1. In high school, men’s basketball and men’s football usually dominate theFriday night schedule. 2. Should it be that way? 3. These games are significant to the high school experience, but not at the cost of the other sports in the school. 4. Just because it has been a tradition does not mean that the format has to remain that way.

5. It is easier for most parents and other fans to make it out to the game onFriday nights. 6. Therefore, it is easier for them to come see the men’sbasketball or men’s football games.

7. What about the girls’ teams and secondary sports in general? 8. Their games should not always be stuck on weekday afternoons and evenings. 9. Their families often are not able to make it out to see them because most are working during the afternoons. 10. The students who play these “secondary” sports are not getting a fair share of the spotlight; the schedule should change to accommodate these other sports.

Reason: It is easier for most parents and fans to make it to the games on Friday nights.

◦ Supporting: Families are not able to make it out to see them (?) because most parents are working during the afternoons.

Are these making different points? To test – rephrase and compare: R: It is easier for most parents to make Friday night

games.S: It is hard for most parents to make games not on

Friday nights.

Remember the rule of “because” – it applies for reason and conclusion and also for supporting reason and reason

◦The reason is “because” of the supporting reason.◦The supporting reason leads us to infer the probability of the reason.

Example: (R) It is easier for most parents to make Friday night games because (SR) it is hard for most parents to make games not on Friday nights.

(R) Secondary sports are not getting their fair share of the spotlight because (SR) the families of secondary sports athletes are not able to make it to the games due to work.

Reason: Secondary sports like women’s basketball and swim shouldn’t be stuck on weekday afternoons.

Is this a reason? Why/ Why not?

Reason: Secondary sports like women’s basketball and swim are stuck on weekday afternoons.

Is this a reason? Why/ Why not?

Reason: Other teams don’t get a fair share of the spotlight because most parents and fans work on weekday afternoons so they can’t make it to the games.

Is this a reason? Why/ Why not?

Reason: Most families of secondary sports athletes are often not able to make it out to see them.◦ Supporting Reason: These secondary sports are

not getting their fair share of the spotlight.◦ Is this a supporting reason? Why/ Why not?

Newspaper letter to the editor

Text Table of Contents #6:

What Words / Phrases are Ambiguous ?

Ambiguity multiple possible meanings

To identify ambiguities focus on:◦ Issue ◦ Reasons and the Conclusion◦ Abstract words

Identify the possible meanings – the most likely in this context

Lewis Black - context and bad language◦http://www.mathxl.com/info/MediaPopup.as

px?origin=1&disciplineGroup=5&type=Watch&loc=HTTP@www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DuFr6P2BtE3k&width=800&height=600&autoh=yes&centerwin=yes

Ways to determine meaning◦Synonym

Reason An Explanation◦Example

Reason I am going to the supermarket because we are out of milk

◦ Specific criteria Reason Justification for accepting a

conclusion

Substitute each alternate meaning into the issue or reason

Do the meanings result in different degrees of support for the conclusion?

If “yes” then there is significant ambiguity

Example: Municipal landfill will be full in no time.

Should we continue using landfill technology for disposing of Hilo’s garbage?

The Hilo landfill will be full in no time.

The waste-to-energy technology is highly efficient . It has relatively low human resource requirements compared to operating a landfill.

We need to start now on securing funding for a new waste-to-energy plant in Hilo.

1. The government needs to drastically reduce immigration in the United States. 2. The United States is already overpopulated, and we're suffering consequences, such as high unemployment and serious water pollution. 3. Also immigrants endanger our American culture.” 

OCA #3

1.When governmental bodies make purchases, they often try to improve the efficiency of their purchasing activities by requiring potential sellers to submit bids. 2. The defense department is one of the governmental agencies that claim to engage in this type of competitive bidding process. 3. They supposedly examine the submitted bids and choose the best bid, awarding the contract to the private firm who makes that bid.

4. Yet, apparently, the defense department does not abide by its own rules. 5. The contractor I represent made the best bid for a missile system and failed to receive the contract for the system. 6. We are understandably disappointed and are requesting a reversal of the contract award to a firm that submitted a better bid.