Writing an Argumentative Editorial about Initiating Change

Read the sample student claim. Many people claim that cell phones are unsafe and that the damage they cause has yet to be revealed, but the benefits they provide far outweigh any potential and unproven risks. Which best addresses a potential counterclaim?

A. Certain types of cancers take twenty to thirty years to develop, and cell phone studies have only been monitoring this potential connection for ten years or less.

Read the sample student claim and counterclaim. Claim: Although many people argue that medical testing on animals is a violation of animal rights, the benefits it yields for society far outweigh any argument that can be made. Counterclaim: There are safer and more accurate ways to test medications without using animals. What evidence would most weaken the counterclaim presented here?

A. The physiologies of humans and some animals are very similar, so the reactions of these creatures to certain medications are the most reliable guide to the possible reactions of human patients.

Which statement best expresses a claim?

A.Although many people believe homework is a crucial part of school, there is evidence to suggest that homework may not be as valuable as once thought.

Read the sample student claim and the reasons listed for making this claim. Claim: Although many people argue that medical testing on animals is a violation of animal rights, the benefits it yields for society far outweigh any argument that can be made. Reason #1: Animal research has yielded both pain-relieving and life-saving drugs for humans. Reason #2: Laws prohibit scientists from using animal-based research in cases where non-animal testing would produce equally clear and valid results. Which piece of evidence would best support reason #1?

B. Animal research played an essential role in the development of Herceptin and Tamoxifen, two medications that have already saved the lives of thousands of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Read the sample student claim. Although many applaud the increased opportunities for research and communication afforded by the Internet, it has actually brought more harm to society than good. Which best addresses a potential counterclaim?

B. The Internet provides access to information that would otherwise be unobtainable to the general public.

Read the sample student claim and the reasons listed for making this claim. Claim: Although many people argue that medical testing on animals is a violation of animal rights, the benefits it yields for society far outweigh any argument that can be made. Reason #1: Animal research has yielded both pain-relieving and life-saving drugs for humans. Reason #2: Laws prohibit scientists from using animal-based research in cases where non-animal testing would produce equally clear and valid results. Which piece of evidence would best support reason #2?

C. Enacted in 1966, the Animal Welfare Act is a US federal law that regulates the care and use of animals in a variety of circumstances, including medical research and testing.

Read the passage. With car crashes being the leading cause of death among teenagers, many are in favor of raising the legal driving age to eighteen. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, the rate of crashes, both fatal and nonfatal, for sixteen-year-old drivers is almost ten times the rate as that of drivers aged thirty to fifty-nine, as calculated per mile driven. No one disputes the idea that raising the legal driving age will create issues and difficulties for many; however, these issues pale in comparison with the issue of safety. "The bottom line is that when we look at the research, raising the driving age saves lives," states Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a research group funded by the auto insurance industry. To date, New Jersey is the only state to raise the legal driving age to seventeen, and various studies have shown that the overall rate of teen fatalities linked to automobile accidents has been consistently lower compared to that of nearby states. A student is researching evidence to support the claim below. Some people believe that raising the legal driving age to eighteen in the United States would cause a wealth of problems for society, but the benefits of doing so far outweigh the potential inconveniences. Which reason could best be supported by the evidence in this passage?

C. The legal driving age should be raised to eighteen for safety reasons.

Read the sample student paragraph that addresses a counterclaim. Some claim that the Internet both invades and compromises one's right to privacy. However, this is ridiculous. The Internet is only as invasive as one allows it to be, particularly since there are laws to protect people's privacy. Exercising caution when supplying personal information online is the most vital step in protecting one's privacy. Any information you do not feel comfortable sharing online should not be shared, and sensitive information should only be provided to trusted organizations. Additionally, some states have already enacted privacy laws that model the Federal Privacy Act of 1974, ensuring that information collected for one purpose may not be used—or sold—for other purposes without first notifying the individual to whom the data belongs. The first and most important protector of an individual's information is that individual. People whose personal information is not properly protected only have themselves to blame. The tone of this rebuttal can best be described as

C. rude.

Read the sample student claim and counterclaim. Claim: Although many argue that homework plays a vital role in the educational process, the negative aspects of homework far surpass the potential benefits. Counterclaim: Homework helps students develop valuable skills, such as independent learning, needed for college and the workplace. What evidence would most weaken the counterclaim presented here?

