AWA Evidence Evaluation & Support 3

Question 1

An AWA argument cites a ten-year-old study to support a claim about current consumer behavior. What is the most significant concern with this evidence?

Accepted Answer

The data may be outdated and no longer reflect present conditions

Answer

Consumer behavior can shift significantly over a decade due to technology, economy, and cultural changes, making dated evidence potentially irrelevant.

Question 2

Which of the following qualifies as an 'appeal to authority' used improperly in an AWA argument?

Accepted Answer

Quoting a celebrity chef to prove that a dietary supplement cures disease

Answer

A celebrity chef lacks the relevant medical or scientific expertise to credibly support claims about disease treatment.

Question 3

An argument states: 'Every time we lower prices, sales increase, so permanently lowering prices will maximize revenue.' What evidential flaw does this contain?

Accepted Answer

It assumes a short-term pattern will hold indefinitely without considering profit margins or market saturation

Answer

Extrapolating a short-term pricing pattern to a permanent strategy ignores diminishing returns, competitor responses, and the impact on profit margins.

Question 4

In AWA, what does it mean to 'address the burden of proof'?

Accepted Answer

Demonstrating that the side making a claim has provided sufficient evidence to support it

Answer

Addressing the burden of proof means assessing whether the party advancing a claim has presented adequate evidence to make that claim credible.

Question 5

An AWA argument relies on the following evidence: 'Residents near the new highway report more noise.' How does this evidence limit the argument's strength?

Accepted Answer

Self-reported perceptions lack objective verification and may reflect pre-existing biases

Answer

Subjective resident reports can be influenced by expectation bias or prior attitudes toward the highway project, reducing evidential reliability.

(AWA) Analytical Writing Assessment Practice Test

(AWA) Analytical Writing Assessment Practice Test

AWA Evidence Evaluation & Support 3