Deck 11: How Are Propositions of Policy Argued

Question 1

Outside of academic debate competitions, the only place we find argumentation taking place is in state and federal legislative bodies.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

In the traditional pattern of organization, the advocate argues the three stock issues for policy argumentation in the order in which they are numbered in the text.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

In policy argumentation, a "disparity" is a proposal for some behavioral change.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

A "disparity" is a problem or difference between the way things exist now and some more ideal future state.

Question 5

In arguing the "reason for change" in a policy proposition, the advocate must offer argumentation concerning extent, harm, and inherency.

Question 6

The only value claim an advocate of a policy proposition must make is the one which evaluates the workability of her proposed policy.

Question 7

In policy argumentation, part of the advocate's burden of proof is to present the details which explain exactly how the policy change is to occur.

Question 8

In policy argumentation, the advocate's policy proposal may be used as an operational definition of the terms in the proposition.

Question 9

"Solvency" refers to the ability of a proposed policy to overcome a disparity.

Question 10

The subsidiary effects of the advocate's proposal constitute a warrant for change, and their absence renders the advocate's case non-prima facie.

Question 11

A counterproposal must be non-topical and preclude the adoption of the advocate's proposal as well.

Question 12

A comparative advantage case is a strategy used by the opponent to offer a counterproposal or minor repair to the advocate's reason for change arguments.

Question 13

One option for case development for advocating a policy proposition is to use the "goals-criteria" approach to case development. If you selected this option, you would use techniques of value argumentation to begin by examining what is presently valued by your audience and the goals that have been set to achieve this value.

Question 14

In arguing against propositions of policy, it is usually wisest for the opponent to argue against both the reason for change and the consequences of change.

Question 15

The advocate has the option of suggesting "minor repairs" that would satisfy the reason for change without making the change stated in the proposition.

Question 16

A minor repair must be a natural consequence of that which presently exists, rather than a consequence of a structural or attitudinal change.

Question 17

An opponent's "circumvention arguments" in policy argumentation are based on the premise that people resist change.

Question 18

If the opponent in policy argumentation offers a minor repair, it must meet the same standards of proof and reasoning as the advocate's policy proposal.

Question 19

One strategy available to the opponent in an argument over a change in policy is to perform a "worst case" analysis and look for harmful consequences, or disadvantages, to the proposed plan of action.

Question 20

As an opponent, you might use the technique of offering a counterproposal when all those involved in argumentation agree that a problem exists and must be solved, but disagree over the best solution.

Question 21

In preparing to advocate your policy proposition, you have discovered that there is almost universal agreement that a reason for policy change exists. The controversy is over what the best course of action should be. You will structure your case as a "comparative advantages" development of arguments. What should appear first in your case development?

A)The first stock issue: arguments about the reason for a change in the manner suggested by your proposition.
B)The second stock issue: the details of the specific policy you are proposing.
C)The third stock issue: the advantages or consequences of the policy you are proposing.
D)The fourth stock issue: arguments explaining how your policy proposal meets certain goals or criteria that society presently values.

Question 22

The pattern of organization for policy argumentation begins by examining what society values and offering a policy change that will better achieve that objective.

A)need-plan-advantage
B)comparative advantage
C)goals-criteria
D)counterproposal

Question 23

In arguing that there is a reason for change in policy, which of the following is NOT part of the advocate's burden of proof?

A)Presenting disadvantages of the proposed policy.
B)Quantifying the nature of the problem.
C)Characterizing the consequences of the problem.
D)Establishing that the problem is inherent.

Question 24

Assume that the advocate has offered the following arguments on behalf of the proposition: The Federal Government should impose minimum standards for teacher certification.
I. Teachers are poorly prepared in academic subjects.
II. Of students graduating with education degrees in the past five years, over 40% cannot pass eighth grade equivalency tests in spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and basic mathematical skills.
III. Poorly prepared teachers produce poorly taught students.
IV. Teacher licensing standards in most state demand too much time spent in "education" courses and not enough time spent in academic subject matter and basic skills.
-Which argument in the example is an inherency argument?

A)I
B)II
C)III
D)IV

Question 25

Assume that the advocate has offered the following arguments on behalf of the proposition: The Federal Government should impose minimum standards for teacher certification.
I. Teachers are poorly prepared in academic subjects.
II. Of students graduating with education degrees in the past five years, over 40% cannot pass eighth grade equivalency tests in spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and basic mathematical skills.
III. Poorly prepared teachers produce poorly taught students.
IV. Teacher licensing standards in most state demand too much time spent in "education" courses and not enough time spent in academic subject matter and basic skills.
-Which argument in the example is a significance argument?

