10.43 Claims, Reasons, and Evidence Worksheet

A city council member claims that installing more public art will reduce crime by making neighborhoods 'feel cared for.' The claim may be appealing, but it blends correlation with causation. Neighborhoods with public art often also have better lighting, active community groups, and more foot traffic, all of which can affect crime rates. To argue that art reduces crime, the council member would need evidence that crime drops after art installations even when other factors are controlled. Without that, the best justification for public art is cultural value and community pride, not crime reduction.

A district considers banning homework on weekends. Supporters argue weekends should be for family time and rest. Teachers counter that spacing practice improves learning and that weekend time helps students catch up. The debate becomes clearer if we separate types of homework: long projects versus short retrieval practice. A reasonable policy might ban large assignments due Monday while allowing optional review for students who want it. That compromise protects rest without abandoning effective practice.

A student government proposal would allow anonymous reporting of cheating. Supporters claim anonymity increases reports because students fear retaliation. Critics argue anonymous reports could be false and damage trust. To support the policy, the proposal must show how reports would be evaluated, not treated as automatic proof. If reports trigger a private review and require evidence before action, anonymity can help surface problems while protecting fairness.