Question 1

In preparing to advocate your policy proposition, you have discovered that there is almost universal agreement that a reason for policy change exists. The controversy is over what the best course of action should be. You will structure your case as a "comparative advantages" development of arguments. What should appear first in your case development?

Accepted Answer

Since there is universal agreement on the need for policy change, the focus shifts to what the best course of action should be. Therefore, detailing the specific policy you are proposing should come first, as it sets the stage for comparing its advantages to other potential solutions.

Question 2

The pattern of organization for policy argumentation begins by examining what society values and offering a policy change that will better achieve that objective.

Accepted Answer

The "goals-criteria" pattern of organization starts by identifying societal values or goals and then proposes criteria or policies to better achieve those goals.

Question 3

In arguing that there is a reason for change in policy, which of the following is NOT part of the advocate's burden of proof?

Accepted Answer

The advocate's burden of proof in arguing for a change in policy involves presenting evidence and arguments to support their position. This includes quantifying the nature of the problem, characterizing its consequences, and establishing that the problem is inherent. However, presenting disadvantages of the proposed policy is not part of the advocate's burden of proof as they are arguing for a change in policy, not against it.

Question 4

Assume that the advocate has offered the following arguments on behalf of the proposition: The Federal Government should impose minimum standards for teacher certification.
I. Teachers are poorly prepared in academic subjects.
II. Of students graduating with education degrees in the past five years, over 40% cannot pass eighth grade equivalency tests in spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and basic mathematical skills.
III. Poorly prepared teachers produce poorly taught students.
IV. Teacher licensing standards in most state demand too much time spent in "education" courses and not enough time spent in academic subject matter and basic skills.
-Which argument in the example is an inherency argument?

Accepted Answer

Argument IV is an inherency argument because it highlights the current licensing standards in most states as a problem that needs to be addressed by the federal government. It argues that current standards focus too much on education courses and not enough on academic subject matter and basic skills, which is an inherent flaw in the current system that needs to be rectified.

Question 5

Assume that the advocate has offered the following arguments on behalf of the proposition: The Federal Government should impose minimum standards for teacher certification.
I. Teachers are poorly prepared in academic subjects.
II. Of students graduating with education degrees in the past five years, over 40% cannot pass eighth grade equivalency tests in spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and basic mathematical skills.
III. Poorly prepared teachers produce poorly taught students.
IV. Teacher licensing standards in most state demand too much time spent in "education" courses and not enough time spent in academic subject matter and basic skills.
-Which argument in the example is a significance argument?

Accepted Answer

Argument II is a significance argument because it provides statistical evidence to support the claim that teachers are poorly prepared in academic subjects.

Question 6

Assume that the advocate has offered the following arguments on behalf of the proposition: The Federal Government should impose minimum standards for teacher certification.
I. Teachers are poorly prepared in academic subjects.
II. Of students graduating with education degrees in the past five years, over 40% cannot pass eighth grade equivalency tests in spelling, grammar, vocabulary, and basic mathematical skills.
III. Poorly prepared teachers produce poorly taught students.
IV. Teacher licensing standards in most state demand too much time spent in "education" courses and not enough time spent in academic subject matter and basic skills.
-Which argument in the example describes harm?

Accepted Answer

The argument that poorly prepared teachers produce poorly taught students describes harm, as it suggests that students are being negatively impacted by inadequately trained teachers.

Question 7

Assume that the advocate's proposal for change relative to the problem described in the example above is:
I. All teachers with five years or less seniority and all teachers seeking employment in the public school system will be required to pass a basic competency examination in academic subjects and basic skills.
II. The Department of Education with the approval and assistance of the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers will design and administer competency tests.
III. A reasonable fee, not to exceed the cost of designing, administering, and processing the test, will be charged to each applicant for certification.
IV. Those teachers presently in the school system with less than five years seniority must pass the test or face revocation of their teaching licenses. New teachers will not receive teaching licenses until they have passed the test.
-In the example above, the mechanism is found in which part of the proposal?

Accepted Answer

The mechanism of a proposal refers to the specific means or process by which it will be implemented. In this case, part II outlines the process of designing and administering competency tests, which is the mechanism for ensuring teacher competency.

