Open vs. Closed Questions
A researcher wants to prove that breakfast affects focus using data. Which question should they use to get a measurable, factual answer?
A. "Why is breakfast important for student focus?"
B. "Do students who eat breakfast have higher test scores?"
C. "How can schools encourage students to eat breakfast?"
B. "Do students who eat breakfast have higher test scores?"
Look at this sentence: "Homework loads should be reduced to improve student focus." What role does this play in an argument?
A. Reason
B. Claim
C. Evidence
B. Claim
Why is the question "How can schools improve student wellness?" classified as Broad rather than Focused?
A. It looks for a specific detail about a single grade level.
B. It is a big-picture question with many different possible answers.
C. It can be answered with a simple "Yes" or "No".
B. It is a big-picture question with many different possible answers.
Which piece of evidence from the infographic best supports the claim that exercise improves academic performance specifically?
A. 85% of students bike or walk to school.
B. Students report feeling less stressed.
C. Focus scores increase by an average of 12%.
C. Focus scores increase by an average of 12%.
Why would a writer choose to use an open question like "In what ways does sleep affect learning?" instead of a closed one?
A. To get a quick "yes" or "no" for a survey.
B. To invite a detailed explanation and explore multiple causes.
C. To limit the reader to a single factual detail.
B. To invite a detailed explanation and explore multiple causes.
Which part of an argument specifically addresses the "Other Side" to show the author has considered different viewpoints?
A. Rebuttal
B. Counterclaim
C. Explanation
B. Counterclaim
A researcher wants to move from a General inquiry to a Focused inquiry about 6th-grade students. Which shows the best strategic shift?
A. Do students get enough sleep?
B. Why is sleep important for learning?
C. How does starting school at 9:00 a.m. affect 6th-grade focus during 1st period?
C. How does starting school at 9:00 a.m. affect 6th-grade focus during 1st period?
A principal is deciding whether to keep a PE program. Which evidence is most persuasive for this specific audience?
A. 70% of students say they feel more confident.
B. Data showing students who exercise earn 10% higher grades.
C. A quote stating that some parents prefer clubs.
B. Data showing students who exercise earn 10% higher grades.
Reorder these from Least Depth (Closed) to Most Depth (Open): (1) Explain why students benefit from healthy options, (2) Is breakfast important for focus?, (3) In what ways does sleep affect learning?
2,1,3
What is the strategic purpose of a Rebuttal in an argumentative paragraph?
A. To provide a factual statistic.
B. To prove why the counterclaim is weak or how it can be solved.
C. To state the main goal of the writing.
B. To prove why the counterclaim is weak or how it can be solved.
If you are checking a particular detail to see if a specific school policy worked, which question type is most effective?
A. Broad
B. General
C. Focused/Narrow
C. Focused/Narrow
Why is the statement "Homework loads should be reduced" classified as a claim rather than a reason?
A. Because it provides a specific fact or data point.
B. Because it is the main argument being made, rather than the "why" behind it.
C. Because it shows how evidence supports the main idea.
B. Because it is the main argument being made, rather than the "why" behind it.
Look at the closed question: "Does daily exercise improve concentration?" Which revision turns this into an open question that requires strategic thinking?
A. "Is exercise good for students?"
B. "Do 85% of students feel alert after exercise?"
C. "How could schools redesign lunch schedules to increase student focus?"
C. "How could schools redesign lunch schedules to increase student focus?"
If an author provides the fact "Students who attend tutoring earn 10% higher grades," but fails to include an Explanation, what is missing?
A. The main claim they are making.
B. The logical connection showing HOW that 10% increase proves their reason.
C. An opposing viewpoint from a teacher.
B. The logical connection showing HOW that 10% increase proves their reason.
Reorder these questions from the Narrowest (Focused) scope to the Broadest scope: (1) Why is physical activity important?, (2) Which students benefit most from a 20-minute lunch walk?, (3) How can schools improve wellness?
2,1,3
Based on the "Counterclaim Quote," which statement represents the weakness an opponent sees in daily exercise?
A. It makes students too tired to focus.
B. It uses up time that should be spent on academic instruction.
C. It does not actually improve test scores.
B. It uses up time that should be spent on academic instruction.
If you are presenting a rebuttal to an opponent, which question type is most effective for forcing them to explain their logic?
A. A closed question that requires a "yes" or "no."
B. An open question starting with "How" or "Why."
C. A focused question about one specific date.
B. An open question starting with "How" or "Why."
Which of these is a Reason (the "why") rather than Evidence (the "fact")?
A. "12% increase in focus scores."
B. "85% of walkers are more alert."
C."Physical activity improves the brain's ability to concentrate."
C.
You are writing a conclusion for a paper. Which question type would be most strategic to leave the reader thinking about the big-picture impact?
A. Broad
B. General
C. Focused
A. Broad
Which of these qualifies as strong evidence because it is both measurable and directly supportive of the claim that homework affects health?
A."Students with less than two hours of homework sleep 30 minutes more per night."
B. "Too much homework causes stress and fatigue."
C."Some people think homework teaches responsibility."
A. "Students with less than two hours of homework sleep 30 minutes more per night."