Argument Essay

Introduction
1. Rephrase main conclusion from argument
2. Identify author's evidence and/or premises
3. Thesis (follow the specific task instructions)

Body Paragraph (three of them)

1. First supporting idea (make sure to follow specific task instructions)
2. Example 1 (make sure to use 'maybe' language)
3. Example 2 (make sure to use 'maybe' language)
4. Effect of author's conclusion if examples prove true

Conclusion
1. Statement that argument, as it stands now, is flawed
2. Request for more evidence
3. Statement of how evidence will help evaluate the argument more effectively.
"Commuters complain that increased rush-hour traffic on Blue Highway between the
suburbs and the city center has doubled their commuting time. The favored proposal of
the motorists' lobby is to widen the highway, adding an additional lane of traffic.
Opponents note that last year's addition of a lane to the nearby Green Highway was
followed by a worsening of traffic jams on it. Their suggested alternative proposal is
adding a bicycle lane to Blue Highway. Many area residents are keen bicyclists. A
bicycle lane would encourage them to use bicycles to commute, it is argued, thereby
reducing rush-hour traffic."
Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in
order to decide whether the recommendation and the argument on which it is based are
reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to
evaluate the recommendation.
In the editorial from the local newspaper, it is stated that opponents of the motorists'
lobby's plan to add another lane to Blue Highway have instead advocated that a bicycle lane be
constructed in order to alleviate the highway's traffic issues. The opponents have come to this
conclusion based on the issues faced by Green Highway last year as well as the keen interest in
bicycling of the area's local residents. However, before this recommendation can be properly
evaluated, three questions must be answered.
First of all, are Green Highway and Blue Highway roughly comparable? in other words,
can circumstances from one highway be used to make generalizations and predictions about
the other? it is possible that Green Highway and Blue Highway are not similar at all - perhaps
Green Highway runs through residential neighborhoods, whereas Blue Highway is located
mostly in rural, unpopulated sections of the city. Further, there is a possibility that the quality
of the highways is markedly different, with Green Highway's roads falling apart and Blue
Highway's in pristine condition. If either of these scenarios has merit, then conclusion drawn in
the original argument is significantly weakened.
Secondly, do a majority, of the area residents interested in biking live within biking
distance of their places of employment? The opponents in the argument prematurely assume
that many of the residents in the town will bike to work in the morning rather than drive their
cars. However, this might not be the case. Perhaps the average distance from home to work is
over 15 miles, and that's why many of the residents are essentially obligated to take the
highway - even if they don't want to, in an ideal world, they might choose to bike to work, but if
the reality is such that they cannot do so due to the logistics of their situations, then only one
form of transportation (the car via the highway) is possible, If the above is true, then the
argument does not hold water.
In conclusion, the argument, as it stands now, is considerably flawed due to its reliance
on several unwarranted assumptions. If the author is able to answer the three questions above
and offer more evidence (perhaps in the form of a systematic research study), then it will be
possible to fully evaluate the viability of the proposed recommendation to add a bike lane to
Blue Highway.