1. In high school, men’s basketball and men’s football usually dominate the
Friday 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 on
Friday nights. 6. Therefore, it is easier for them to come see the men’s
basketball 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

Lewis Black - context and bad language
most likely in this context
◦ http://www.mathxl.com/info/MediaPopup.as
px?origin=1&disciplineGroup=5&type=Watch
&loc=HTTP@www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3
DuFr6P2BtE3k&width=800&height=600&auto
h=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.
OCA #3
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.”
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.