Read the following letter to the editor. In a new Word document, answer the Critical Analysis Questions below.
Dear San Francisco Chronicle Editor:
A few months ago my wife and I were in San Francisco on a visit from Paris, Texas. We decided to have lunch in the Castro district, where, we discovered (like in most of S.F.) parking is scarce to non-existent. We finally found a parking place about 10 blocks from a restaurant. It was on a very steep hill in a residential area. We pulled in behind a large truck, put on our brakes, and left to take a hike to our destination.
When we returned, we were appalled to discover we had a parking ticket with a fine of $55. The ticket said that we had parked in an area where parking was not allowed on Wednesdays because of street sweeping.
Now that the truck that had been in front of us was gone, we could see that there was a tiny sign in front of the trick that had been hidden from our view. It said: No parking on Wednesday, Street Sweeping. We wondered if the truck had received a ticket as well. Probably not if it had a California license plate. Everyone knows Californians hate Texans.
Now back home in Paris, Texas, we don't have street sweepers; property owners clean their own street gutters. Therefore we were unfamiliar not only with the Castro area but also this custom. And if Paris, Texas, had the parking scarcity of S.F., we certainly would not remove large blocks of parking areas from the streets on a weekly basis.
But the story gets worse. We tore up the ticket and drove back home to Texas. Two months later, we received a notice from S.F. saying that our parking fine was now $150 and that it would continue to rise $50 per month until paid. Apparently, we now have to pay this penalty as well, but it is extremely unjust.
If S.F. wants to encourage tourism, why make it so hard for visitors? And for that matter, why does it make life so hard for its own citizens with cars but no garages? In Texas, we would not fine an out-of state visitor. We would assume they were bringing money into our city by shopping with our merchants. And why should we have to pay an outrageous fine and penalty for a city that can't think of better ways to provide parking and raise income?
John Jones
Critical Analysis Questions
1. State the conclusion of this argument.
2. What reasons are given to support this conclusion? Give at least three reasons.
3. Identify the fallacies used in this argument such as pointing to another wrong, hasty generalization, loaded question, weak analogy, red herring, or straw man. (There are fallacies; identify at least three.)
4. Identify any crucial missing information. (There is crucial missing information; identify at least two pieces.)
5. What do you find to be the main strength and weakness of this argument? (Include at least one main strength and one main weakness.)