

• Fishing requires the use of special equipment as well as access to a clean body of water.

• Many anglers find that fishing promotes both patience and care for the natural world.

Consider this claim:

Learning to play an instrument can help you succeed academically.

Which piece of evidence better supports this claim?

• Evidence A: Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital scanned the brains of musicians and non-musicians while they completed various tasks. Musicians showed increased brain activity in areas that could strengthen school performance.

• Evidence B: A long-term study at a top research university showed that children who had learned to play an instrument in the past year had greater self-confidence than those who had not.

Consider this claim:

Professional video gaming should be considered a sport because it shares many characteristics with other sports.

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• Competitive video gaming often occurs in an atmosphere similar to that of other major sports: a large arena with cheering fans and millions of dollars on the table.

• Sociology professor Olivia Carey notes, "The definition of a sport has always been up for debate. Is chess a sport? Is dance a sport? This is something people have always disagreed about."

• According to Dan Walton, a sports journalist, "Professional gaming doesn't require physical ability or contact. Sports are, and always have been, physical."

Consider this claim:

Wikis, or websites that allow users to generate and alter content, are not reliable sources for academic research.

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• Many wikis were first launched in the twenty-first century, while encyclopedias have been used as reference sources since the eighteenth century.

• Wikis are not print resources; they are only offered online.

• Many wikis allow anyone, not just subject-matter experts, to post information on their sites.

Review the claim and the two pieces of evidence.

CLAIM: Goats can be effective for removing weeds in many areas.

Evidence A: A small graphic design company in Oregon rented goats to remove weeds on its grounds. The company's owner noted that the goats "devoured" the English ivy that was harming native plants.

Evidence B: It has been widely demonstrated that goats are enthusiastic eaters who can thoroughly remove stubborn invasive plant species. City and state governments across the U.S. have reported success with using goats for weed control.

Why is Evidence B stronger than Evidence A?

• Evidence A does not directly support the claim. It does not show that goats are effective at removing weeds.

• Evidence A is anecdotal. It represents the experience of only one small company.

Review the claim and the two pieces of evidence.

CLAIM: Pet dogs often physically resemble their owners in certain ways.

Evidence A: In a survey of over two thousand pet owners, an animal welfare charity found that people often look for the same qualities in a pet that they would in a romantic partner. For instance, people tend to look for loyalty, affection, and dependability in both pets and partners.

Evidence B: Participants in multiple studies have, with a high degree of success, matched images of dogs to images of their owners. The pairs frequently had similar eye shape or shared other traits; for example, owners with long hair had dogs with long ears.

Why is Evidence B stronger than Evidence A?

• Evidence A is anecdotal. It is based on the opinions of only one small group of people.

• Evidence A does not directly support the claim. It does not show that people tend to look like their dogs.

Which is a thesis statement?

• How should the NFL respond when a football player scores a touchdown and then celebrates the moment in the end zone?

• I intend to show why a football player who celebrates after scoring a touchdown shouldn't be penalized by the NFL.

• Scoring a touchdown is an exciting moment for a football player, and the player should not be penalized for celebrating.