Worksheet On Judging The Soundness of Authors Reasoning

The document summarizes a speech by former US President Barack Obama about the government shutdown. Obama discusses how the shutdown harmed jobs and growth, and that both parties need to work together on a responsible budget, immigration reform, and a new farm bill to help the economy and middle class.

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Worksheet On Judging The Soundness of Authors Reasoning

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rjpiza

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Activity 1: Justify Ideas

Read the transcript of former US President Barack Obama’s speech and find out the issue he presented in his
message to the people then answer the questions that follow. Write your answers in your activity notebook.

Obama: ‘There Were No Winners in This’ Government Shutdown

Hi everybody. This week, because Democrats and responsible Republicans came together, the
government was reopened, and the threat of default was removed from our economy.
There’s been a lot of discussion lately of the politics of this shutdown. But the truth is, there were no
winners in this. At a time when our economy needs more growth and more jobs, the manufactured crises of
these last few weeks actually harmed jobs and growth. And it’s understandable that your frustration with what
goes on in Washington has never been higher.
The way business is done in Washington has to change. Now that these clouds of crisis and uncertainty
have lifted, we need to focus on what the majority of Americans sent us here to do – grow the economy, create
good jobs, strengthen the middle class, lay the foundation for broad-based prosperity, and get our fiscal house in
order for the long haul.
It won’t be easy. But we can make progress. Specifically, there are three places where I believe that
Democrats and Republicans can work together right away.
First, we should sit down and pursue a balanced approach to a responsible budget, one that grows our
economy faster and shrinks our long-term deficits further. There is no choice between growth and fiscal
responsibility – we need both. So, we’re making a serious mistake if a budget doesn’t focus on what you’re
focused on: creating more good jobs that pay better wages. If we’re going to free up resources for the things that
help us grow – education, infrastructure, research – we should cut what we don’t need, and close corporate tax
loopholes that don’t help create jobs. This shouldn’t be as difficult as it has been in past years. Remember, our
deficits are shrinking – not growing.
Second, we should finish the job of fixing our broken immigration system. There’s already a broad
coalition across America that’s behind this effort, from business leaders to faith leaders to law enforcement. It
would grow our economy. It would secure our borders. The Senate has already passed a bill with strong
bipartisan support. Now the House should, too. The majority of Americans thinks this is the right thing to do. It
can and should get done by the end of this year.
Third, we should pass a farm bill – one that America’s farmers and ranchers can depend on, one that
protects vulnerable children and adults in times of need, and one that gives rural communities opportunities to
grow and the longer-term certainty they deserve.
We won’t suddenly agree on everything now that the cloud of crisis has passed. But we shouldn’t hold
back on places where we do agree, just because we don’t think it’s good politics, or just because the extremes in
our parties don’t like compromise. I’ll look for willing partners from either party to get important work done.
There’s no good reason why we can’t govern responsibly, without lurching from manufactured crisis to
manufactured crisis. Because that isn’t governing – it’s just hurting the people we were sent here to serve.
Those of us who have the privilege to serve this country have an obligation to do our job the best we
can. We come from different parties, but we’re Americans first. And our obligations to you must compel all of
us, Democrats and Republicans, to cooperate, and compromise, and act in the best interests of this country we
love.
Thanks everybody, and have a great weekend.

Name: ________________________________________
Score:_____________
Grade/Section: ___________________________________
Date:______________
Comprehension Questions:
1. What is the issue presented in the speech?