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..Week Two Textbook Readings and Signal Phrase article)
True or False–
1. Argumentative writing always involves a confrontational approach where one side must be declared the winner.
2. Opinions and arguments are essentially the same thing and can be used interchangeably in academic writing.
3. Implicit arguments rely solely on explicit statements to convey the author’s perspective.
4. Premise indicators signal the introduction of supporting statements in an argument.
5. An argument must contain at least one premise and conclusion.
6. The burden of proof in an argument lies on the recipient of the argument.
7. Evidence must always be self-evident and not require further explanation.
8. Including multiple pieces of underdeveloped evidence in an argument is sufficient to prove a point.
9. A counterargument is a viewpoint that supports the main argument.
10. Anticipating and addressing possible objections to your arguments can strengthen your overall argument.
11. Logic primarily belongs to the field of psychology.
12. Informal logic is mainly used in academic research.
13. Deductive arguments guarantee a true conclusion based on the premises.
14. An invalid deductive argument means that the premises are false.
15. Inductive arguments promise absolute certainty.
Multiple Choice:
16. What is the main purpose of academic argument?
• A) To win debates
• B) To discuss and evaluate ideas
• C) To provoke controversy
• D) To assert opinions
17. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an argument?
• A) It must be supported
• B) It must be controversial
• C) It must have a conclusion
• D) It must have premises
18. What distinguishes an argument from a statement of fact?
• A) Arguments must be arguable
• B) Statements of fact are always true
• C) Arguments cannot contain facts
• D) Statements of fact are subjective
19. What is the purpose of conclusion indicators in identifying arguments?
• A) To signal the introduction of a main claim
• B) To indicate the presence of supporting evidence
• C) To identify the author’s opinion
• D) To mark the end of an argument
20. Which term refers to the structured arrangement of premises and conclusions in an argument?
• A) Thesis
• B) Standard argument form
• C) Rhetorical situation
• D) Premise indicator
21. What must evidence be in order to support an argument effectively?
• A) Logical and sufficient
• B) Self-evident and unquestionable
• C) Relevant only to the writer’s viewpoint
• D) Varied in type but not thoroughly developed
22. What term is used to describe the connection between evidence and an argument?
• A) Assumption
• B) Warrant
• C) Counterargument
• D) Conclusion
23. What is another term for a counterargument?
• A) Thesis
• B) Hypothesis
• C) Antithesis
• D) Synthesis
24. What is the purpose of addressing counterarguments in an essay?
• A) To ignore opposing viewpoints
• B) To weaken the overall argument
• C) To demonstrate thorough research
• D) To strengthen the main argument
25. Which of the following is a signal phrase that can be used to introduce an objection in a paper?
• A) “The evidence suggests…”
• B) “Some readers may point to…”
• C) “I believe that…”
• D) “It is obvious that…”
26. What is the purpose of formal logic?
• A) To emphasize emotions in arguments
• B) To eliminate imprecision in evaluating arguments
• C) To promote mysticism and belief
• D) To focus solely on informal reasoning
27. What is the key difference between validity and soundness?
• A) Validity ensures all premises are true, while soundness focuses on the conclusion.
• B) Validity guarantees a true conclusion, while soundness requires true premises.
• C) Validity is subjective, while soundness is objective.
• D) Validity is for deductive arguments, while soundness is for inductive arguments.
28. How are inductive arguments measured?
• A) By their reliability and soundness
• B) By their validity and strength
• C) By their reliability and plausibility
• D) By their validity and credibility
29. What is the main reason for studying logical fallacies?
• A) To learn deceptive techniques
• B) To increase emotional appeals in arguments
• C) To understand different forms of logic
• D) To avoid errors and manipulative tactics in reasoning
30. Which fallacy involves bringing irrelevant information into an argument?
• A) Ad hominem
• B) Straw man
• C) Red herring
• D) Hasty generalization
31. Which fallacy distracts by introducing irrelevant ideas or information, diverting attention from the validity of an argument?
• A) Appeal to Emotion
• B) Hasty Generalization
• C) Red Herring Fallacy
• D) Appeal to Authority
32. What does Tu Quoque, or “you, too” fallacy, involve?
• A) Attacking the person making the argument
• B) Making a weak analogy
• C) Shifting the burden of proof
• D) Changing the rules of the argument
33. What type of fallacy implies that something is valid because many people believe or support it?
• A) Appeal to Popularity
• B) Ad Hominem Attack
• C) Special Pleading
• D) Moving the Goalposts
34. When does Hasty Generalization occur?
• A) When the arguer shifts the burden of proof
• B) When the arguer makes a weak analogy
• C) When the conclusion is derived from too little information or evidence
• D) When the arguer distracts by introducing irrelevant information
35. Which fallacy occurs when one keeps changing the rules of the argument without justification?
• A) Circular Reasoning
• B) Moving the Goalposts
• C) Special Pleading
• D) Appeal to Emotion
Section B:
–Refer to the article “More school districts adopt 4-day weeks, citing lower costs and better teacher recruitment.”