D. It is nearly impossible to know if the completed homework actually belongs to the student or has been copied from another.

Read the rough draft of a student's conclusion to an argumentative editorial. (1) Year-round schooling would help student achievement. (2) Not so much information would have to be crammed into nine months. (3) Furthermore, the elimination of long breaks, particularly summer break, would significantly reduce "learning loss" and the additional time wasted at the beginning of each academic year to reteach previously learned material. (4) It is clear that year-round schooling helps students learn and retain more. (5) The United States is not the only country to experiment with a year-round school schedule. (6) Although many still claim that evidence about year-round school and its link to higher achievement is inconclusive, these people need to open their eyes and see that students in these schools consistently score higher on certain assessments than students who attend schools with traditional nine-month calendars. (7) It is about time that we replaced our outdated and inefficient school calendars. Which revision would most strengthen sentence 1?

D. replacing "help" with "greatly boost"

Read the sample student claim. Although some people would argue that it is not the responsibility of schools to ban junk food and encourage healthy eating habits, schools play an important role in helping youths develop positive behaviors that lead to healthier lifestyles. Which characteristics of a claim does the sample claim represent? Check all that apply.

It is a statement of indisputable fact. -It can be supported by evidence. -It clearly takes one side of an issue. It is a personal preference or feeling. It is something everyone would consider true.

Read the sample student claim. If university education was made free for everyone, I would be thrilled because more people would go to college and pursue successful careers. Why is this not an effective claim? Check all that apply.

Not It is a topic with two or more viewpoints. It does not contain the writer's opinion. -It is simply a personal preference or feeling. -It does not present supporting evidence. -It cannot be supported with logical reasons. probably It is a topic with two or more viewpoints. -It does not contain the writer's opinion. -It is simply a personal preference or feeling. -It does not present supporting evidence. It cannot be supported with logical reasons.

Which elements are important to include in the conclusion of an argumentative editorial? Check all that apply.

Not -a restatement of the claim -a list of evidence used to support the claim a personal opinion about the topic a summary of the rebuttal -a solution, an alternative, or a call to action

Read the rough draft of a student's conclusion to an argumentative editorial. (1) Year-round schooling would help student achievement. (2) Not so much information would have to be crammed into nine months. (3) Furthermore, the elimination of long breaks, particularly summer break, would significantly reduce "learning loss" and the additional time wasted at the beginning of each academic year to reteach previously learned material. (4) It is clear that year-round schooling helps students learn and retain more. (5) The United States is not the only country to experiment with a year-round school schedule. (6) Although many still claim that evidence about year-round school and its link to higher achievement is inconclusive, these people need to open their eyes and see that students in these schools consistently score higher on certain assessments than students who attend schools with traditional nine-month calendars. (7) It is about time that we replaced our outdated and inefficient school calendars. Which revision of sentence 2 best adds information that clarifies the reason offered by the writer?

Not C.

Read the sample student paragraph that addresses a counterclaim. Some claim that the Internet both invades and compromises one's right to privacy. However, this is ridiculous. The Internet is only as invasive as one allows it to be, particularly since there are laws to protect people's privacy. Exercising caution when supplying personal information online is the most vital step in protecting one's privacy. Any information you do not feel comfortable sharing online should not be shared, and sensitive information should only be provided to trusted organizations. Additionally, some states have already enacted privacy laws that model the Federal Privacy Act of 1974, ensuring that information collected for one purpose may not be used—or sold—for other purposes without first notifying the individual to whom the data belongs. The first and most important protector of an individual's information is that individual. People whose personal information is not properly protected only have themselves to blame. What is the counterclaim in this paragraph?

Not D.