Text Structure
What is the text structure in the following?
"Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Greece both developed powerful civilizations, but they differed in important ways. Mesopotamia was built between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, where flooding was unpredictable, while Greece formed around rocky coastlines and the Mediterranean Sea. Both societies worshipped many gods, yet Mesopotamian gods were tied to individual cities, whereas Greek gods were worshipped across all city-states. These similarities and differences reveal how geography shaped each culture's beliefs and lifestyles."
Compare and contrast
What type of evidence is the following:
"Imagine a city where every household reduced its water use by just 10%. If this happened, the city could save millions of liters of water each month, easing pressure during droughts."
Hypothetical
What is the author's purpose:
"Recycling reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. When materials like paper, glass, and plastic are processed and reused, they require less energy than producing new products from raw materials. This process helps conserve natural resources and lowers pollution."
Inform
What is the fallacy in the following?
“You can either support the new school uniform policy or you don’t care about school pride at all.”
False dilemma
What is the bias present in the following?
"A person only looks for news articles that support their belief that their favorite diet is the best, and ignores research showing it may not be healthy."
Confirmation
What is the text structure in the following?
"To build a Mesopotamian ziggurat, workers followed a clear process. First, they gathered clay from riverbanks and shaped it into bricks. Next, the bricks were baked in the sun until they hardened. After that, builders stacked the bricks layer by layer to create a tall, stepped structure. Finally, they added a shrine at the top where priests could perform religious rituals. Each step had to be completed carefully to ensure the ziggurat was stable and long-lasting."
Sequence
What type of evidence is the following:
"Last summer, my neighbor installed solar panels on her home. Within a few months, she noticed her electricity bills dropped by nearly half, convincing her that renewable energy was worth the investment."
Anecdotal
What is the author's purpose in the following:
"During my first day volunteering at the animal shelter, a clever beagle managed to sneak out of his pen, steal a volunteer’s sandwich, and trot proudly around the room as if showing off his prize. The entire team spent ten minutes trying to catch him, laughing the whole time."
Entertain
What is the fallacy in the following?
“Everyone in my class is joining the new social media app, so I have to join too.”
Bandwagon
What bias is present in the following?
"A person assumes that their new coworker is being rude because they don't make eye contact, not realizing this is a sign of respect where they're from."
Cultural
What is the text structure of the following:
"The ancient Athenian assembly was a large, open space where citizens gathered to discuss government matters. The area was usually crowded, filled with the sound of voices debating new laws. Stone benches lined the space, and men of all social classes—except slaves—stood under the bright Mediterranean sun as they waited for their chance to speak. The lively atmosphere reflected the Athenians’ belief that every citizen should take part in public life."
Description
What type of evidence is the following?
"A recent national survey found that 68% of teenagers sleep less than the recommended eight hours per night, showing that lack of sleep is a widespread issue."
Statistical
What is the author's purpose in the following:
"Schools should include at least 30 minutes of outdoor activity each day because regular movement improves students’ focus, reduces stress, and leads to better academic performance. When students return from fresh air and exercise, they are more alert and ready to learn. Adding daily outdoor time is a simple change that can improve learning for everyone."
Persuade
What is the logical fallacy in the following?
"Person A: “We should have shorter homework on weekends.”
Person B: “So you think students shouldn’t have to learn anything at all?”
straw man
What type of bias is present in the following?
"After seeing several news stories about plane crashes, someone becomes convinced that flying is extremely dangerous, even though statistically it is much safer than driving."
Availability bias
What is the text structure of the following:
"Because the Greek city-states were separated by mountains and seas, they developed independent governments and cultures. This isolation caused each city-state to form its own way of ruling, such as Sparta’s military system or Athens’ democracy. As a result, the Greek world became a collection of small but unique communities rather than one unified empire."
Cause and effect
What type of evidence is the following:
"According to Dr. Lina Ortega, a pediatric nutrition specialist, “Children who eat a balanced breakfast are far more likely to stay focused and perform well in morning classes.”"
Testimonial
What is the author's purpose in the following?
"Tornadoes form when warm, moist air meets cool, dry air, causing strong updrafts that rotate. These storms can reach wind speeds over 300 kilometers per hour. Meteorologists use radar systems to track tornadoes and issue warnings to help protect people in affected regions."
Inform
What is the fallacy in the following?
“Ever since we painted the classroom blue, test scores have gone up. The paint must be making us smarter.”
Causal
What is the bias in the following?
"When a man sees someone cut in line, he thinks, “She’s rude and selfish,” but when he cuts in line, he blames the situation: “I’m in a hurry because I’m late.”
What is the text structure of the following?
"Plastic waste in local rivers has become a growing problem for nearby communities. Each year, more trash—especially single-use bottles and food wrappers—washes into the water, harming wildlife and making the river unsafe for recreation. To address this issue, several organizations have begun weekend clean-up programs where volunteers collect and sort waste along the riverbanks. In addition, the city council recently approved new recycling stations and stronger fines for illegal dumping. Together, these efforts aim to reduce pollution, protect local ecosystems, and restore the river’s health for future generations."
Problem and Solution
What type of evidence is the following?
"Last summer, my neighbor installed solar panels on her home. Within a few months, she noticed her electricity bills dropped by nearly half, convincing her that renewable energy was worth the investment."
Anecdotal
What is the author's purpose in the following?
"When the museum lights flickered during the evening tour, one guest insisted we were being “visited by ancient spirits.” Moments later, the automatic dinosaur display roared to life, causing the same guest to jump so high that even the tour guide couldn’t stop laughing."
Entertain
What is the fallacy in the following:
"I want to break up with my boyfriend, but we've been together for five years already and I don't want to have to start over with someone new”
Sunk cost
What is the bias in the following?
"After a team loses a big game, a fan says, “I knew they were going to lose,” even though they confidently predicted a win before the game."
Hindsight bias