Student Sample Answer
Student Sample Answer
The arguer’s main position on the issue is that examinations should be given less
importance within the education system.
ii) State TWO (2) major premises given by the arguer to support his or her
position. (4 marks)
The first major premise is that some talents and forms of ingenuity would not be
detected by examination radars.
The second major premise given by the writer is that emphasis on examinations is
indirectly producing people who are only trained to study and regurgitate facts
rather than well-rounded individuals.
b) Identify TWO (2) logical fallacies that are made by the arguer. Name each
fallacy and provide justification as to why the fallacy is committed.
The first fallacy committed in the article is Slippery Slope [Identification]. The slippery
slope fallacy occurs when the arguer claims that a seemingly harmless action
performed would lead to disastrous outcomes [Definition]. The example used in
paragraph 3, whereby the arguer states that teachers rushing through to cover the
syllabus, would lead to lower comprehension towards the materials taught. This will
cause weaker students to feel left behind and discouraged. The arguer further asserts
that the weaker students will develop the same lackadaisical attitude later on in their
life as adults. Even though teachers may speed through syllabus, students still have
the responsibility to take the initiative to seek for guidance from their teachers to clarify
the course content covered [Elaboration on Analysis]. A speed run through the
syllabus shouldn’t be significant enough to lead to the chain of events that end up
instilling a negative attitude in students as adults.
I agree that examinations could never be completely removed from the education
system but lesser emphasis should be placed upon the current exam-oriented way of
learning.
(385 words)