A)I
B)II
C)III
D)IV

Question 26

Assume that the advocate has offered the following arguments on behalf of the proposition: The Federal Government should impose minimum standards for teacher certification.
I. Teachers are poorly prepared in academic subjects.
II. Of students graduating with education degrees in the past five years, over 40% cannot pass eighth grade equivalency tests in spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and basic mathematical skills.
III. Poorly prepared teachers produce poorly taught students.
IV. Teacher licensing standards in most state demand too much time spent in "education" courses and not enough time spent in academic subject matter and basic skills.
-Which argument in the example describes harm?

A)I
B)II
C)III
D)IV

Question 27

Assume that the advocate's proposal for change relative to the problem described in the example above is:
I. All teachers with five years or less seniority and all teachers seeking employment in the public school system will be required to pass a basic competency examination in academic subjects and basic skills.
II. The Department of Education with the approval and assistance of the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers will design and administer competency tests.
III. A reasonable fee, not to exceed the cost of designing, administering, and processing the test, will be charged to each applicant for certification.
IV. Those teachers presently in the school system with less than five years seniority must pass the test or face revocation of their teaching licenses. New teachers will not receive teaching licenses until they have passed the test.
-In the example above, the mechanism is found in which part of the proposal?

A)I
B)II
C)III
D)IV

Question 28

Assume that the advocate's proposal for change relative to the problem described in the example above is:
I. All teachers with five years or less seniority and all teachers seeking employment in the public school system will be required to pass a basic competency examination in academic subjects and basic skills.
II. The Department of Education with the approval and assistance of the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers will design and administer competency tests.
III. A reasonable fee, not to exceed the cost of designing, administering, and processing the test, will be charged to each applicant for certification.
IV. Those teachers presently in the school system with less than five years seniority must pass the test or face revocation of their teaching licenses. New teachers will not receive teaching licenses until they have passed the test.
-In the example above, the enforcement of the proposal is found in which part of the proposal?

A)I
B)II
C)III
D)IV

Question 29

Assume that the advocate's proposal for change relative to the problem described in the example above is:
I. All teachers with five years or less seniority and all teachers seeking employment in the public school system will be required to pass a basic competency examination in academic subjects and basic skills.
II. The Department of Education with the approval and assistance of the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers will design and administer competency tests.
III. A reasonable fee, not to exceed the cost of designing, administering, and processing the test, will be charged to each applicant for certification.
IV. Those teachers presently in the school system with less than five years seniority must pass the test or face revocation of their teaching licenses. New teachers will not receive teaching licenses until they have passed the test.
-In the example above, the change is found in which part of the proposal?

A)I
B)II
C)III
D)IV

Question 30

Assume that the advocate has offered the following arguments on behalf of the proposition: Our school should institute a system of textbook rentals for all courses.
I. The cost of college textbooks has increased by over 200% in the last decade.
II. A combination of the sale of used textbooks by university bookstores and the practice of "bundling" software and audio-video packages is responsible for the increasing costs of college textbooks.
III. Authors of college textbooks, such as the one you are using in this course, receive 10% in royalties on the wholesale price of each new textbook sold.
IV. College students, already paying increased tuition and housing fees, go further into debt to pay for increasingly expensive textbooks.
-Which claim in the example suggests inherency?

A)I
B)II
C)III
D)IV

Question 31

Assume that the advocate has offered the following arguments on behalf of the proposition: Our school should institute a system of textbook rentals for all courses.
I. The cost of college textbooks has increased by over 200% in the last decade.
II. A combination of the sale of used textbooks by university bookstores and the practice of "bundling" software and audio-video packages is responsible for the increasing costs of college textbooks.
III. Authors of college textbooks, such as the one you are using in this course, receive 10% in royalties on the wholesale price of each new textbook sold.
IV. College students, already paying increased tuition and housing fees, go further into debt to pay for increasingly expensive textbooks.
-Which claim in the example suggests significance?

A)I
B)II
C)III
D)IV

Question 32

Assume that the advocate has offered the following arguments on behalf of the proposition: Our school should institute a system of textbook rentals for all courses.
I. The cost of college textbooks has increased by over 200% in the last decade.
II. A combination of the sale of used textbooks by university bookstores and the practice of "bundling" software and audio-video packages is responsible for the increasing costs of college textbooks.
III. Authors of college textbooks, such as the one you are using in this course, receive 10% in royalties on the wholesale price of each new textbook sold.
IV. College students, already paying increased tuition and housing fees, go further into debt to pay for increasingly expensive textbooks.
-Which claim in the example suggests effect?

