Deck 2: Claims

Question 1

Directing claims toward an audience that you already know to be sympathetic to your cause

A)can be beneficial because it provides good practice.
B)is typically ineffective because it wastes time.
C)can energize existing supporters to take wider action.
D)often reduces your number of supporters because they become bored by repetitive claims.
E)all of the above
F)a and c only

Answer 1

F

Question 2

The example in your text concerning the censorship of textbooks illustrates how

A)groups with conflicting values can reach consensus on some issues.
B)educators are uncritical of the educational materials they use.
C)objective researchers can shed light on the more subjective claimsmaking of others.
D)censorship is a social problem that many groups can agree is wrong.
E)all of the above
F)a and d only

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Valence issues are the kinds of problems that tend to inspire

A)widespread acceptance of the claims.
B)widespread conflict over the claims.
C)widespread confusion over what should be done.d.strong feelings among a small group of activists.
E)all of the above
F)b and c only

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Saying that claims tend to take standard forms means that

A)within a given culture, most claims will tend to have similar elements.
B)within a given culture, there are often rules regarding who can make claims.
C)across all cultures, claims tend to have similar elements.
D)all humans seem to respond to certain types of claims.

Question 5

Typifying examples are usually

A)examples that attempt to familiarize an audience with the range of manifestations of the problem, from the most extreme to the most mild.
B)extreme examples that try to catch the attention of the audience.
C)examples of the typical occurrence of the problem.
D)examples of what the beginning of a problem usually looks like.

Question 6

The term social problems marketplace draws our attention to the fact that

A)audiences are easily swayed by claims that support their own interests.
B)claimsmakers must compete with other claimsmakers for the public's attention.
C)audiences are easily bought through gifts or promises of financial gains.
D)it is expensive to get your claims heard.e.all of the above

Question 7

Grounds often include assertions regarding the

A)type of problem being addressed (crime, disease, etc.).
B)fact that a problem exists.
C)fact that there is just cause to take action regarding the condition.
D)need for immediate action.
E)all of the above
F)a and b only

Question 8

It is suggested in your text that __________ claims tend to work best.

A)complex and nonpartisan
C)simple and nonpartisan
B)simple and strong
D)complex and strong

Question 9

__________ is an example of domain expansion.

A)A social problems worker who typically works with AIDS patients but is beginning to work with cancer patients as well
B)Moving from ten thousand supporters of your claim to one hundred thousand supporters
C)Moving from defining poverty as a situation where people cannot meet their basic survival needs to a situation that includes people who have to work very long hours to meet their needs
D)Progressing from local news coverage of your claims to national news coverage

Question 10

Early in the social problems process, the statistics associated with problems are often

A)rough estimates due to a lack of research.
B)particularly large numbers because large numbers get more attention.
C)based on careful research in response to public demand.d.smaller numbers because they are only preliminary findings since people are only beginning to research the topic.e.all of the above
F)a and b only

Question 11

It is suggested in your text that, over time, audiences tend to become

A)more committed to well-established claims.
B)bored with older claims and more interested in new claims.
C)suspicious of new claims.
D)confused by the number of claims and therefore apathetic.

Question 12

Your text suggests that when analyzing claims as arguments or statements, the most important thing is

A)determining whether the claim is true.
B)assessing the credibility of the claimsmaker.
C)determining whether the audience finds the claim convincing.
D)understanding the logical framework of the claim.

Question 13

Which of the following is a position issue?

A)debate over designating a state flower for your state
B)child abuse
C)abortion
D)drunk driving
E)all of the above
F)b and d only

Question 14

The motivational frame is also known as

A)naming the problem.
C)grounds.
B)warrants.
D)a typifying example.

Question 15

The argument that something should be done about motorcycle riders who do not wear helmets to keep health care costs lower is an example of a

A)conclusion.
C)ground.
B)warrant.
D)typifying example.

Question 16

The audience for a claim includes

A)people who support the claim.
B)people who might be persuaded to support the claim.
C)other claimsmakers.
D)policymakers.
E)all of the above
F)a and b only

Question 17

By arguing that a new troubling condition is like an established type of problem such as crime or disease, claimsmakers

A)provide the audience with a way of thinking about the problem.
B)confuse the audience by involving too many different problems in the claim.
C)draw on existing resources already devoted to solving the established type of problem.
D)limit the types of counterclaims that will work against them.
E)all of the above
F)a and c only

Question 18

Naming the problem is the moment when

A)an exact definition of the problem is established.
B)a catchy term like identity theft is created for the problem.
C)the problem becomes bad enough to gain public attention.
D)public officials begin discussing the problem openly.

Question 19

Rhetoric is the study of

A)claimsmaking.
C)deception.
B)persuasion.
D)debate.

Question 20

A statistic is a

A)number used to measure or characterize a situation.
B)sad or an ironic example of how people often fall victim to traditions.
C)precise measure of the damage caused by a problem.
D)term used by the government to describe the incidence of a problem.
E)all of the above

Question 21

It is stated in your text that "persuasive arguments share a rhetorical structure with three fundamental components." List and describe the three components of this rhetorical structure and offer examples of each.

Question 22

Provide an example of something special about the current era and how it might influence the kinds of claims that are most effective.

Question 23

The well-established rhetorical formula for claims about victimization involves claiming that

A)extraordinary measures are needed to identify the victimization.
B)the victimization is widespread.
C)the victimization is serious.
D)the victimization is hidden.
E)all of the above
F)b and c only

Question 24

When a troubling condition piggybacks on a well-established problem, it means that

A)claimsmakers argue that the new condition is similar enough to the existing problem that if one deserves attention, so does the other.
B)those advocating counterclaims attempt to steal media attention from the original claimsmakers.
C)claimsmakers say that the new condition is sufficiently different from the existing problem that the two should not be associated with one another.
D)claimsmakers try to divert media attention from existing problems by overstating the dangers of the new condition.

Question 25

Historical context influences cultural resources. Which kinds of claims are likely to resonate?

Question 26

Discuss why and how claims typically change over time.

Question 27

It is argued in your text that when a claimsmaker wants to convince others that a troubling condition exists, he or she often uses a typifying example, names the problem, and cites a large statistic. However, various other common devices are used to convince people that the issue is truly troubling. Describe at least three of these additional devices and offer examples of each.

Question 28

Explain how interests and ideologies influence certain segments of the population in their response to particular claims. How might claimsmakers use this knowledge to get the largest possible reaction to their claims?

Question 29

Cultural resources are

A)the elements of our culture that make it stronger or weaker than others.
B)the number of people in a given culture willing to take action against a social problem.
C)our shared ideas about how the world should and does work.
D)the cultural values that drive us to try to end problematic conditions.

Question 30

A counterclaim to the claim that child abuse has been increasing over the last fifty years would be that

A)true child abuse is now so uncommon that activists have started labeling some nonabusive behaviors as abuse.
B)increases in child abuse are linked to our general cultural tolerance for abuse.
C)abuse in general has increased so that children, the elderly, and pets are all experiencing greater levels of abuse.d.we can expect a decline in abuse when we have a stronger economy.

Question 31

Ideologies usually emphasize particular

A)grounds.
C)warrants.
B)conclusions.
D)typifying examples.

Question 32

The necessity of operating within the existing cultural resources

A)severely limits the types of claims that can be made.
B)limits the number of people who can be mobilized.
C)limits potential claims somewhat but still leaves open many different possibilities.
D)does not limit us at all because our culture is so driven to correct troubling conditions.