Argumentative STAAR

What kinds of evidence do the authors of each essay use to support their opinions? Explain your answer with examples from each text.

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Choose all of the arguments that support the Point Argument.

• A law overturning the decision could be wrongly applied

• The ruling protects some of the most engaged citizens

• The ruling affirms the 1st Amendment of the Constitution.

• The ruling threatens national security

• Flag burning takes an emotional toll on veterans

Choose all the arguments that support the Counterpoint claim.

• The ruling threatens national security

• Flag burning takes an emotional toll on veterans

• Amendments can fix bad court decisions

• The ruling affirms the First Amendment of the Constitution.

• A law overturning the decision could be wrongly applied.

How does the following excerpt from the 1st essay add to the development of the Point author's argument? Citizens like Gregory Lee Johnson who make the decision to burn the American flag in protest probably do not take the decision lightly. Instead, they are weighing their reverence for the flag carefully with their civic duty to stand up for what they believe in.

• It assumes flag burners like Johnson are serious and thoughtful people who want what they think is best for America

• The author knows that most people reading already think that Gregory Lee Johnson is a hero.

• It demonstrates all of the positive changes that can come from a protest like Johnson's.

• It questions whether anyone can consider themselves a true patriot until they make a gesture as bold and dangerous as burning a flag.

Which sentence from the text most strongly supports that the military should be taken into consideration when considering the flag burning issue?

• "Unfortunately, there are some people who think it is acceptable to burn this sacred symbol as a form of protest against the government."

• "According to a veteran of the Vietnam War, Richard Savage, …'Those who would burn the flag destroy the symbol of freedom, but amending the Constitution would destroy part of freedom itself.'"

• "Since the U.S government is for the people and by the people, public opinion should matter in deciding this issue."

• "Internationally there is a precedent for limiting freedom of expression in the interest of national security."

Which of these inferences about the Point essay is best supported by the text?

• Flag burning as a form of protest by thoughtful citizens actually makes us stronger as a nation.

• Supreme Court decisions should not be challenged or changed by Constitutional amendments.

• The better solution to this debate would be if we had a government in power that no one wanted to protest.

• The author would be open to a flag burning amendment to the Constitution if it allowed states to decide whether to outlaw it.

Which sentence from the text most strongly supports that flag burning as a form of protest makes us stronger as a nation?

• " The clear message here is that it is more important to protect our citizens than to allow such an extreme display of freedom of speech."

• "The Supreme Court got this one right."

• "There are many people who do not support the legal right to burn the flag."

• "The men and women who decide to burn the flag in protest would not bother to take action if they were not devoted to the betterment of the U.S."

How does the example of the Dred Scott case in Paragraph 4 of the second essay add to the development of the Counterpoint author's argument against flag burning?

• It dismisses the Supreme Court's flag burning decision by show how flawed the ruling can be.

• It suggests that burning the flag is as bad as slavery.

• It points to polls that show how strongly Americans support the Supreme Court's Dred Scott ruling.

• It demonstrates that they might not be any way around the Supreme Court's decision protecting flag burning.

What is the central idea of both essays that is best supported by the text?

• The point of view of military service members should be weighed when considering the issue of flag burning.

• One of the main problems with a flag burning law is that people will inevitably wind up burning flags by accident.

• Looking to Europe as an example can help guide people to the correct thinking on the issue of flag burning.

• Sometimes flag burning is the only option for citizens seeking to express their dissatisfaction with the government.

What is the primary purpose of an argumentative essay in the context of the STAAR exam?

• To narrate a personal story

• To inform the reader about a topic

• To persuade the reader of a particular viewpoint

• To entertain the reader with humor