Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Evaluating Argument Strength 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Question: Should organ donation be opt-out rather than opt-in? Argument: Yes, because countries with opt-out systems have significantly higher donor rates, saving more lives. This argument is:
- Weak, because people should always actively choose to donate organs
- Weak, because higher donor rates do not prove the policy is ethically justified
- Strong, because it provides comparative empirical evidence directly supporting the policy's stated goal (Correct answer)
- Strong, because organ shortages are the most serious health crisis worldwide
Correct answer: Strong, because it provides comparative empirical evidence directly supporting the policy's stated goal
The argument is strong because it uses comparative empirical evidence from real countries to show the policy achieves its primary objective of increasing life-saving donations.
Question 2: Question: Should the death penalty be abolished? Argument: No, because it serves as a deterrent to violent crime. This argument is:
- Strong, because deterrence is a well-established effect of capital punishment
- Weak, because research has consistently failed to show that the death penalty deters crime more than long imprisonment (Correct answer)
- Strong, because potential criminals weigh consequences before acting
- Weak, because the death penalty is only applied rarely and cannot deter crime at scale
Correct answer: Weak, because research has consistently failed to show that the death penalty deters crime more than long imprisonment
The argument is weak because decades of criminological research have not established that capital punishment deters crime more effectively than alternatives like life imprisonment.
Question 3: Question: Should large corporations pay a higher tax rate than small businesses? Argument: Yes, because large corporations earn significantly more profit and can absorb higher taxes without threatening operations. This argument is:
- Strong, because it identifies a proportional capacity to pay, which is a standard principle of progressive taxation (Correct answer)
- Weak, because corporations pass taxes to consumers regardless of size
- Strong, because large corporations exploit tax loopholes and owe more
- Weak, because all businesses should be taxed equally to ensure fairness
Correct answer: Strong, because it identifies a proportional capacity to pay, which is a standard principle of progressive taxation
The argument is strong because it applies the widely accepted principle that entities with greater financial capacity can bear a proportionally greater tax burden without undue harm.
Question 4: Question: Should remote work be made a legal right for office workers? Argument: Yes, because employees are happier working from home. This argument is:
- Strong, because employee happiness increases productivity and reduces turnover
- Weak, because happiness is subjective and varies by individual, making it a poor basis for a universal legal mandate (Correct answer)
- Strong, because mental health is now recognized as a legitimate workplace concern
- Weak, because employers are better positioned to decide work arrangements than governments
Correct answer: Weak, because happiness is subjective and varies by individual, making it a poor basis for a universal legal mandate
The argument is weak because subjective happiness varies widely and does not by itself justify a universal legal mandate that overrides all employer and job-type considerations.
Question 5: Question: Should fast food companies be required to display calorie counts on menus? Argument: No, because consumers already know fast food is unhealthy and the information will not change behavior. This argument is:
- Strong, because behavioral change requires more than information alone
- Weak, because studies show calorie labeling does influence consumer choices for at least some customers (Correct answer)
- Strong, because the cost to restaurants outweighs any public health benefit
- Weak, because consumers do not read nutritional information anyway
Correct answer: Weak, because studies show calorie labeling does influence consumer choices for at least some customers
The argument is weak because research shows calorie labeling does influence purchasing decisions for a meaningful subset of consumers, contradicting the premise that it changes no behavior.
Question 6: Question: Should the minimum wage be raised to $20 per hour nationally? Argument: Yes, because workers at current minimum wage levels often cannot afford basic necessities in major cities. This argument is:
- Weak, because cost of living varies by region so a national wage is inappropriate
- Strong, because it presents evidence of genuine financial hardship directly motivating the policy (Correct answer)
- Weak, because small businesses cannot afford to pay workers $20 per hour
- Strong, because all workers deserve a living wage regardless of economic conditions
Correct answer: Strong, because it presents evidence of genuine financial hardship directly motivating the policy
The argument is strong because documented inability to afford basic necessities is a clear, relevant harm that a wage increase directly addresses.
Question 7: Question: Should standardized testing be eliminated from college admissions? Argument: No, because standardized tests provide an objective measure that levels the playing field for students from diverse backgrounds. This argument is:
- Strong, because standardized tests are the only truly objective admissions tool
- Weak, because research shows test scores correlate strongly with family income, undermining the 'level playing field' claim (Correct answer)
- Strong, because colleges need a common metric to compare applicants from different schools
- Weak, because admissions officers are better judges of student potential than any test
Correct answer: Weak, because research shows test scores correlate strongly with family income, undermining the 'level playing field' claim
The argument is weak because its core premise — that standardized tests level the playing field — is contradicted by data showing strong correlation between scores and socioeconomic status.
Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal Evaluating Argument Strength 3
Question: Should organ donation be opt-out rather than opt-in?
Argument: Yes, because countries with opt-out systems have significantly higher donor rates, saving more lives.
This argument is: