Question

read the sample student claim.

i strongly feel that advertising should be banned during childrens television shows.

is this an effective claim?

yes, because it offers an opinion that everyone believes to be true.
yes, because it expresses an indisputable statement of fact.
no, because it does not offer an opinion that can be argued against.
no, because it only expresses a personal preference or feeling.

Explanation:

Analyze the student claim

The student writes: "I strongly feel that advertising should be banned during children's television shows." This statement begins with "I strongly feel that," which frames the statement as a subjective personal feeling or preference rather than an objective, arguable claim.

Evaluate the characteristics of an effective claim

An effective claim in argumentative writing must be arguable, specific, and stated as an objective assertion rather than a personal opinion or feeling. Phrases like "I feel" or "I believe" weaken a claim because they shift the focus to the writer's personal state of mind rather than an arguable position that can be supported with evidence.

Match with the multiple-choice options

• Option 1 ("Yes, because...") is incorrect because the claim is not effective.
• Option 2 ("Yes, because...") is incorrect because the claim is not effective, nor is it an indisputable fact.
• Option 3 ("No, because it does not offer an opinion that can be argued against") is incorrect because the core issue is not that the topic itself cannot be argued, but how it is phrased.
• Option 4 ("No, because it only expresses a personal preference or feeling") is correct because the phrase "I strongly feel" reduces the statement to a personal feeling.

Answer:

• Yes, because it offers an opinion that everyone believes to be true.
• Yes, because it expresses an indisputable statement of fact.
• No, because it does not offer an opinion that can be argued against.
• No, because it only expresses a personal preference or feeling. (Correct answer)