Faulty Reasoning and Fallacies Answers

Read the excerpt from Bianca’s speech, "Dress Codes Are Out.”School dress codes are outdated and superficial. Students should be allowed to wear what makes them comfortable and make the learning environment more conducive. School dress codes have been around since the 1960s, when schools could tell a student how to wear their hair. As time went on, school districts used dress codes as a way to set the academic tone and prevent rule breaking. But how did that benefit students—then OR now? Simon Ippolito of Foxtown University found that dress codes do not help prepare students for the workplace. He continues by stating that schools should focus on skills that teach students how to problem-solve rather than concern themselves with students’ individual styles. Additionally, researchers found that there was no relationship between dress codes and academic performance. School districts are slowly phasing out dress codes.

Read the excerpt "Use Cloth to Save the Earth.”It may be difficult to imagine, but over four million tons of disposable diapers are thrown away each year. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, solid waste from disposable diapers introduces pathogens into the environment. Citizens who stand idly by, watching our planet suffer, are apathetic and callous. Furthermore, studies have shown that disposable diapers will never degrade in landfills. Many people do worry about the burden of cost, since the initial investment in cloth diapers is steep. However, a study found that on average, families save around $900 per year by using reusable diapers. To help save our planet, people need to consider using reusable diapers.– Naylea LaBlanc

Read the excerpt from Keno’s source.Music can influence someone’s day. An article written by blogger Yosef Hershkowitz concludes that 90% of those who listen to music while at work reported having a more positive work experience. Furthermore, the genre of music can increase the listener’s productivity. For example, researchers found that people who listen to music with a fast beat complete an assigned task more quickly than their counterparts who listen to slow ballads. – www.wiki.impactofmusic.com, Caleb Black, 2012

Read the excerpt from "Say No to the Phone”Technology has detrimental effects on children. The overstimulation, instant gratification, and prolonged screen time cause children to suffer academically. Star City University found that children between 8 and 10 years old spend more time on technology than they do at school. In a follow-up study, they found that children who acquire more than eight hours a week of screen time had a 10% drop in grades. Additionally, Laincher Research concluded that 80% of parents say their children under the age of 11 have screen time daily. The increased screen time is impacting the attention span of users. Not only are children’s productivity levels suffering, but children are also struggling with more concrete assignments such as reading and writing. Truthfully, however, computers are sometimes needed to complete schoolwork. Cellphones are a different story. There is no need for kids to have cell phones. Mobile phones can only harm our children, not help them, so please join me in banning cell phones for children under the age of 15.– "Say No to the Phone” by Andrew Rogan

Yasmin is writing an essay about gap years. Read the excerpt from a source she is using. Taking a gap year, or hiatus, between high school and college is gaining traction with students. According to a 2015 study, 35% of students are temporarily foregoing their studies to follow this path. Danny Ruderman, an admissions counselor at Coretilene College, says that students who took a gap year are more focused than their peers who did not. "Taking the year off to do something unique could help students get into schools they may not have been accepted to previously,” Mr. Ruderman replied when asked about the benefits of a gap year. As the trend becomes more popular, colleges are beginning to encourage students to defer their acceptances to pursue their passions prior to freshman year.– Carlos Santiago, Today’s News Daily, 2016

Read the excerpt that Emilia found from healthyrecommendations.blogspot.com from 2020.Experts agree that drinking water promotes a healthier lifestyle. Is it possible, however, to drink too much water? Multiple studies have been conducted about this. They have overwhelmingly found that hydration requirements vary with amount of exercise a person conducts, outside temperatures, and metabolism. Most of the studies agreed that drinking too much water, however, rarely is a problem. Several reputable websites can be found online to help you calculate how much water you should consume.

Read the sample post.Given the composition of the human body, the idea that consuming eight glasses of water per day could be sufficient is ludicrous. Who in their right mind could truly believe that a body could survive on just eight glasses per day when the body itself is made of a very high percentage of water? Furthermore, it’s not as though it’s particularly hard to carry a water bottle with you and drink regularly throughout the day; in fact, this is the minimum you should be expected to do to maintain your health. Twelve glasses per day should be the goal for any reasonable human being, and it is my greatest hope that you, as a reader of this book, are indeed a reasonable person.– "Maximize Water to Maximize Health” by Tim Johnson, eReader Self-Publications, 2020

Pauline is researching dog breeds and found "Which Dog Is Right for You?” in a blog. Read the excerpt from the blog.Dog breeds are so varied that there is something for everyone. Whether you are looking for an adventurous companion or a loving ally to pamper, there is a canine with the desired disposition for you. Dr. Matthews, Dog Stars Magazine’s 2020 Veterinarian of the Year, shares that there are over 100 different dog breeds today. To resolve which dog breed would be the best fit for your family, communicate with your veterinarian or participate in our online quiz. Join us now and allow us to help you find your new family member.– "Which Dog Is Right for You?” by Andrew K. Smith, Dog Blogs

Lara is writing a paper and wants to verify the information from her source. Which step should Lara take first to determine the accuracy of the source?

Safian is writing an essay about a new medical technique. Which source would be most accurate?