Evidence to support Claims

Criminalizing cyber-bullying is not the most effective solution to the problem.

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• "Many of my students complain about headaches, which I believe are caused by too much time spent on their tablets," said eighth-grade science teacher Tom Pittman.

• Tablets in the classroom, which are usually equipped with a web browser and a variety of applications, are a source of distraction.

• The co-director of the Cyber-bullying Research Center stated that the best responses to cyber-bullying include in-school detention and family partnership programs.

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Schools should require uniforms, which makes students safer by deterring crime.

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• After one year of having a uniform policy, Nevada's Sparks Middle School experienced a two-thirds reduction in police log reports.

• In one survey, 86% of principals and other school leaders agreed that uniforms make a "significant, positive impact on peer pressure."

• A study found that, on average, the introduction of school uniforms in the most violent schools increased the volume of assaults.

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Contrary to what some may say, bike-sharing programs are safe.

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• One study found that only thirty percent of riders participating in a bike-share program in Washington, D.C. wore helmets, as compared with seventy percent of riders who owned their own bikes.

• A caller to a radio program about bike-sharing programs said, "Bike-sharing programs allow people who may not own bicycles a transportation option that lets them get physical exercise while reducing carbon emissions."

• A team of Seattle-based researchers found that cities that adopted bike-sharing programs saw cyclist injuries decrease by twenty-eight percent.

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Cheer-leading, which requires great physical skill, is a legitimate sport.

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• A high school senior told the school newspaper: "My brother is a football player, and as a cheerleader, I train just as hard, take just as many risks, and compete just as seriously as he does."

• The American Medical Association, the nation's largest physician's group, officially recognizes cheerleading as a sport.

• Researchers have concluded that cheer-leading is now the leading cause of catastrophic injuries for all high school and college females.

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Wikipedia is not a reliable source for academic research.

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• Information on Wikipedia is not necessarily posted by subject-matter experts.

• Wikipedia was launched in 1999, whereas the Encyclopedia Britannica has been published continuously since 1768.

• Wikipedia is a non-profit, which means that any profit it makes is reinvested in the business.

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Bill Clinton was the most effective president of the second half of the twentieth century.

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• Clinton signed the 1993 Brady Bill, which requires a waiting period and background check before purchasing handguns.

• During Clinton's presidency, the crime reate dropped every year, which was the longest continuous drop on record.

• Even after leaving the White House, Clinton remained popular with the American people.

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To improve the quality of instruction, students should be able to grade their teachers.

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• Speaking to a local journalist, one student said, "Student assessments of teachers are necessary for quality instruction to occur. I'm grateful that the administration adopted this much- needed program."

• Several students surveyed about their teachers' effectiveness said that they questioned the anonymity of the survey and therefore were not completely truthful.

• In one school, almost all teachers reported that they would change their approach if student feedback indicated that it was not working.

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Bans against the distribution of free plastic bags would help reduce costs for retailers.

Which is the strongest evidence to support the claim?

• In recent years, a number of states have passed statutes banning the distribution of free plastic bags.

• Plastic bags take decades, if not centuries, to degrade and therefore take up a significant amount of space in landfills

• The one hundred billion plastic bags distributed in the U.S. each year cost retailers an estimated four billion dollars.

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Claim: Businesses accrue productivity gains when they allow their employees to telecommute.

Evidence: Studies have shown that those who work from home put in longer hours.

Choose the explanation that best explains the connection between the claim and the evidence.

• Telecommuters longer hours are reflective or greater productivity.

• Offering telecommuting also enables companies to attract better employees: those who are the most productive.

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Claim: Playing sports when young yields health benefits later in life.

Evidence: Researchers found that World War II veterans who played varsity sports when they were younger had fewer doctor visits as older men.

Chose the explanation that better explains the connection between the claim and the evidence.

• One survey found that those who participated in high school sports were less likely to smoke eight years after graduation.

• Needing fewer doctor visits is reflective of having better health.

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