1. A student is writing an argument that offering more art and theater classes in schools would be good for students academically. Which of the following is an example of evidence that the student should include when developing their claim? Select the two correct answers.
A. Science and math are not engaging, and most students think we need to focus on less boring subjects.
B. Art and theater classes are an integral part of most educational curricula outside of the United States.
C. A recent poll showed that 93 percent of adults believe that schools should offer art and theater classes.
D. Students who take art and theater classes score an average of 35 points higher on the verbal SAT test.
E. Experts agree that art and theater help students build self-confidence and learn many collaborative skills.
2. A student is developing a claim about art and theater education in schools. Which of these claims is fair, focused, and complex?
A. The arts have been a major part of society since ancient times, and we are doomed if we do not honor them.
B. There are many ways that art and theater classes benefit students academically and socially.
C. Art and theater classes are important to society, and so we need to offer them at school.
D. Schools should focus on teaching useful subjects rather than wasting time and money on the arts.
3. Everyone should replace the meat that they eat with fish because fish is a healthier choice. Fish is high in protein, as well as a wide range of vitamins and minerals, and very low in unhealthy fats. In fact, the American Heart Association, one of the nation’s largest health charities, recommends eating at least two servings of fish per week. A student is developing a counterclaim to this argument. Which counterclaim is the most fair and effective
a. Large fish such as grouper and bluefin tuna are known to have elevated levels of mercury, a toxic metal that can cause a wide range of health problems.
b. Workers in the fishing industries are badly mistreated, and if you eat fish then you are supporting this horrible and unethical industry.
c. People should avoid fish because the fish are treated cruelly from the moment they are caught until they are brought to market.
d. People should avoid fish because studies have shown that people who eat fish regularly have a 22 percent higher risk of skin cancer.
4. Claim: Biomass, or organic matter used as fuel, is an excellent source of clean and renewable energy. It generates far fewer emissions than fossil fuels and reduces our nation’s reliance on foreign energy sources. Counterclaim: Most biomass is produced by burning wood, and since wood is a less energy-dense fuel, it creates more carbon emissions than coal does when producing electricity. The student who wrote the claim is developing a revised claim as a rebuttal to the counterclaim. Which is the best revision?
A. Depending on how they are generated, geothermal and hydroelectric energy can create more emissions than coal when producing electricity.
B. One type of biomass, that is charcoal produced from plant material,r, can also be used for enriching soil, as it prevents pesticides from leaching and running off.
C. A wide range of organic materials can be used to make biomass, and sources such as algae are far more energy-dense than wood.
D. Only two percent of the world’s energy is produced using biomass, so we are unaware of what its overall environmental impact will be.
5. Pros and cons about the electoral college are often cited. For example, one often cited pro is that the use of the electoral college prevents calls for recounts and offers a level of certainty to elections. An often stated con is that the use of the electoral college may allow the candidate who does not win the popular vote to win the overall election. Those who cite this con are concerned that the will of the people is not always counted in an election. The Electoral College should continue to be used in presidential elections because it is the fairest means of electing a president. It ensures that people in every state have a role in electing the president, no matter what their state’s demographics are.
A. The reason why the Electoral College was established was to make it more difficult for people of color and formerly enslaved people to vote.
B. Everyone knows that each voter should have only one vote, and the Electoral College makes it possible for some people’s votes to count as more or less than one.
C. Since it is an all-or-nothing system for each state’s votes, the Electoral College allows elections to potentially be decided solely by swing states.
D. There have been four presidential elections in our nation’s history where the winner won the Electoral College vote but not the popular vote.
1. B. Art and theater classes are an integral part of most educational curricula outside of the United States.
D. Students who take art and theater classes score an average of 35 points higher on the verbal SAT test.
2. B. There are many ways that art and theater classes benefit students academically and socially.
3. A. Large fish such as grouper and bluefin tuna are known to have elevated levels of mercury, a toxic metal that can cause a wide range of health problems.
4. C. A wide range of organic materials can be used to make biomass, and sources such as algae are far more energy-dense than wood.
5. D. There have been four presidential elections in our nation’s history where the winner won the Electoral College vote but not the popular vote.