Question 8

Assume that the advocate's proposal for change relative to the problem described in the example above is:
I. All teachers with five years or less seniority and all teachers seeking employment in the public school system will be required to pass a basic competency examination in academic subjects and basic skills.
II. The Department of Education with the approval and assistance of the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers will design and administer competency tests.
III. A reasonable fee, not to exceed the cost of designing, administering, and processing the test, will be charged to each applicant for certification.
IV. Those teachers presently in the school system with less than five years seniority must pass the test or face revocation of their teaching licenses. New teachers will not receive teaching licenses until they have passed the test.
-In the example above, the enforcement of the proposal is found in which part of the proposal?

Accepted Answer

The enforcement of the proposal is explicitly mentioned in part IV, where it states that teachers with less than five years seniority must pass the test or face revocation of their teaching licenses, and new teachers will not receive teaching licenses until they have passed the test.

Question 9

Assume that the advocate's proposal for change relative to the problem described in the example above is:
I. All teachers with five years or less seniority and all teachers seeking employment in the public school system will be required to pass a basic competency examination in academic subjects and basic skills.
II. The Department of Education with the approval and assistance of the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers will design and administer competency tests.
III. A reasonable fee, not to exceed the cost of designing, administering, and processing the test, will be charged to each applicant for certification.
IV. Those teachers presently in the school system with less than five years seniority must pass the test or face revocation of their teaching licenses. New teachers will not receive teaching licenses until they have passed the test.
-In the example above, the change is found in which part of the proposal?

Accepted Answer

The change is in part I, where it introduces a new requirement for teachers with five years or less seniority and those seeking employment to pass a basic competency examination, which is a new policy not mentioned before.

Question 10

Assume that the advocate has offered the following arguments on behalf of the proposition: Our school should institute a system of textbook rentals for all courses.
I. The cost of college textbooks has increased by over 200% in the last decade.
II. A combination of the sale of used textbooks by university bookstores and the practice of "bundling" software and audio-video packages is responsible for the increasing costs of college textbooks.
III. Authors of college textbooks, such as the one you are using in this course, receive 10% in royalties on the wholesale price of each new textbook sold.
IV. College students, already paying increased tuition and housing fees, go further into debt to pay for increasingly expensive textbooks.
-Which claim in the example suggests inherency?

Accepted Answer

Inherency refers to a structural or inherent issue within a system that contributes to a problem. Claim II suggests an inherent issue within the textbook industry (the sale of used textbooks and "bundling" practices) that leads to increasing costs, making it the correct choice.

Question 11

Assume that the advocate has offered the following arguments on behalf of the proposition: Our school should institute a system of textbook rentals for all courses.
I. The cost of college textbooks has increased by over 200% in the last decade.
II. A combination of the sale of used textbooks by university bookstores and the practice of "bundling" software and audio-video packages is responsible for the increasing costs of college textbooks.
III. Authors of college textbooks, such as the one you are using in this course, receive 10% in royalties on the wholesale price of each new textbook sold.
IV. College students, already paying increased tuition and housing fees, go further into debt to pay for increasingly expensive textbooks.
-Which claim in the example suggests significance?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Assume that the advocate has offered the...

Question 12

Assume that the advocate has offered the following arguments on behalf of the proposition: Our school should institute a system of textbook rentals for all courses.
I. The cost of college textbooks has increased by over 200% in the last decade.
II. A combination of the sale of used textbooks by university bookstores and the practice of "bundling" software and audio-video packages is responsible for the increasing costs of college textbooks.
III. Authors of college textbooks, such as the one you are using in this course, receive 10% in royalties on the wholesale price of each new textbook sold.
IV. College students, already paying increased tuition and housing fees, go further into debt to pay for increasingly expensive textbooks.
-Which claim in the example suggests effect?

Accepted Answer

Claim IV suggests an effect, as it states that college students are going further into debt due to the increasing cost of textbooks. The other claims describe causes or factors contributing to the problem of expensive textbooks.

