Identifying Arguments

Which of the following statements is an argument?

• Vending machines stocked with soda or candy should be removed from all public schools.

• Star Wars is the best movie ever.

• We’d better leave now. If we don’t, we might miss the last train and we’ll be stuck here all night.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Which of the following statements is an argument?

• The woman in the hat is not a witch since witches have long noses, and she doesn’t have a long nose.

• First, I washed the dishes, and then I dried them.

• Albert isn’t a fireman, and he isn’t a fisherman either.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Which of the following statements is an argument?

• Are you seeing that rhinoceros over there? It is huge!

• I have been wrangling cattle since before you were old enough to tie your own shoes.

• Charlie and Violet are dogs since dogs don’t sweat, and Charlie and Violet don’t sweat.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Which of the following statements is an argument?

• So it is raining heavily, and I have to walk home. But I don't really care.

• Bill will pay the ransom. After all, he loves his wife and children and would do everything to save them.

• For a long time, astronomers suspected that Europa, one of Jupiter's many moons, might harbor a watery ocean beneath its ice-covered surface. They were right.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Which of the following statements is an argument?

• I woke up this morning, and then took a shower and got dressed. After breakfast, I studied for class.

• We all know that the hands of a clock rotate to the right. But have you ever wondered why they go around that way instead of the other way?

• Bruce is either in Hong Kong or Macau. John says that Bruce is not in Hong Kong. So, Bruce must be in Macau

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Which of the following statements is an argument?

• Jones has served in the U.S. Senate for twelve years and has extensive experience in foreign affairs; therefore, you should support him for president.

• Jones has served in the U.S. Senate for twelve years and has extensive experience in foreign affairs.

• Scientific discoveries are continually debunking religious myths. Further, science provides the only hope for solving the many problems faced by humankind.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Which of the following statements is an argument?

• John, do you think that Picasso was a painter or a writer? Please answer this question. Why don't you answer me? John, were you listening?

• The Atlanta Braves won the World Series in 1995. In total, they've won 3 championships.

• John must have dropped out of school because he is no longer included on the list of enrolled students.

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Which of the following statements is an argument?

• Medicines are used after one has already developed some form of the disease.

• We don’t have to wait until we get heart disease to exercise and eat right.

• Since medicines are usually expensive, money is better spent on heart disease prevention by promoting exercise and good eating habits.

Which of the following statements is an argument?

• Vote Libertarian in the next election because doing so will solve almost all the world's problems.

• We don’t have to wait until we get heart disease to exercise and eat right.

• This card can save you a lot of money.

• What time does the movie start?

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CCSS.RI.8.1

CCSS.RI.8.8

CCSS.RL.11-12.1

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

Which of the following statements is an argument?

• The price of gas a rising at an astronomical rate. So, since we have a limited budget, we need to start driving less.

• Doctors should be eligible for government grants to support their work.

• Eating animals is wrong for a variety of reasons.

• Raising animals for food uses resources, like grain, that could be used to feed hungry people around the world.