Analyzing Arguments | Answer Keys

Student Concept Worksheet Answers

Question	Answer
1	Homework should be limited to 30 minutes per night. The claim is the main position being argued. Everything else (studies, Finland example) supports this central claim.
2	B. Ad Hominem (personal attack) Instead of addressing the person's actual opinion about the menu, the argument attacks her personal eating habits. This is attacking the person, not the argument.
3	C. Research published in the Journal of Learning shows puzzle games improve spatial reasoning by 15%. This is the only option that provides specific, peer-reviewed research with measurable results. The cousin's experience (A) is anecdotal, the YouTuber (B) is not an expert, and "everyone knows" (D) is a bandwagon appeal with no evidence.
4	The statement uses loaded language: "reckless," "devastate," and "destroy" are emotionally charged words designed to influence the reader rather than present facts objectively. Accept any answer that identifies loaded/emotional language and explains that it shows bias.
5	Sample questions: How many dentists were surveyed? Who paid for the study? Were they comparing to no toothpaste or other brands? What does "recommend" mean exactly? Are these real dentists or actors? Accept any reasonable questions that challenge the credibility or specifics of the claim.

Practice Worksheet Answers

Question	Answer
1	Homework should NOT be assigned over winter and spring breaks. / Assigning homework over breaks does more harm than good and should be eliminated.
2	Any TWO of: 1) Dr. Sarah Chen's quote about cognitive fatigue 2) 2023 NEA survey showing 67% of teachers believe break homework widens achievement gaps 3) University of Michigan research about knowledge loss recovery
3	Counterargument: Students will forget material without practice. Response: Research shows short-term knowledge loss is quickly recovered when classes resume, while the stress causes longer-lasting damage to students' relationship with learning.
4	Either A, B, or C are acceptable with good explanation. Best answers will note: A is from a named expert at a specific institution, B is a specific statistic from a credible organization, C is research from a named university. Option D is weakest - it's an assertion without backing.
5	C. An opinion stated as fact "Deserve actual rest" is a value judgment, not evidence. While it may also be somewhat emotional, it's primarily an opinion presented as if it were an established fact.
6	B. False Cause The argument assumes the energy drinks CAUSED the good grades, but correlation doesn't equal causation. Jake might have gotten A's for many other reasons.
7	"Either ban ALL unhealthy food or let us make our own choices." This presents only two extreme options when there could be many reasonable middle-ground solutions (like banning just the most harmful items, limiting quantities, requiring parental permission, etc.).
8	C. Ad Hominem (Personal Attack) The author attacks the character/type of students who disagree rather than addressing their actual arguments.
9	Any THREE of: "ridiculous," "treats students like children," "obvious hypocrisy," "just want to control us," "Stand up for your rights!" or similar emotionally charged phrases
10	Sample answers: 1) Scientific research on energy drink health effects 2) Expert opinions from doctors or nutritionists 3) Statistics about energy drink consumption and health 4) Comparison studies with other schools that have bans
11	B. Bandwagon Appeal The argument that "everyone I know" thinks something is true uses popularity as evidence, which is the definition of bandwagon appeal.
12	Source A is from a "Tech Industry Blog" - this suggests potential bias because the tech industry benefits financially from social media use. Research "sponsored by leading social media companies" has obvious conflict of interest.
13	B. Source B - provides more credible evidence because: 1) It's from a research journal (peer-reviewed) 2) The meta-analysis reviewed 47 independent studies 3) It's described as "independent" (no conflict of interest) 4) It includes brain imaging research, not just surveys
14	Source A's purpose is to defend/advocate for social media companies (likely persuade against regulation). Source B's purpose is to inform based on research evidence (inform/present findings). This affects what each source emphasizes and what evidence they cite.
15	Source B is stronger overall because it relies on independent, peer-reviewed research rather than company-sponsored surveys. Source A has clear bias (industry blog using industry-funded research), while Source B specifically notes its independence. Source B also addresses the counter-point (benefits) while acknowledging risks.

FAST Format Quiz Answers

Question	Answer
1	B. The traditional school calendar is outdated and schools should adopt year-round schedules.
2	B. "A study by the Brookings Institution found that students lose an average of one month of learning" This provides a specific finding from a named, credible research institution with measurable results.
3	C. Loaded language designed to influence readers "Common-sense" is a loaded term that suggests anyone who disagrees lacks sense. It's not evidence or a fallacy, but persuasive language.
4	B. By explaining that total vacation days remain the same
5	B. Data from schools that have already implemented year-round calendars Real-world results from existing year-round schools would provide concrete evidence for whether the proposed change actually works.
6	C. Bandwagon Appeal "Everyone else" and "500,000 students" appeals to popularity rather than actual evidence of effectiveness.
7	B. Anecdotal evidence (personal stories instead of research) Individual testimonials are not scientific evidence. We don't know if these results are typical or even real.
8	C. To persuade readers to buy a product
9	See rubric and sample response below.
10	See rubric and sample response below.

Question 9 Scoring Rubric

Score	Criteria
2	Identifies TWO specific ways purpose affects presentation with clear explanations
1	Identifies ONE way purpose affects presentation OR two ways without clear explanation
0	Does not connect purpose to presentation or response is incorrect

Sample 2-Point Response for Question 9:
Because the author's purpose is to sell the product, the passage only includes positive information and hides any negatives or side effects. The author also uses emotional language like "struggling" and "revolutinary" to make readers feel they need the product. Personal testimonials are used instead of scientific research because stories are more emotionally persuasive than data for selling products.

Question 10 Scoring Rubric

Score	Criteria
4	Correctly identifies ONE fallacy with explanation, ONE example of bias/loaded language with explanation, AND explains how both weaken credibility
3	Identifies both elements but explanation of credibility impact is incomplete
2	Correctly identifies and explains ONE element (fallacy OR bias) with credibility connection
1	Identifies elements but provides minimal or incorrect explanation
0	Does not correctly identify fallacies or bias

Sample 4-Point Response for Question 10:
The advertisement uses a bandwagon appeal when it says "500,000 students already trust FocusMax" - this tries to convince readers by showing popularity rather than proof that it works. The passage also uses loaded language like "revolutionary" and "unlock their potential" which are emotionally charged words without actual meaning. These weaken the argument's credibility because instead of providing scientific evidence that the supplement is effective and safe, the ad relies on manipulation tactics. A critical reader should be suspicious when an argument uses tricks instead of facts.

Key Concepts Quick Reference