Jane: Television programs and movies

Answer choices

1. A

   No Impact1% picked this

   The most violent characters depicted in movies and on television programs are adult characters who are

   This seems to drift away from the focus of the argument. We care about depictions of teen violence and whether they make teens more likely to engage in violence. This is about depictions of adult violence.

   1%
2. B

   Correct93% picked this

   The movies that have been shown to have the most influence on young people’s behavior are those that

   Why this is right

   This helps support the priority set by the author's conclusion. She is saying, "Let's eliminate depictions of teen violence from movies and TV. If we can't do it across the board, then let's at least do it for those shows and movies promoted to young audiences." Saying that suggests that the biggest source of the potential problem would be shows / movies promoted to young audiences. This answer corroborates that assumption -- it's saying, "Yup, the shows / movies that are most likely to influence teens' behavior (including in violent ways) are the ones that are promoted to young audiences." So this strengthens by affirming that our author's #1 concern (shows / movies promoted to young audiences) really is the #1 concern. When authors are suggesting plans / recommendations to address some goal or problem, we can strengthen by showing that this plan / recommendation would address the root of the problem or the most significant source of the problem.

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

   93%
3. C

   No Impact1% picked this

   The people who make the most profits in the movie and television industry are those who can successfully promote their work to

   This seems to drift away from the focus of the argument. We care about depictions of teen violence and whether they make teen viewers more likely to engage in violence. This is about who in the movie / TV industry makes the most money, and it has nothing to do with violent depictions.

   1%
4. D

   Weakens, if anything3% picked this

   Many adolescents who engage in violent behavior had already displayed such behavior before they were exposed

   This answer suggests that violence in young people isn't caused by being exposed to violence in shows / movies, since the violence exists before they've even been exposed to violence in shows / movies.

   3%
5. E

   Weakens, if anything3% picked this

   Among the producers who make both movies and television programs, many voluntarily restrict the subject matter of films

   This answer is written so broadly that we're not sure if it has any specific connection to this conversation about depictions of teen violence. But, in general, if an author is concluding, "We need to prohibit X", then it weakens to say, "(we don't need to prohibit it, because) people are already voluntarily refraining from doing X."

   3%