Exercise 5.

8
1. A (All Eagles fans act in outrageous ways at games.) I couldnt conclude this because although
the majority of eagles fans act out in disturbing ways, there will always be that percentage of
fans who act the total opposite.
D (Spectator Sports encourage fans to act in abnormal ways.) this cant be concluded because
when you look at sports like golf or the majority of sports that involve spectators, you cannot
come to a conclusions that these sports encourage fans to act in different ways. Im sure on the
golf course the majority of spectators do not act in these ways.
2. This author was concluding that although there are fans who disrupt the game for others, a
football game, especially at the professional level, should be a place where fans can engage and
cheer on their teams. He states that by the second half there were fights breaking out
throughout the stadium and the chaos caused by unacceptable behavior. This shows a
professional football game should be held at the highest level and fans should act with the
highest responsibility.
3. Overall this authors conclusion was pretty clear. He was stating the football stadium is a place
where fans should connect and applaud with one another and any other unnatural behaviors
would be unethical. However, I felt as if the author could have added in the fact that the
majority of fans do not act this way. This writer did put an emphasis on Eagles fans which
made me, the reader, to believe that when I go to an Eagles home game the fans act in more of
a foolish kind of way.
4. I do not think this authors leap was too great. The overall purpose of this article is to get us as
readers to realize his experience at an Eagles game, and to also understand that this is actually
an issue. The whole body said just that, and he ended it quickly by summarizing all the evidence
brought throughout the message. This big leap to conclusion, in my opinion, is more effective.
5. This is perfect for a strong inductive paragraph. He has plenty of evidence from personal
experience and he makes a strong link with that and the conclusion. Although he expressed his
up most opinion in his conclusion, this makes the argument stronger and therefore is a strong
inductive argument.

Exercise 15.6
1. Q: What is the essays thesis statement? How effective do you think it is?
A: The authors thesis statement is people should take action into out engine security because if
not the rising issue will cause serious problems in the future. This author does get to this point
pretty quick, however he could have added a little more evidence to why it is more important to
things such as immigration laws, or a more important issue.
2. Q: Where in the essay does Pickens identify the problem he wants to solve?
A: Right after the introduction, Pickens states the problem which is our growing dependence on
foreign oil.
3. Q: According to Pickens, what are the specific ways dependence on foreign oil threatens the
United States?
A: One specific way dependence on foreign oil threatens the U.S is financially. This year we
spent nearly $700 billion on imported oil. If we dont do anything about this soon The U.s will

be forced to pay one of their largest transfers of wealth in human history. Another specific way
is the production of oil. World oil production has decreases every year since and demand for oil
increases, especially between the economies of countries like China and India.
4. Q: Where does Pickens present his solutions to this problem he identifies
A: After presenting a strong introduction, in paragraph 8 he begins naming off solutions to the
problem.
5. Q: Where does Pickens discuss the benefits of his proposal? What other benefits could he have
addressed?
A: Right after he explains his solution, the next paragraph talks about how wind is able to
generate energy and by doing so, natural gas is used to fuel power plants. Another benefit
discussed was that natural gas is the only domestic energy of size that can be used to replace oil
used for transportation.
6. Q: Pickens does not address possible arguments against his proposal. Should he have? What
possible arguments might he have addressed?
A: The reason Pickens does not was us to even visualize any other problems that could be
brought up is because he simply wants us to stay focused on his solution and his solution only.
Although, one argument brought up is can the wind really help generate enough energy
throughout the whole year?

Letter from Birmingham Jail

1. Q: In what sense is Letter from Birmingham Jail a Rogerian argument? What specific elements
of Rogerian argument does King use? Why is this form of argument suited to Kings overall
purpose?
A: This is a Rogerian argument because in Martin Luther Kings letter, it established a response to
Alabama clergymen who accused King of violence and law breaking during the Birmingham
campaign. As for the Rogerian style, King starts his letter with acknowledgment, King appeared
as if he knew the importance of his opponents concerns and goes on to talk more about his
positions. This kind of approach suits his overall purpose because it creates a higher degree of
understanding.
2. Q: Where does King use analogies-historical and otherwise- to strengthen his arguments? Why
do you think he makes these particular comparisons? How are they related to his political
political goals?
A: At the beginning of Martin Luther Kings speech he talks about why everyone is there (in D.C)
in the first place. He then makes the analogy In a sense weve come to our nations capital to
cash a check. Another analogy had to do with everyones equal rights and how big issues like
segregation can be broken down in ways so everyone there could understand.
3. Q: According to King what is direct action and what is its purpose?
A: Martin Luthers direct action was a nonviolent goal where its purpose was to create a big
enough issue and pretty much negotiate it out. This was a more peaceful way to have social
change.

4. Q: In many parts of his letter, King writes in a detached, almost scholarly style, citing
philosophers and theologians. Where does he use more emotional language? What do you
think he is trying to achieve with this language?
A: I noticed King used a lot of repetition throughout his speech. By using certain words, he
showed the world how racist it actually was at the time. Also repetition was effective for him
because it helped emphasize some of his points, as well as persuade many of the people
throughout the country. Dr. King was setting the type of mood such as a were all in this
together type of mood.
5. Q: King makes two honest confessions in his letter (23). What are they? Why do you think he
characterizes these points?
A: The first confession was to show his disappointment with the Christian and Jewish people in
the crowd over the past years. His second was that he could not agree with their direct action.
He characterizes this because he wants to show that his community can do better.

Exercise 15.7
The current federal student-loan program has some problems that must be addressed.
For example, problems with collection agencies and the complexity of the programs itself is too
much of an issue to not be dealt with. In order to address this situation. First, we need to
review all of the collect agencies and re express the set of rules agencies have. Second, we need
to figure out why programs can be so complex and identify the problem clearly. Finally, we
need to take action today. Not in a couple year, but now because it will be most effective
towards students who do deal with these types of problems. Not everyone agrees that this is
the way to solve these problems, however. Some say well theres a lot more issues that could
be resolved. Others point out that these problems arent even big enough to even be an issue.
These objections make sense, but we need to start from scratch. Take it step by step, rather
than moving to bigger pieces. All in all, these problems shouldnt be pushed aside anymore.
They need to be dealt with in a reasonable manner.

Exercise 15.9
The federal student loan program allows students the choice to invest in their own
future and this choice requires responsibility and higher institutions of learning. Today, across
the world are many borrowers who are struggling to keep up with student payment loans. This
is why we need to take action now so we can help reduce monthly loan payments that are too
difficult to maintain. But at the same time being able to keep the student loan for instance, if a
student borrower with an income of $25,000 and a loan debt of $20,000 then their monthly
student loan payments will be reduced by around a $100. To help with this, Congress allowed
for the proposal of IBR borrowers being able to cap their payments at 10% instead of 15%. On
top of that there are now borrowers that consolidate their loans from a Direct Loan, or Federal
Family Education Loan now in to a single loan. Meaning, this will give borrowers the

convenience of payment to a single leader. Sounds a lot more beneficial, however this makes it
less likely that borrowers will default resulting in lower monthly payments.