Author's Argument

Author's Argument

Mrs. McNally's Class

Poll

When you watch a commercial or see an Advertisement what draws you to the cause or product?

• The humor and catchy phrases that are hard to forget.

• Emotional ads that make me feel something about the product.

• Seeing common people speaking about the success of the product.

• Celebrities endorsing or supporting a product.

Multiple Choice

What is an argument?

• enough evidence provided

• an attempt to convince others to think or act in a certain way

• facts or supporting information that provides proof of a claim

• a statement of the author's perspective that must be proved

Multiple Choice

An author's central argument in their writing is the _____.

• claim

• evidence

• supporting details

• reasons

Multiple Choice

(True or False) Claims are facts and can be proven.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

“The best things in life are free,” they say, which is true for things like libraries. However, it is not true for many museums. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, for example, costs $20 to get in. Traveling exhibits, such as the work of a certain artist that is touring the country, almost always cost even more. People must pay to get into the museum and also pay for the special showing. That means people who don’t have much money cannot enjoy the art. Most museums have “free days,” but these are usually only one or two days a month. If you’ve ever attended one of these, you know they are jam packed with people. It is hard to even see the exhibits when crammed into a room like sardines in a can! The thing is, people already pay enough for the privilege of living in a city. In addition, museums are supported by arts organizations and individual donors. They do not need to charge the public a hefty sum as well. They should be free for everyone, all the time. Which of the following evidence would support the author’s claim that “museums cost too much for vistors to attend."

• A comparison showing which cities are the most expensive

• Examples of the fees people must pay to visit a museum

• Testimony from someone who cannot afford museum admission

• An interview with someone who thinks museums should be free

Multiple Choice

What is the author's position

• Outdoor adventure is more important than family

• Going outdoors is one of life's great pleasures

• Staying outside makes life dull and boring

• It is better to hike along trails than walk around the block

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a claim the author supports in paragraph 1?
“The best things in life are free,” they say, which is true for things like libraries. However, it is not true for many museums. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, for example, costs $20 to get in.
Traveling exhibits, such as the work of a certain artist that is touring the country, almost always cost even more. People must pay to get into the museum and also pay for the special
showing. That means people who don’t have much money cannot enjoy the art.

•  Museums cost too much for visitors to attend.

• Museums should not charge extra fees.

• Traveling exhibits should always be free.

• Museums need more traveling shows.

Multiple Choice

Claim: All high schools students should be required to take a foreign language to make them more competitive. 

Which piece of evidence BEST supports the claim above?

• You will learn another language. 
• Learning another foreign language is a waste of time.
• There is little evidence that many students achieve much fluencey in high school. 
• Learning another language improves students' vocabulary and grammar skills. 

Multiple Choice

Identify the claim below:

People get pets so that they will never be lonely, and they will always have a friend to be there for them. Ask your heart, what makes the best pet??? Some people think a best pet is a rabbit, or a dog, but it is clear that cats make the best pet. Cats are cuddle bugs, he’s playful, and cheap.

• People get pets so that they will never be lonely
• Ask your heart, what makes the best pet??? 
• Cats are cuddle bugs, he’s playful, and cheap.
• it is clear that cats make the best pet.

Multiple Choice

What claim does the author make?

• The buffalo nickel is one of the most valuable collector coins

• Native Americans utilized almost every part of the buffalo

• The buffalo were similar to the periodic table of elements

• Tribes used pieces of the buffalo for shelter, warmth, and function

Multiple Choice

What is evidence?

• Support for the counterclaim

• What the defense is trying to prove or defend against

• The attorney's final statement to the judge or jury in a trial

• How the claim is right; proof, expert witness, research...

Multiple Choice

Which would be the most "credible" source for your evidence?

• An article from a news journal

• A quote from Wikipedia

• A quote from a popular blog with over a million followers

• A statement from a famous celebrity

Multiple Choice

Why does an author include reasoning?

• To show you how smart they are.

• Facts to prove a point.

• To support the claim.

• To support the evidence and show how the evidence supports the claim.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT evidence:

• reasoning

• quote from an expert

• statistic(s) from a credible source

• information from a reliable source

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is EVIDENCE used to support the author's claim?

• Surveillance cameras lowered Baltimore, Maryland's crime rate by almost twenty-five percent.

• Cities and towns should install surveillance cameras.

• Some people claim that the cost of cameras would be better spent on hiring more police officers.

Multiple Choice

Which statement offers the strongest support for the statement below?

Plastic grocery bags are better for the environment than paper grocery bags.

• Paper grocery bags are often assumed to be more environmentally friendly than plastic bags, but they still harm the environment.

• Reusable cloth bags are best for the environment, but plastic grocery bags are the next best option.

• Plastic grocery bags require less energy to manufacture and are more likely to be reused or recycled than paper grocery bags

• Plastic grocery bags take significantly longer to decompose than paper grocery bags, but they will eventually decompose.

Multiple Choice

That statement, "As of 2016, Coca-Cola sold its products to citizens in 90% of the countries in the world; Pepsi sold to the second highest percentage, at 75%." is _____.

• a claim

• evidence

Multiple Choice

What is a logical fallacy?

• Facts that can be proven true.

• Parts of an argument that support a claim.

• Parts of an argument that purposefully mislead the audience to persuade them.

• Opinions that are put into place to support a claim

Multiple Choice

I guess I should buy my 12-year-old daughter an iPhone. Everyone at her new school has one and I want her to fit in with the other kids.

• Appeal to False Authority

• Either/ Or

• Bandwagon

• Slippery Slope

Multiple Choice

"Good morning! Have you gotten over the grouchy mood you were in?"

• Loaded question

• Ad hominem

• False dilemma

• False analogy

Multiple Choice

Why is this a logical fallacy? "All elephants are big. Some boys are big. Therefore some boys are elephants."

• It says A is true and B is true so A+B must be true.

• It oversimplifies.

• It only gives two choices to a larger problem.

• It says the two things always happen together.