AWA Evidence Evaluation & Support 5

Question 1

An AWA argument draws on evidence from a study funded by the company whose product is being evaluated. What is the primary concern?

Accepted Answer

Funding source creates a potential conflict of interest that may introduce bias into study design or reporting

Answer

Company-funded research always produces false results

Answer

Only government-funded studies meet academic standards

Answer

The company should have hired independent researchers instead

Question 2

Which technique best demonstrates how to use counterevidence responsibly in an AWA argument?

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge the counterevidence, explain its limitations, and show why it does not defeat the main claim

Answer

Omit contradictory evidence to maintain a clear thesis

Answer

Dismiss all counterevidence as coming from biased sources

Answer

Relegate counterevidence to a footnote so it does not weaken the essay

Question 3

An argument concludes that a medication is safe because no participants reported side effects during a two-week trial. What evidential limitation is most critical to flag?

Accepted Answer

The trial duration is too short to detect long-term or delayed side effects

Answer

Two weeks is longer than most drug trials

Answer

Participants may have been too healthy to represent the general population

Answer

Safety conclusions require government approval, not trial data

Question 4

In an AWA critique, what is meant by 'the scope of the evidence does not match the scope of the conclusion'?

Accepted Answer

The evidence covers a narrow or specific context while the conclusion makes a broad or universal claim

Answer

The evidence is from a different field than the conclusion

Answer

The conclusion is longer than the evidence section of the argument

Answer

The evidence uses technical language the conclusion avoids

Question 5

An AWA argument supports a business recommendation by noting that 'competitors who tried this strategy failed.' How does this evidence actually undermine the argument?

Accepted Answer

Evidence that the strategy failed for others contradicts rather than supports the recommendation to adopt it

Answer

Competitor failures are irrelevant to business decisions

Answer

Competitor data is proprietary and cannot be used ethically

Answer

The argument should focus on internal data only

Question 6

Which question is most useful when assessing whether an AWA argument's evidence is sufficient to support its conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Does the evidence, even if true, logically necessitate the conclusion, or could the conclusion still be false?

Answer

Is the evidence written in formal academic language?

Answer

Does the evidence come from at least three different sources?

Answer

Is the evidence cited in the first paragraph of the argument?

Question 7

An AWA argument states: 'Since sales of organic food have tripled, consumers clearly prefer healthier lifestyles.' What unwarranted assumption does this evidence contain?

Accepted Answer

That purchasing organic food is equivalent to preferring a healthier lifestyle broadly, ignoring other motivations like environmental concern or marketing

Answer

That organic food sales can be measured accurately

Answer

That a tripling of sales is statistically significant

Answer

That consumers make rational purchasing decisions