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Softening the Blow

When you qualify a conclusion, you provide (a) evidence, (b) information, or (c) phrasing to moderate the strength of your findings. It is not a good idea to make categorical statements (i.e., claims that you seem to support one hundred percent). If for example you say “It is undeniable that...,” then you are making a categorical statement (which is not recommended).

Beginning writers often believe that strong statements make them sound confident. Nothing could be further from the truth, however. Categorical statements often sound arrogant. From an academic perspective, it is better to write in a cautious style rather than to commit oneself absolutely to generalizations.

Qualifying a Statement with Evidence/Information Unqualified Conclusion: Second-hand tobacco smoke clearly poses significant health risks to non-smokers, who are well advised to avoid exposure. Qualified Conclusion: Although the National Cancer Institute cites a study that finds no clear link between lung cancer and second-hand smoke (Forbes), most major studies, including the 2006 Surgeon General’s Report, conclude that there is a statistically significant link, and that second-hand smoke results in disease and premature death in both adults and children; furthermore, a 2009 report by the Institutes of Medicine points out that second-hand smoke causes heart attacks, even after relatively short exposure (ALA). It seems safe to conclude, therefore, that second-hand tobacco smoke poses significant health risks to non-smokers, who are well advised to avoid exposure. Further studies are required to determine whether this exposure poses the threat of lung cancer, however.

Qualifying a Statement with Cautious Phrasing Unqualified Conclusion: A 2009 study conducted by the Insitutes of Medicine proves that exposure to second-hand smoke causes lung cancer in non- smokers. “Proves” is too strong a word. A cautious scholar would say, instead, something along the following lines: Qualified Conclusion: A 2009 study conducted by the Institutes of Medicine suggests that exposure to second-hand smoke may lead to cardiac arrest in a significant number of non-smokers.

Useful Phrases The following and similar phrases will help you to tone down the force of your claims: The data suggests...In effect,... It would seem...Practically,... Apparently...The evidence implies... It may be inferred...It is reasonable to assume... It is no exaggeration to say...It would be safe to conclude...

Here are some conclusions that were really written by freshmen Writing students. Decide whether they are: Qualified

In conclusion, Christ is the founder and the foundation of the church and the church began after his death in 33 A.D. and the name of the church is the church of Christ. Remember, if we are all worshiping God and it doesn’t matter what church you attend, then why is there only one God, one Christ, and one Holy Spirit? There is only one church, the church of Christ.

The bottom line is, murder is wrong, whether it is committed with a knife or an electric chair. The right to play God should not be reserved by any person. There-fore, killing people should be banned in all forms.

Okay, down to brass tacks—it’s all a money issue. The revenue generated from issuing seat- belt tickets is astronomical per year, per state. That’s the whole thing: a lot of highway repair is generated by seat-belt violations. My point is this—I know that a lot of people feel the same way I do. We need to all get together and create a lobby, like the bikers did to veto the helmet law. Talk to your councilmen, your governor, your senators, and get something started—this can be won!

In conclusion, smoking should be banned in all areas (unless it is a “smoking-only” building) for many important reasons, all of which are health- related. Smoking can create not only horrible effects in people who smoke, but also in people who breathe in second-hand smoke. In restaurants that have already banned smoking, the atmosphere is much healthier and the smoke smell that most non-smokers hate is gone. Lastly, second-hand smoke alone kills about 53,000 Americans a year! Don’t you think that those 53,000 Americans will appreciate your decision to ban smoking in public places?

In closing, the death penalty needs to be administered more often. If the terrorists who flew the planes on September 11th were still alive, would you want them to live, to eat, to sleep, and to use America’s resources? I would not tolerate it. This nonsense needs to be stopped. With the high costs of living and prison overcrowding, the only real solution is to punish those serious repeat offenders by means of death. Those who commit horrific crimes need to face the consequences, no matter how harsh they may be.

Although some people will be convinced that the minimal evidence that supports capital punishment deters murder, it comes at too great a price. The United States is a great country of freedom and justice. By keeping the outdated punishment of the death penalty, the United States is in company with a small group of nations that still use capital punishment, among them the former Iraq and modern Iran, both of which have a notorious human rights record. In this time of economic hardship for many states, it would seem logical to cut the death penalty from the budget and save nearly a million dollars for each person who is incarcerated for a lifetime rather than see them executed. By eliminating capital punishment, there will never be a threat of another innocent person executed by the government, which seems like something that should have been a goal a long time ago.

Abortion is nothing more than the murder of a helpless unborn child. Murder is illegal when committed upon a person. However, abortion, the murder of a helpless human, is perfectly legal. The child has the right to become a human being. Civil rights have been an ongoing problem in America. Why are the rights of an unborn person not a problem?... Abortion is legal in the United States, but should it be?

Remember, there are three ways to qualify a claim: 1. Phrasing 2. Information 3. Evidence The basic principle is as follows: Eat humble PIE to qualify.

The End PowerPoint Presentation by Mark A. Spalding, 2008.

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