True or false:
36. The Pruente children are enrolled in a four-day school schedule in Kansas City, Missouri.
37. The district-provided childcare option is available in every school within the Independence district.
38. Missouri has seen a decrease in the number of districts adopting three-day weekends since the pandemic hit.
39. The shortened school week has had no impact on teacher recruitment and retention in the Independence district.
40. Research conducted by the Rand Corporation found no significant differences in academic achievement in districts with a four-day school week.
Multiple Choice Questions:
41. What is cited as the primary reason for adopting a four-day school schedule?
• A) Increased test scores
• B) Cost savings and teacher recruitment advantages
• C) Longer summer vacations
• D) Higher government subsidies
42. Which district switched to a four-day school week due to failed efforts to increase taxes?
• A) Independence
• B) 27J
• C) Turner
• D) Oregon State
43. How much does the district-provided child care option cost per day?
• A) $15
• B) $20
• C) $25
• D) $30
44. In which state has the number of districts operating on a shortened schedule more than doubled since the pandemic?
• A) Montana
• B) Indiana
• C) Missouri
• D) Oregon
45. According to Superintendent Will Pierce, what percentage of parents and teachers in the 27J district support the four-day schedule?
• A) 70% of parents, 75% of teachers
• B) 80% of parents, 85% of teachers
• C) 60% of parents, 70% of teachers
• D) 75% of parents, 80% of teachers
Fill-in-the-Blank :
46. The Pruente children’s mother teaches ________ in a neighboring district.
47. The number of districts routinely getting three-day weekends in Missouri has increased from ________ to ________ since the pandemic hit.
48. In the Turner district, taking Fridays off helps avoid situations such as basketball games played at districts ________ or more hours away.
49. The off-day program in Independence to help struggling students is set to start in ________.
50. According to Karyn Lewis of NWEA, students are not making up all the ________ they lost during the pandemic.
Section C:
51. The Straw Man Fallacy reframes your opponent’s thesis to make it easier to attack and refute it. Here is the thesis: Four-day school weeks, seen nationwide, highlight the relationship between economics, teachers, and academics, although a comprehensive evaluation and stakeholder engagement can help manage any drawbacks.
• Simplify or misconstrue the thesis statement
• Refute the simplified or misconstrued thesis statement
• Explain what you did to create the Straw Man Fallacy.
• Worth 10 points.
Section D:
52. False dichotomy—Create a false dichotomy linked to our society switching to a four-day workweek.
• Create the fallacy
• Explain your reasoning. (Explain your logos)
• Worth 10 points.
Section E:
53. Please refer to our textbook. An outline of the Rogerian argument can be found on pages 76 and 77.
• Please read this article: “KILL THE 5-DAY WORKWEEK.”
• You will create an outline of a Rogerian argument based on the article “KILL THE 5-DAY WORKWEEK.”
• This will be considered side A–
“We live in a society in which overwork is treated as a badge of honor,” Alex Soojung Kim Pang, an author and consultant who helps companies try out shorter work weeks, told me. “The idea that you can succeed as a company by working fewer hours sounds like you’re reading druidic runes or something. But, he said, we’ve had the productivity gains that make a four-day week possible. It’s just that they’re buried under the rubble of meetings that are too long and Slack threads that go on forever.
• This will be considered side B–
Of course, working fewer hours at an unfulfilling job doesn’t change its basic nature. According to Gallup, only 36 percent of workers in the U.S. “work with passion and feel a profound connection to their company.” A shorter schedule would not in and of itself give workers the sense of independence, purpose, and camaraderie that researchers have identified as traits of satisfying work.
• Create a Rogerian Outline with these different takes on the four-day workweek.
• The outline should include all five parts. (Introduction, Side A, Side B, Bridge, Compromise)
• For the introduction–tell me how you would start the essay
• For Side A–help me understand their argument
• For Side B–Help me understand their argument
• For the Bridge–what do the sides have in common?
• For the compromise–explain what they would agree on and why they would agree.
• Make sure to show your logos for each part.
100-word minimum
–This should be an outline, not a paragraph. (or an essay)
• Worth 30 points