PrepTest 116

Incorrect. Educational research can provide information about educational practice at least as far as what parents want prioritized, so this answer doesn't bring up a flaw.

Incorrect. Addressing a more general issue is one potential way to counter an argument, so this answer isn't describing a flaw. If the more general issue doesn't include the more specific one that the opposing point brings up, then that's a flaw, but that's not what this answer says.

Correct. Argument or Facts:
Argument/Argument

Valid or Flawed:
Flawed/Flawed

Question Type:
Errors in Reasoning

Stimulus Summary:
Sy: Parents have different rules for their kids, so school discipline will contradict some of these and thus create resentment.

St: Parents want good discipline in schools, so you're wrong.

Answer Anticipation:
A debate! You may think this is a Point at Issue question based on the structure and content, but it's not—it's an Errors in Reasoning question. And, specifically, it's asking about an error in Stephanie's reasoning.

The first thing to check when dealing with a two—person debate is whether the second person addresses the argument or facts raised by the first person.

Here, Sydonie's argument (while flawed) deals with the different ideas that parents have on how to raise their kids creating resentment when a school has to implement a single disciplinary system. In other words, her argument isn't about discipline being important, but rather the conflict between the different systems set up by parents that can't all be matched by schools.

Stephanie, on the other hand, doesn't address this conflict between different beliefs parents have towards discipline. She focuses just on the generic idea that discipline" is important to parents. In failing to address the actual point that Sydonie is making, Stephanie's rebuttal is flawed, and so we should find an answer raising this Red Herring flaw.

Answer Explanation:
The key to Sydonie's argument is that different views on what makes a discipline system good will create conflict/resentment when a school tries to implement a single system that can't reflect the system each parent thinks is best. Stephanie completely disregards that problem and instead focuses on whether parents want discipline at all. In ignoring the actual point raised by Sydonie, Stephanie's response is flawed.

Key Takeaway:
When a second speaker rebuts that of the first in an Errors in Reasoning question, start by considering whether the rebuttal addresses the actual point made in the first speaker's argument. Frequently, it will either address a separate issue or mischaracterize the first one to make it easier to rebut.

Incorrect. While we can't tell if discipline is ranked first, or second, or third, high on the list" does provide enough information to let us know that it's relatively important to parents, so this answer is incorrect.

Incorrect. The attitude of parents is up for debate, but educators' attitude is out of scope in this stimulus.