Question

1. What is the purpose of persuasive writing?

To inform

To persuade

To tell a story

2. What is wrong with the argument in the passage below?



New York City's stop-and-frisk policy should be retained because it has been extremely useful in fighting crime. Under this policy, police can stop a person and frisk him or her if they merely suspect the person might have been involved in a crime. Since the policy was instituted, the crime rate has fallen precipitously—according to the official New York Police Department crime statistics, the overall drop is more than 80 percent.



It misuses a statistic to overstate the amount of crime committed in New York City.



It assumes that because one person commits a crime, others will do so as well.



It uses an incorrect appeal to the New York Police Department as an authority.



It assumes that the police policy was the cause of the drop in crime.



To explain a process

3. The following excerpt is from an argument project. Choose the sentence that expresses a debatable claim.

Because whole grains are an essential part of a healthy diet, we should eat them. Things have changed since the 1990s. Back then, people were warned to avoid "carbs" if they wanted to maintain a healthy weight. Today, most nutritionists believe that whole, unrefined grains are one of the keys to a balanced and healthy diet.



Things have changed since the 1990s.


Back then, people were warned to avoid "carbs" if they wanted to maintain a healthy weight.


Because whole grains are an essential part of a healthy diet, we should eat them.


4. Which of the following statements is an example of expert testimony used as evidence?



In the United States, there are approximately 500,000 miles of long-distance pipelines.


On the face of things, it would seem as if pipeline transmission would be quite dangerous, simply because there are so many pipelines.





According to the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, pipelines are undoubtedly the safest way to transport petroleum products.





A massive derailment in North Dakota ignited the train's contents and sent a fireball 100 feet into the air.

5. Which of the following is an appropriate claim for a brief argument project?




Training a dog is often necessary; after all, owners want dogs with which they can pleasantly share a house, a car, or a walk.



Collars that deliver electrical shocks to the neck of a dog are a cruel and unnecessary form of training; therefore, they should be banned for use by the general public.



Aversive training techniques can cause damage to dogs, and there are many alternatives to this type of training.



Rewards and punishment can be used to train dogs, and both have positive and negative aspects.

Answer 1

Persuasive writing intends to persuade, and a strong thesis statement is crucial for an effective argument. The stop-and-frisk example contains a causal fallacy, attributing the drop in crime rate directly to the policy. Debatable claims, expert testimony, and clear and concise arguments strengthen persuasive writing.

Step-by-step explanation:

Persuasive Writing and Argument Analysis

The purpose of persuasive writing is to persuade the reader to accept a particular point of view or to take a specific action. Unlike informative writing which aims to inform or narrative writing which tells a story, persuasive writing advocates for a particular position and supports this stance with evidence and reasoning. This type of writing is epitomized by a strong thesis statement, which is crucial to building an effective argument and is usually found at the end of the introduction.

Analysis of a Persuasive Argument

In analyzing the provided passage about New York City's stop-and-frisk policy, the main issue is the assumption that the policy caused a drop in the crime rate. This is an example of a causal fallacy, where the argument assumes a cause-effect relationship without providing sufficient evidence of causation. It is necessary to consider other factors that may have contributed to the reduced crime rate to make a more grounded argument.

Identifying Debatable Claims

The sentence that expresses a debatable claim in the argument project example is 'Because whole grains are an essential part of a healthy diet, we should eat them.' This is an opinion that can be supported or refuted with evidence and reasoning, making it debatable.

Expert Testimony as Evidence

The statement that serves as an example of expert testimony used as evidence is 'According to the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, pipelines are undoubtedly the safest way to transport petroleum products.' This uses an authority in the subject matter to support a claim, illustrating the use of expert opinions to strengthen persuasive arguments.

Appropriate Claims for Brief Argument Projects

For a brief argument project, an appropriate claim would be 'Collars that deliver electrical shocks to the neck of a dog are a cruel and unnecessary form of training; therefore, they should be banned for use by the general public.' This is clear, debatable, and sets the stage for presenting supporting evidence and reasoning.

Answer 2

To persuade because persuading means to get someone to believe your opinion