A)I
B)II
C)III
D)IV

Question 33

Assume that the advocate's proposal for a policy in response to the problem of the high costs of college text books offers the following proposal for a textbook rental system.
I. Students will be charged a rental fee of 30% of the wholesale price for each rented textbook.
II. Faculty will be required to select textbooks for a three-year academic calendar before requesting new books or a change in textbooks. An earlier change in textbooks must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
III. Beginning in Fall 2012, students may rent textbooks with an option to buy at the end of the semester.
IV. The Campus Bookstore will be responsible for providing textbooks and managing the rental system. Textbook rentals will be available only from the Campus Bookstore.
-In the proposed policy example, the mechanism is found in?

A)I
B)II
C)III
D)IV

Question 34

Assume that the advocate's proposal for a policy in response to the problem of the high costs of college text books offers the following proposal for a textbook rental system.
I. Students will be charged a rental fee of 30% of the wholesale price for each rented textbook.
II. Faculty will be required to select textbooks for a three-year academic calendar before requesting new books or a change in textbooks. An earlier change in textbooks must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
III. Beginning in Fall 2012, students may rent textbooks with an option to buy at the end of the semester.
IV. The Campus Bookstore will be responsible for providing textbooks and managing the rental system. Textbook rentals will be available only from the Campus Bookstore.
-In the proposed policy example, the financing is found in?

A)I
B)II
C)III
D)IV

Question 35

Assume that the advocate's proposal for a policy in response to the problem of the high costs of college text books offers the following proposal for a textbook rental system.
I. Students will be charged a rental fee of 30% of the wholesale price for each rented textbook.
II. Faculty will be required to select textbooks for a three-year academic calendar before requesting new books or a change in textbooks. An earlier change in textbooks must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
III. Beginning in Fall 2012, students may rent textbooks with an option to buy at the end of the semester.
IV. The Campus Bookstore will be responsible for providing textbooks and managing the rental system. Textbook rentals will be available only from the Campus Bookstore.
-In the proposed policy example, the change is found in?

A)I
B)II
C)III
D)IV

Question 36

As an opponent for a policy proposition, which of the following questions should you NOT ask yourself in establishing your strategy of opposition?

A)What is the advocate's burden of proof and has she met it?
B)Has the advocate implied one or more values that she asks the audience to accept without explaining the value(s)?
C)Has the advocate used the "traditional" need-plan-advantage structure for developing the proposition?
D)Does the advocate's reason for change contain assumptions that are unwarranted because she has not offered adequate proof and reasoning for these assumptions?

Question 37

The advocate must establish the "workability" of her proposal. As the opponent, you have the strategic option of challenging this workability. Which of the following are ways you might challenge workability?

A)Demonstrate that the cost of making the proposal work because it will be slow, inconvenient, and time consuming would outweigh any benefits gained from it.
B)Question the solvency of the advocate's proposal by the application of the principle, "whatever can go wrong will go wrong."
C)Identify the attitudinal barriers to the advocate's proposal that will cause those who are supposed to change to resist change.
D)All of the above

Question 38

In a circumvention argument, the opponent of a policy proposition argues

A)because society is not static, given enough time, self-correction will occur.
B)because people resist change, they will find ways to avoid a change imposed upon them.
C)because society is not perfect, the possibility for disadvantageous consequences from a policy always exist.
D)because people favor change in the face of disparity, a counterproposal should be examined.

Question 39

One type of argument which can be made against a proposal for change is referred to as a "disadvantage" argument. Which of the following things is NOT true of a disadvantage argument?

A)It visualizes the world as if the advocate's proposal were adopted.
B)It suggests that the proposal would have no effect if adopted.
C)It is argued using the claims of effect, significance, and inherency.
D)It has the same requirements for proof that any other argument would have.

Question 40

One option available to you as an opponent of a policy proposition is to examine the underlying philosophy of the advocate's case for a policy change. Using this strategy, you would begin with the value hierarchy in which the advocate seems to have placed her proposal for change and develop arguments about the appropriateness of this value hierarchy. This is the opposition strategy of

A)offering a counterproposal.
B)presenting a critique of the proposition or the proposal for change.
C)presenting disadvantages to the proposal's workability.
D)identifying barriers that might preclude inherency from being overcome.