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The Evaluative Aspect of The Application Question (AQ)
The Evaluative Aspect of The Application Question (AQ)
The Evaluative Aspect of The Application Question (AQ)
Class: _____
Date:
Examples of AQs 1) 2003 passage on animal rights (Which writers views are you most in sympathy? How relevant are the views raised by both authors to Singapore society?) 2) 2004 passage on choices in life (Do you regard the increased degree of choice available to you and your generation as broadly beneficial or harmful?) 3) 2005 paper on aggression (The author suggests some reasons why aggression may play a much reduced role in the future. How convincing are these reasons, and do you consider the gains would
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view? How free do you want to be?)` 5) 2007 passage on gender revolution( To what extent do you agree or disagree with his views?Support your answer with examples drawn from your society.) 6) 2010 and 2011 passages (How applicable do you find the writers observations to yourself and your own society?) How are AQs assessed?
3 bands (1-3 marks, 4-7marks, 8-10 marks) 4 main components (R, EX,EV and C)
R (requirements)- addressed all parts of the question and balanced? EX(Explanation)- has the student developed the point with sufficient and apt illustrations? EV(Evaluation)- has the student evaluated the writers views, his/her own views and the situation in society? C(Coherence) is the response logically organized and fluent?
In this handout, we are concerned with the (2) (4) constitute the complete evaluative aspect of AQ. analysis of an argument The Evaluative Aspect of AQ The evaluative aspect of the AQ answer has five essential parts to it, namely: (1)Introduction (2)Stating of Argument (3)Evaluation of Argument
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Part 1: Introduction
The introduction must have the following 2 points:
(1) Main thesis of the writer (which you will have to paraphrase) be
Sample Introductions: The writer argues that caning is not an effective way to raise disciplined children. I do not fully agree with the writers view and her supporting arguments. Other variants: The writers central assertion is that caning is an ineffectual way to raise disciplined children. Given the weakness of her supporting points, I find her thesis to be quite doubtful. The writers main argument is that caning is not an effective way to raise disciplined children. This thesis and its supporting arguments have some merits, but a careful analysis will also reveal crucial flaws.
Original argument by writer: My children seemed as likely to commit the same infringement as before. Possible paraphrasing: The writer feels [necessary indication that it is the writers argument and not yours] that caning has not changed the behaviour of her children for the better Another variant: Despite caning them, the writer thinks that her children are still going to do the same things as before.
Strategy (1): Reducing arguments to irrelevance The key question to ask is: Does this argument, assuming it is right, actually imply anything about the truth or falsehood of the main thesis? For example: The author may be right that her children are indeed unchanged by caning. But does that imply anything about using caning to discipline children in general? Just one isolated set of observations (even if it is unbiased, consistent and accurate) cannot be overgeneralised to imply a rule for all children.
Strategy (2): Pointing our logical fallacies (a) Check assumptions. For example: The writer assumes that because her childrens behaviour did not change for the better, they have not been positively influenced by caning. Yet this assumption is erroneous, for it is possible that her strategic strokes of the cane may have prevented her children from becoming worse. (b)Check reason and evidence. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) What are the data used to support the argument? How accurate and reliable are the data? Is it sufficient data to logically support the argument? Can the data be interpreted in another way (can we infer another conclusion from the same set of data)?
For example: The writer draws merely on her own personal interpretation of her childrens behaviour without supporting testimony from anyone else. What about the childrens perspective or those of other caretakers? Perhaps the children have actually changed, but she is simply unaware or unobservant. (c) Check viewpoint.
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What viewpoint is the author writing from? Could this viewpoint have distorted the writers argument in some way? Is it a balanced viewpoint or a biased viewpoint which ignores the contrary case?
For example: Also, the writer is a mother who may be feeling guilty about the pain she has inflicted on her children. Given her biased viewpoint, it is questionable whether her observation on her childrens behaviour being unchanged is really accurate, or she simply wishes it so and unconsciously distorts her observations.
Strategy 3: Weakening arguments through revealing its basis in Pathos Many times, writers get carried away appealing to pathos rather than logos, and this is highly indicative in their choice of words. Original: Parents already have power over their children, simply by being their sole providers. They dont need a big stick to prove it. Paraphasing of this argument may not be needed if you are critiquing rhetoric as you are referring to the exact words of the writer. For example: The writer uses the phrase a big stick to illustrate a cane. This over-exaggerated metaphor appeals to pathos and helps distorts how painful and violent caning really is.
(3)Reason and evidence (the evidence given is fair, substantial, accurate and relevant) Since the AQ sample were using today has highly dubious arguments, we will reserve a more comprehensive lesson on How to agree with a writer to another day.
Secondly, the writer is a mother who may be feeling guilty about the pain she has inflicted on her children. Given her biased viewpoint, it is questionable whether her observation on her childrens behaviour being unchanged is really accurate, or she simply wishes it so and unconsciously distorts her observations. [If the writer had been able to provide more viewpoints from more varied sources, confirming that caning has not positively affected her children in any way, we can then be more certain that she is not being biased. The writer will also be much more convincing and fair if she actually tries to cite some evidence or cases where her children actually improved in behaviour. It is quite unbelievable that her children never improve in any manner after all their canings.]