Quiz #2

Question 1

Issue

Answer 1

Any topic of concern or controversy

Question 2

Enthymeme

Answer 2

The core of an argument; a claim with an attached “because clause” (the stated reason).

Question 3

Claim

Answer 3

The position you want to take on the issue. Answers the question, “What are you trying to prove?”

Question 4

Grounds

Answer 4

Supporting evidence (facts, data, statistics, testimony, examples) that supports the stated reason

Question 5

Warrant

Answer 5

The unstated assumption that turns an enthymeme into a completely logical structure

Question 6

Backing

Answer 6

The argument that supports the warrant; answers the question, “How do you know that…?” prefixed to the warrant.

Question 7

Qualifier

Answer 7

Words or phrases limiting the force of your claim

Ex: probably, maybe, very likely

Question 8

Conditions of rebuttal

Answer 8

Acknowledgment of the ways a resistant audience will try to refute the argument

Question 9

List the claim, reason, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier, and conditions of rebuttal for the following enthymeme:

Airport screeners should use racial profiling because doing so will increase the odds of stopping terrorists.

Answer 9

Claim: Airport screeners should use racial profiling

Reason: because doing so will increase the odds of stopping terrorists

Grounds: Evidence showing that racial profiling increases the odds of stopping terrorists (such screening has worked by identifying dangerous people carrying weapons; there is a high correlation between race and terrorism)

Warrant: Anything that helps stop terrorism is good and should be pursued

Backing: Evidence and arguments showing that stopping terrorism is important (info on the number of innocent people killed in terrorist attacks; info on the destruction caused by terrorist attacks)

Qualifier: in some cases

Conditions of rebuttal: race is not a reliable factor in identifying terrorists; the harmful social consequences of using racial profiling outweigh the dangers of potential terrorist attacks; terrorists are not choosing to travel through airports now

Question 10

List the claim, reason, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier, and conditions of rebuttal for the following enthymeme:

Racial profiling should not be used by airport screeners because it violates a person’s civil rights

Answer 10

Claim: Racial profiling should not be used by airport screeners

Reason: because it violates a person’s civil rights

Grounds: Evidence showing that such screening discriminates against people

• People are judged based on their race, religion, religious appearance, national origin
• Specific examples of the civil rights that are violated

Warrant: Policies and actions that violate people’s civil rights should not be pursued

Backing: Arguments showing the social and political consequences of violating people’s civil rights.

• Info on the number of innocent people who felt their civil rights violated
• Discuss the devastating effect this has on victims, their families, their communities

Qualifier: In most cases

Conditions of rebuttal:

• The people singled out have a definite history of suspicious acts.
• There is evidence of the connection between race and terrorism.
• The risks of terrorism outweigh the social consequences of racial profiling.

Question 11

List the claim, reason, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier, and conditions of rebuttal for the following enthymeme:

We should strengthen the Endangered Species Act because doing so will preserve genetic diversity on the planet.

Answer 11

Claim: We should strengthen the Endangered Species Act

Reason: because doing so will preserve genetic diversity on the planet

Grounds: Evidence showing that . . .

• without the Act, genetic diversity is being lost
• the Act is sustaining genetic diversity
• a strengthened Act would be more effective

Warrant: We should preserve genetic diversity on the planet.

Backing: Evidence and arguments showing why genetic diversity is an important value.
- genetic diversity contributes to species’ ability to resist disease and adapt to changing climate

Qualifier: With few exceptions

Conditions of rebuttal: o A strengthened ES Act wouldn’t preserve much genetic diversity.

• Genetic diversity on the planet is not really threatened.
• Genetic diversity on the planet is not as important as other factors such as the economy

Question 12

List the claim, reason, grounds, warrant, backing, qualifier, and conditions of rebuttal for the following enthymeme:

The Endangered Species Act is too stringent because it severely damages the economy.

Answer 12

Claim: The Endangered Species Act is too stringent

Reason: because it severely damages the economy

Grounds: Evidence showing that the Act damages the economy

• Value of land that cannot be developed.
• Resources devoted to species conservation could have been spent on things that stimulate the economy

Warrant: Laws and regulations that severely damage the economy are too stringent

Backing: arguments showing why it’s bad to damage the economy.
- Examples of the negative effects of a bad economy on business, government, education, health, crime, the family, etc.

Qualifier: With few exceptions

Conditions of rebuttal:

• The ES Act doesn’t really damage the economy.
• The harm to the economy can be readily reversed.
• The long-range dangers of reduced genetic diversity outweigh the damage to the economy