EAP Structuring an Argumentative Essay 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the function of an 'appeal to logos' in argumentative writing?
- Establishing the writer's credibility and expertise
- Connecting with the reader's emotions and values
- Using logic, data, and reasoning to persuade (Correct answer)
- Citing authoritative sources to support a claim
Correct answer: Using logic, data, and reasoning to persuade
Logos refers to logical appeals — the use of facts, statistics, and reasoned arguments to persuade the audience rationally.
Question 2: A student writes: 'Everyone knows that online learning is inferior to in-person education.' This is an example of which logical fallacy?
- False dichotomy
- Ad hominem
- Hasty generalization / Bandwagon appeal (Correct answer)
- Post hoc ergo propter hoc
Correct answer: Hasty generalization / Bandwagon appeal
'Everyone knows' is a bandwagon appeal that substitutes popular opinion for actual evidence, making it a logical fallacy.
Question 3: In academic argumentation, what is the purpose of citing peer-reviewed sources?
- To lengthen the essay to meet word count requirements
- To establish ethos and support claims with credible evidence (Correct answer)
- To replace the writer's own analysis with expert opinion
- To demonstrate familiarity with the citation format
Correct answer: To establish ethos and support claims with credible evidence
Citing peer-reviewed sources builds the writer's credibility (ethos) and provides evidence that has been vetted by experts in the field.
Question 4: Which technique most effectively improves the coherence between body paragraphs?
- Starting each paragraph with a direct quotation
- Using transitional phrases that link the previous paragraph's idea to the next (Correct answer)
- Making each paragraph exactly the same length
- Repeating the thesis word-for-word at the start of each paragraph
Correct answer: Using transitional phrases that link the previous paragraph's idea to the next
Transitional phrases create logical bridges between paragraphs, showing how each point connects to the overall argument.
Question 5: What distinguishes a 'claim of policy' from a 'claim of fact' in argumentation?
- A claim of policy argues what should be done; a claim of fact argues what is true (Correct answer)
- A claim of policy uses emotional appeals; a claim of fact uses only statistics
- A claim of fact appears in the introduction; a claim of policy appears in the conclusion
- A claim of policy is always more persuasive than a claim of fact
Correct answer: A claim of policy argues what should be done; a claim of fact argues what is true
Claims of policy advocate for specific actions or changes, while claims of fact assert that something is or is not true based on evidence.
Question 6: A 'rebuttal' in an argumentative essay serves to:
- Introduce the writer's main thesis for the first time
- Directly challenge and disprove a counterargument with evidence (Correct answer)
- Provide background information before the thesis
- Summarize all body paragraph points at the end
Correct answer: Directly challenge and disprove a counterargument with evidence
A rebuttal responds to a counterargument by presenting evidence or reasoning that exposes its flaws or limitations.
Question 7: Which structural feature signals to the reader that a body paragraph is shifting from evidence to analysis?
- A direct quotation from a source
- An interpretive phrase such as 'This demonstrates that...' or 'This suggests...' (Correct answer)
- A transition word such as 'first' or 'second'
- An in-text citation in APA or MLA format
Correct answer: An interpretive phrase such as 'This demonstrates that...' or 'This suggests...'
Interpretive phrases signal that the writer is shifting from presenting evidence to explaining its significance in relation to the thesis.
EAP Structuring an Argumentative Essay 4
What is the function of an 'appeal to logos' in argumentative writing?