Question Details

CRTH 10 Week 2 Study Room
STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO POST TWICE (MINIMUM)
This week students will practice applying the steps of analysis to arguments. Let's work together to develop this skill. Students are required to POST TWICE in the thread.
FIRST POST: ADDRESS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS BELOW. DO NOT REPRODUCE ANOTHER STUDENT'S POST. If you feel a question has been adequately answered, move on to the next question. Or, if you have something to add in response to a particular question, express your idea. THERE IS NO WORD MINIMUM. But, responses should be clear, grammatical and expressive. Please consult the Rubric for criteria of evaluation.
Please read the following article, "We don't need a military draft," by Melvin Laird:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/we-dont-need-a-military-draft/2013/02/21/fa23acde-76dd-11e2-aa12-e6cf1d31106b_story.html
Consider the following two paragraphs from this article:
QUESTION 1: How would you describe the 'context' of the arguments in the article? Describe at least one or two key points.
QUESTION 2: Identify a premise and the conclusion of the argument described in the following sentence:
"Some contend the draft is needed so that military sacrifice and risk may be more equitably shared."
QUESTION 3: What is the conclusion of the following argument? What are the premises?
"Unfortunately, the majority of those who would be eligible for the draft today do not meet the standards for military service, for physical fitness and other reasons. People are the military- most important asset. But if the objective is to maintain at reasonable costs and effective military force, the draft fails this test."
QUESTION 4: Consider the following sentence:
"Nobel economic laureate Milton Friedman, a member of the commission, summed it up by saying that conscription was inconsistent with the American values of choice, personal liberty and a free society."
What conclusion could be supported with Friedman's idea? (To answer this question you must examine the context of this comment in the article)
QUESTION 5: This article is arguing for a main point or a main conclusion. What is the main point or conclusion of the argument in the article?
SECOND POST. In your second post you should do one of the following:
•	Provide feedback to another student; if you believe a student made a mistake, very cordially and constructively correct it. 
•	Ask a a question if you are unclear about something in the article.
•	In this exercise we are practicing analysis of arguments and not evaluation; but, if you think that the author gives a weak argument in the article, point it out and explain the argument and why it is weak.