Deck 5: Building Blocks of Argument

Question 1

Which type of claim advocates a change in a course of action?

A) Fact
B) Value
C) Policy
D) Definition

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following statements is a fact, rather than an inference or opinion?

A) Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech was the greatest speech he ever gave.
B) No one had a greater impact on the civil rights movement than M. L. King.
C) James Earl Ray should have been executed for killing Martin Luther King.
D) Martin Luther King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The presence of the words "ought" or "should" in a claim usually identify it as a/an:

A) Factual claim
B) Judgment/value claim
C) Policy claim
D) Definitional claim

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which part of an argument follows words or phrases such as, "it follows that…," or, "which proves that…," or, "So…"?

A) Claim
B) Ground
C) Warrant
D) Qualifier

Question 5

Which of the following is a "clue" word for identifying an argumentative claim?

A) Because
B) Since
C) Therefore
D) Reason
E) Probably

Question 6

"That animal isn't a bull or a cow; it's a steer." This is an example of a(an):

A) Deductive claim
B) Judgment claim
C) Definitional claim
D) Policy claim
E) Empirical claim

Question 7

Which of the following statements about factual claims is most accurate?

A) Factual claims can be made about the past.
B) Factual claims cannot be made about the future.
C) Factual claims can only be made about the present.
D) Factual claims can be made about the past, present, or future.

Question 8

Which of the following best illustrates the fallacy of "hypothesis contrary to fact"?

A) There is probably intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.
B) Marijuana is a gateway drug to meth and heroin.
C) If dolphins had hands with opposable thumbs, they would rule the world.
D) If you don't add baking soda or baking powder to cookie dough, the cookies will be hard or dense.

Question 9

Which of the following most clearly represents a claim of fact?

A) The temperature in this room is 81^º.
B) It is really hot in this room.
C) You should turn down the heat.
D) It's not the heat, it's the humidity.
E) It's hot, but it's a dry heat.

Question 10

Which of the statements below is not a factual claim?

A) "E" is the most common letter in the English language.
B) Osama Bin Laden is dead.
C) A vampire can be killed by a wooden stake through the heart.
D) Barack Obama was born in Hawaii.

Question 11

Which of the following is a claim of value/judgment?

A) Anyone who can run a marathon is in great shape.
B) On average, Southern California receives less than 12 inches of rain per year.
C) Jennifer Lawrence was the highest-paid film actress in 2018.
D) Look before you leap.
E) If you've had unprotected sex, even once, you should be tested for HIV.

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of a field-dependent warrant?

A) Sign reasoning
B) Analogy
C) Probable cause
D) Cause-effect

Question 13

"Any time you go hiking in the wilderness, you should leave a note indicating where you are going and when you plan to return." This statement most clearly represents a claim of:

A) Fact
B) Value/judgment
C) Policy
D) Definition

Question 14

Which of the following is true of factual claims?

A) They can only refer to the present
B) They can refer to the past or present, but not the future
C) They can refer to the present or future, but not the past
D) They can refer to the past, present, or future

Question 15

"Pluto is not a planet." What type of claim is this?

A) Fact
B) Judgment
C) Value
D) Policy
E) Definition

Question 16

Tito borrows Bubba's pickup truck to move stuff from his garage to a storage unit. The day after the pickup is returned, Bubba notices a dent in the passenger-side door. When asks Tito about it, Tito responds, "Hey, that could have happened after I returned your car, maybe while you were parked somewhere." Whether the dent was made when Tito or Bubba was in possession of the car is a:

A) Factual issue
B) Value issue
C) Policy issue
D) Definitional issue

Question 17

Mona is arguing with her mother about whether to get her navel pierced. Her mom says, "I don't think you should, because belly buttons are much more subject to infection than earlobes." The type of claim being made by the mother is:

A) Fact
B) Value/judgment
C) Policy
D) Definition

Question 18

If one person interrupted another during an argument and said, "What is your proof?" the person would be asking about the:

A) Claim
B) Grounds
C) Warrant
D) Reasoning
E) Inferential leap

Question 19

Which building block of argument contains the proof or evidence?