Question 13

Assume that the advocate's proposal for a policy in response to the problem of the high costs of college text books offers the following proposal for a textbook rental system.
I. Students will be charged a rental fee of 30% of the wholesale price for each rented textbook.
II. Faculty will be required to select textbooks for a three-year academic calendar before requesting new books or a change in textbooks. An earlier change in textbooks must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
III. Beginning in Fall 2012, students may rent textbooks with an option to buy at the end of the semester.
IV. The Campus Bookstore will be responsible for providing textbooks and managing the rental system. Textbook rentals will be available only from the Campus Bookstore.
-In the proposed policy example, the mechanism is found in?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Assume that the advocate's proposal for a...

Question 14

Assume that the advocate's proposal for a policy in response to the problem of the high costs of college text books offers the following proposal for a textbook rental system.
I. Students will be charged a rental fee of 30% of the wholesale price for each rented textbook.
II. Faculty will be required to select textbooks for a three-year academic calendar before requesting new books or a change in textbooks. An earlier change in textbooks must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
III. Beginning in Fall 2012, students may rent textbooks with an option to buy at the end of the semester.
IV. The Campus Bookstore will be responsible for providing textbooks and managing the rental system. Textbook rentals will be available only from the Campus Bookstore.
-In the proposed policy example, the financing is found in?

Accepted Answer

The financing aspect of the proposed policy is found in statement I, which outlines the rental fee that students will be charged for each rented textbook. This fee is set at 30% of the wholesale price, and it will generate revenue that can be used to offset the costs of the textbook rental system. Statements II-IV outline other aspects of the policy, such as requirements for faculty and the responsibilities of the Campus Bookstore, but they do not address the financing of the system.

Question 15

Assume that the advocate's proposal for a policy in response to the problem of the high costs of college text books offers the following proposal for a textbook rental system.
I. Students will be charged a rental fee of 30% of the wholesale price for each rented textbook.
II. Faculty will be required to select textbooks for a three-year academic calendar before requesting new books or a change in textbooks. An earlier change in textbooks must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
III. Beginning in Fall 2012, students may rent textbooks with an option to buy at the end of the semester.
IV. The Campus Bookstore will be responsible for providing textbooks and managing the rental system. Textbook rentals will be available only from the Campus Bookstore.
-In the proposed policy example, the change is found in?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Assume that the advocate's proposal for a...

Question 16

As an opponent for a policy proposition, which of the following questions should you NOT ask yourself in establishing your strategy of opposition?

Accepted Answer

Asking whether the advocate has used the "traditional" need-plan-advantage structure is not relevant to establishing a strategy of opposition. The other questions are all relevant to determining weaknesses in the advocate's argument and developing a counterargument.

Question 17

The advocate must establish the "workability" of her proposal. As the opponent, you have the strategic option of challenging this workability. Which of the following are ways you might challenge workability?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The advocate must establish the "workability" of...

Question 18

In a circumvention argument, the opponent of a policy proposition argues

Accepted Answer

In a circumvention argument, the opponent argues that people will find ways to circumvent or avoid a policy imposed upon them, thus rendering the policy ineffective. This is the essence of choice B. Choices A, C, and D touch on other important considerations, but are not directly related to the circumvention argument.

Question 19

One type of argument which can be made against a proposal for change is referred to as a "disadvantage" argument. Which of the following things is NOT true of a disadvantage argument?

Accepted Answer

A disadvantage argument suggests that the proposal would have negative consequences or drawbacks if adopted, so it cannot suggest that the proposal would have no effect. The other statements are true of disadvantage arguments.

Question 20

One option available to you as an opponent of a policy proposition is to examine the underlying philosophy of the advocate's case for a policy change. Using this strategy, you would begin with the value hierarchy in which the advocate seems to have placed her proposal for change and develop arguments about the appropriateness of this value hierarchy. This is the opposition strategy of

Accepted Answer

This strategy involves examining the underlying philosophy of the advocate's case and challenging the appropriateness of their value hierarchy. It does not involve offering a counterproposal, presenting disadvantages to the proposal's workability or identifying barriers to inherency. Instead, it focuses on critiquing the proposition or proposal for change by attacking the underlying philosophy or values that support it.

Quiz 11: How Are Propositions of Policy Argued