*If Decency Doesn’t, Law
Should Make Us Samaritans*
Good Samaritans USA Are Afraid to
Act
Extra Credit Opportunity
 If you got a 74 or below on your
foreign words and phrases test, you
can make up 10 of your missed
questions by using the words in a
sentence and turning it in to me by
your next class.
Evaluating Arguments
 Argument- a series of statements
designed to convince you of
something.
 It is important to evaluate arguments
based on credibility, or believability,
of the author’s argument.
Steps to Evaluating an Argument
 1. What is the claim or opinion?
 Read through the whole article
 Determine the claim, or their opinion
 Claim is often stated in form of a
generalization, a broad statement
covering many situations
 Ex of generalization: “Every eligible
citizen should be required to vote”
Steps to Evaluating an Argument
 2. What is the support?
 Logical Appeals use convincing reasons and
evidence to appeal to a person’s logic
 Reasons explain why the author holds the
opinion, ex: “Citizens should be required to vote
because only then will elected officials represent
all the people.”
 Evidence is specific info that is used to back up
a reason.
 Types of evidence: facts, statistics (number
facts), examples, and quotes by experts
 Emotional Appeals stir feelings, though are not
necessarily fact based. Authors use emotional
appeal because they know it might override reason
 Loaded words-words with strong emotional
connotations or associations)
 Anecdotes- brief stories or personal accounts of
an event.
Steps to Evaluating an Argument
 3. Is the evidence comprehensive?
 An author must provide sufficient evidence to
back up generalizations and make arguments
convincing
 Ask yourself whether or not the author has
done his or her job
 Are there more emotional appeals than
relevant evidence
Steps to Evaluating an Argument
 4. What is the author’s intent?
 Consider the author’s intent
 Do they hold a bias or have a prejudiced
interest
 Note the tone-is it angry and irrational or calm
and reasoned
Vocabulary
 Allegations: in law, assertions, or positive
statements, made without proof
 Depraved: immoral
 Liability: legal obligation or responsibility to
make good a damage or loss
 Rationalizations: seemingly reasonable excuses
or explanations for one’s behavior—but not the
real reasons
 Solidarity: complete unity in a group or
organization
Vocabulary
 Feigning: pretending
 Immunity: freedom from legal obligation
 Construed: interpreted
 Indemnifies: in a legal sense, protects
 Callous: unfeeling
 Litigious-quick to sue
Have you ever….
 Seen someone drop a book in the hall
and passed them without helping?
 Seen someone upset or hurt and
passed without helping?
 What if not helping meant you would
get suspended?
 Would you agree or disagree with
that rule?
Connecting to what we have read…
 In “And of Clay Are We Created” and
“The Man in the Water,” Rolf Carle
and the man in the water help others
in situations of danger.
 These 2 articles discuss whether or
not that help should be required by
law.
Good Samaritan Law
 What is a good Samaritan?
 Someone who unselfishly helps someone in
need. From the Bible parable
 Princess Diana-Princess of Wales Famous for her humanitarian work and
fashion sense
 “The People’s Princess”
 Killed in Paris in 1997 in a highly publicized
car wreck. Photographers were criticized for
taking photos and not helping.
Should there be a Good Samaritan
Law?
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP
nK0NCn_MQ
Now turn to pg. 334. While we read,
look for the writer’s argument and
support.
Analyzing the arguments
Evidence
1st article
Claim or
opinion
Evidence
Evidence
Evidence
Evidence
2nd
article
Claim or
opinion
Evidence
Analyze your bubble charts
 Label each reason as a logical or
emotional appeal
 Is the evidence comprehensive?
 Did the author do his job?
 Is there more evidence or emotional
appeals?
 Who do you agree with and why?