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[pic] CONFLICTING ARGUMENTS

In an argument, an author presents a claim, or position, about a debatable topic. He or she then explains reasons for taking that position, and uses evidence to show why the reasons are sound. Strong arguments rely on facts. Weak arguments may express the author’s opinions but not use facts to support them. Weak arguments may also have poor reasoning or rely too heavily on exciting readers’ emotions. Some types of poor reasoning or over-reliance on emotions are called logical fallacies. Common logical fallacies include the following:

• An overgeneralization is a conclusion that overstates the facts. A statement that includes words such as always, never, everything, or only may be an overgeneralization.

Example: Nobody ever washes the dishes in this house!

• A slippery slope asserts that a relatively small first step will lead to a chain of related events resulting in some significant effect. The idea that such a chain of events will definitely happen may simply be untrue.

Example: If students are allowed to retake a test, they are going to want to retake every test for the rest of the year.

Although two authors might express the same position, they may not present it in the same way. Authors arguing similar positions may offer different reasons and evidence. One may use facts and sound reasoning, whereas another may use few or no facts and logical fallacies.

DIRECTIONS: Read the passage below. Then, answer the questions that follow.

Eighth-grade students should be allowed to join any group or after-school activity—even martial arts. Research shows martial arts build strength and coordination. Some object to students younger than 16 participating in martial arts because they assert that it provokes violence, but the martial arts masters show self-control—not violence.

1. What is the claim made in the passage?

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2. What pieces of evidence does the author use to support the argument?

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3. What conflicting argument does the author include?

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4. What evidence might a conflicting passage provide to support the argument?

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CONFLICTING ARGUMENTS

A. DIRECTIONS: Read this passage. Then answer the questions by writing the letter of the correct answer on the line.

(1) Hurricanes can cause great destruction. (2) The powerful winds can overturn cars and boats and can tear houses to shreds, and heavy rains brought by the hurricanes can result in flooding, making it impossible to travel on the roads. (3) This type of damage from hurricanes has been documented in many coastal areas and tropical islands.

1. ____ What is the author’s claim in this passage?

A. Road travel during a hurricane may not be the best idea.

B. Hurricanes only happen in the tropics.

C. Hurricanes are powerfully destructive.

D. If your car or boat has been overturned, it is probably due to a hurricane.

2. ____ Which sentence gives the most important evidence?

A. sentence 1 B. sentence 2 C. sentence 3

3. ____ Which of the following might be included in an conflicting argument?

|A. Strong winds and rains are what cause hurricane |C. Hurricanes are powerful enough to overturn |

|damage. |vehicles and shred houses. |

|B. Media often overexaggerates the damage that |D. Stay out of the tropics during hurricane season |

|hurricanes cause. |unless you like lots of wind and rain. |

B. DIRECTIONS: Read the passage below. Then, answer the questions that follow.

Hybrid cars have become popular. Hybrids are popular because they are economical. They use less gas and can travel longer distances than their gas-only counterparts between fill-ups. For example, one popular hybrid car can travel up to sixty miles per gallon of gas— that is more than triple the average gas mileage of some conventional cars.

1. What is the claim made in the passage?

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2. What is a conflicting argument another author might make?

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3. What evidence might an author include to support the conflicting argument?

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PRACTICE

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