A) Claim
B) Grounds
C) Warrant
D) Reasoning
E) Inferential leap

Question 20

Which of the following is an inference or judgment, rather than a fact?

A) Four American presidents were assassinated while in office
B) Millard Fillmore is the most obscure president of the United States
C) The 22^nd Amendment says no one may serve more than two terms as president
D) 16 presidents have been elected to two terms in office.

Question 21

Don't pick at it or it will get infected." This is an example of a:

A) Factual claim
B) Judgment claim
C) Definitional claim
D) Policy claim

Question 22

Which of the following represents a policy claim?

A) Texas executes more inmates per year than any other state.
B) Capital punishment is discriminatory.
C) Capital punishment should be abolished.
D) Capital punishment violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against "cruel and unusual" punishment.

Question 23

Which type of claim centers on what was, is, or will be?

A) Fact
B) Definition
C) Value/judgment
D) Policy

Question 24

"If you are going to the beach, you'd better wear sunblock, or you'll get skin cancer." What is the most likely warrant in this argument?

A) You should always wear sunblock at the beach.
B) Beaches are dangerous places.
C) Skin cancer is a serious health threat.
D) Overexposure to the sun causes skin cancer.
E) You'll get skin cancer if you don't wear sunblock.

Question 25

In the dialogue below, what is the most likely warrant in Ginger's argument? Lupe: "I just can't seem to find Mr. Right." Ginger: "Keep looking. You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you finally find a prince."

A) Kissing unattractive men transforms them into handsome, charming mates.
B) One has to be willing to experience a number of relationship failures before finally enjoying a successful relationship.
C) It isn't a man's looks that matter; it's what inside that counts.
D) Most men are unattractive and/or undesirable.
E) All relationships struggle at times, but most have happy endings.

Question 26

Which element of the Toulmin model typically follows words like "hence," "therefore," or "thus"? ("Biff looked very tired this morning; hence, he must have been out all night partying.")

A) Claim
B) Grounds
C) Warrant
D) Inferential leap

Question 27

If an arguer used any of the phrases below, it would signify which part of the argument? "Therefore…," "consequently…," "proves that…," "indicates that…," "supports the conclusion that…"

A) Claim
B) Grounds
C) Qualifier
D) Warrant

Question 28

Which of the following is an inference or judgment, rather than a fact?

A) The world record in the marathon is 2 hours, 4 minutes, and 26 seconds.
B) Usain Bolt is the fastest man in the world.
C) Roger Bannister was the first person to run a mile in under 4 minutes.
D) Mike Powell is the current world-record holder in the long jump.

Question 29

Which of the following best represents a claim of judgment?

A) Pete Rose should not be admitted to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
B) Transgender persons should be able to use the bathroom of their choice.
C) Identity theft has reached epidemic proportions.
D) In poker, never draw on an inside straight.
E) Always make a photocopy of your passport before traveling abroad.

Question 30

Which of the following best represents a definitional claim?

A) Some controversy exists over the validity of the BMI (body mass index) as a measure of obesity.
B) Fashion models with a BMI of less than 18 should not be permitted at fashion shows.
C) A person is classified as obese if she/he has a BMI of 30 or higher.
D) Body-fat percentage scales are highly inaccurate.

Question 31

A ________________ claim is either true or false, while a ________________ claim refers to something as good or bad.

A) Value; policy
B) Factual; policy
C) Value; factual
D) Factual; value

Question 32

Explain how policy disputes and value disputes are intertwined. Why do policy arguments entail values, and vice versa?

Question 33

Identify a specific public policy controversy and explain how evidence demonstrating the consensus of expert opinion, or the preponderance of evidence, could be used to support a specific claim on one side or another of the controversy.

Question 34

When arguing about opinions or values, some people say, "Well, we will just have to agree to disagree." Why is it important to pursue value arguments and not simply agree to disagree?

Question 35

Explain the function of the warrant in an argument. How do warrants contribute to the active, participatory nature of argument?

Question 36

Select one of the three fallacies in reasoning discussed in the chapter (hypothesis contrary to fact, should-would fallacy, sweeping generalization). Create your own example of a fallacious argument involving that fallacy, and explain why the argument is fallacious.