The Japanese haiku is defined as

Answer choices

1. A

   Bad Description14% picked this

   confuses matters of objective fact with matters of

   Do we have matters of objective fact in this argument? Sure: we've got the definition of haiku. And do we have matters of subjective feeling? Yep: English poets call anything that feels like a Haiku a Haiku, regardless of syllable count. So, on first read, this sounds pretty good. The problem is the idea of confusing one thing for another. The English poets may be guilty of confusing feelings for facts when they misapply the Haiku label: they are treating their feelings as though they are facts. But the argument itself isn't guilty of this. Now, if you're thinking "hey, isn't the conclusion kind of about feelings and the evidence about facts?" you're not wrong. This is a totally reasonable answer to keep on the first pass. But ultimately, it's a weaker match than another answer because we can't say for sure that a judgement about a lack of respect is a matter of subjective feeling, and we can't say for sure that this argument got confused about what's feeling and what's fact.

   14%
2. B

   Correct71% picked this

   draws a conclusion that is broader in scope than is warranted by

   Why this is right

   Is our conclusion broader than our evidence? Definitely. The conclusion is about foreign traditions based on one measly example: the misapplication of the Haiku label.

   Skill tested: Flaw · how this choice captures the argument's function is the move to repeat next time.

   71%
3. C

   Bad Evidence Match: stereotypes3% picked this

   relies on stereotypes instead of presenting

   This argument didn't rely on any stereotypes to make its case. This answer also subtly describes a flavor of Inappropriate Appeal: Appeal to Emotion.

   3%
4. D

   Opposite1% picked this

   overlooks the possibility that the case it cites is

   "Overlooks the possibility" is objection language, so when we see that in an answer, we ask ourselves two questions: 1) Is this an accurate description? Did the argument actually overlook that possibility? 2) Is this a good objection? Does that possibility actually weaken the argument? So, does this argument overlook the possibility that the case it cites is not unique? No, it does the opposite! It assumes that the case it cites is not unique. It assumes that it is a representative sample. If the answer to question 1 is "no," the answer is wrong. No need to ask question 2.

   1%
5. E

   Bad Description12% picked this

   fails to acknowledge that ignoring something implies a negative judgment about

   "Fails to acknowledge" is objection language, so we need to ask ourselves: 1) is this an accurate description? 2) is that a good objection? So, did the argument actually fail to acknowledge that ignoring something implies a negative judgment? No, if anything, it kind of implies it. The English poets ignored the definition of Haiku, and we conclude that they lack respect, which is a flavor of negative judgment. Since the answer to question 1 is "no," the answer is wrong and we don't need to ask question 2.

   12%