PP-7: Dissecting & Defending Arguments
Accompanies Unit 1- Lesson 9
Raymond Gregg
9/18/2013
Section 001
Instructions: For each passage below create a BLUF statement. Identify (and mark up) the main
argument around which the piece is framed by highlighting & underlining its reason and bolding
& putting (parentheses around its conclusion). State whether the author adequately supports
his/her claim. Make a bulleted list of items that support (or refute) the author’s claim. Lastly,
identify any key assumptions. Include your name, date, Section #. Omit the instructions and the
original articles in your submission. Add to your Analysis Journal.
Passage 1
"In order to save a considerable amount of money, Rockingham's century-old town hall should be
torn down and replaced by the larger and more energy-efficient building that some citizens have
proposed. The old town hall is too small to comfortably accommodate the number of people who
are employed by the town. In addition, it is very costly to heat the old hall in winter and cool it in
summer. (The new, larger building would be more energy efficient, costing less per square
foot to heat and cool than the old hall.) Furthermore, it would be possible to rent out some of
the space in the new building, thereby generating income for the town of Rockingham."
BLUF: Rockingham’s town hall should be replaced due to energy inefficiencies, size, and cost to
maintain.
The author supports his/her claim.
 Costly to heat/cool depending on season
 New building would be energy efficient and larger
 Would generate more income
Key assumptions:
The building will generate income through renting out some of the space.
Passage 2
The University needs both affordable housing for its students and a way to fund the building of
such housing. The best solution to this problem is to commission a famous architect known for
experimental and futuristic buildings. It is common knowledge that tourists are willing to pay
money to tour some of the architect's buildings, so it can be expected that tourists will want to
visit this new building. The income from the fees charged to tourists will soon cover the building
costs. (Furthermore, such a building will attract new students as well as donations from
alumni.) And even though such a building will be much larger than our current need for student
housing, part of the building can be used as office space.
BLUF: A famous architect should be hired to create a new housing building to affordably house
more students.
The author supports his/her claim through use of key assumptions:
 Famous architect’s building will sell tours to pay for itself
 Will be large enough to have extra space
 Alumni donations will help with funds
Key Assumptions:
Alumni will donate.
PP-7: Dissecting & Defending Arguments
Accompanies Unit 1- Lesson 9
People will pay to tour.
The building will ultimately fund itself.
Passage 3
As a result of numerous consumer complaints of dizziness and nausea, Promofoods requested that
eight million cans of tuna be returned for testing last year. (Promofoods concluded that the cans
did not, after all, contain chemicals that posed a health risk.) This conclusion is based on the
fact that the chemists from Promofoods tested samples of the recalled cans and found that, of the
eight chemicals most commonly blamed for causing symptoms of dizziness and nausea, five were
not found in any of the tested cans. The chemists did find that the three remaining suspected
chemicals are naturally found in all other kinds of canned foods.
BLUF: Promofoods tested 8 million cans of tuna to test for chemicals that trigger dizziness and
nausea to consumers due to customer complaint.
The author supports does not fully support the claim that the cans contained chemicals that posed
a health risk.
 3/8 chemicals found to cause these symptoms
 Large number of cans tested
Key Assumptions:
The 3 chemicals found that cause nausea and dizziness were not the cause of nausea and
dizziness for the consumer.
Passage 4
"One year ago we introduced our first product, 'Bargain Brand' breakfast cereal. Our very low
prices quickly drew many customers away from the top-selling cereal companies. Although the
companies producing the top brands have since tried to compete with us by lowering their prices,
and although several plan to introduce their own budget brands, not once have we needed to raise
our prices to continue making a profit. (Given our success selling cereal, Bargain Brand
should now expand its business and begin marketing other low-priced food products as
quickly as possible.)"
BLUF: Bargain Brand will expand business and marketing due to being successful and making
profit.
The author supports the claim through facts of making a profit.
 Drew customers away from other brands
 Hasn’t had to lower prices
Key Assumptions:
Customers will buy other food products because they buy the breakfast cereal.