Exercise 12a - Engaging in Argument - Page 395-397:
Read the following version of the fairy tale Cinderella and decide whether the statements that follow it are true, false, or questionable. Provide a reason for each of your answers. For the purpose of this exercise, accept each sentence of the fairy tale as fact and forget about the common version of it. Think about what information each sentence conveys before making judgments about the statements that follow. Afterward you will share your responses with other members of your class. Some will agree with you and some will disagree, and you will see how a harmless fairy tale can turn into an argument.
Cinderella of the 21st Century
Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters disliked her. They bought themselves beautiful clothes and gifts and went to all of the important social events, but Cinderella wore rags and had to stay home. On the night of the Prince’s Ball, the stepmother and stepsisters wore beautiful gowns and jewels, and they left Cinderella at home to clean the fireplace. But Cinderella’s fairy godmother appeared and turned Cinderella’s rags into a beautiful gown. Then the fairy godmother, whose powers were granted to her for all eternity, found a pumpkin and turned it into a gold-plated automobile; she turned a mouse into a chauffer; and Cinderella rode to the Prince’s Ball in grand style.
Now read each of the following statements and indicate in the space provided whether you think they are true (T), false (F), or questionable (?). Provide one reason for each of your judgments.
1. Cinderella had more than one stepsister.
T - In the story, every time the stepsisters were mentioned, it was in the plural form.
2. Cinderella’s natural mother was dead.
? - There was nothing mentioned about Cinderella’s natural mother.
3. The stepmother and stepsisters went to many social events.
? - The story says the stepmother and stepsisters went to all of the important social events, but it does not say they went to many social events.
4. Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters didn’t buy any beautiful clothes for Cinderella.
T - The story says that the stepmother and stepsisters disliked Cinderella and bought themselves beautiful clothes and gifts while Cinderella wore rags, so I think it is safe to assume they did not buy her anything.
5. A pumpkin can’t be turned into a gold-plated automobile.
F - Yes, in “real” life a pumpkin cannot be turned into a gold-plated automobile, but the directions to this exercise say to read this story and accept each sentence in it as fact; and in the story it says that Cinderella turned a pumpkin into a gold-plated automobile.
6. The stepmother and stepsisters disliked Cinderella.
T - The very first sentence of this story states just that.
7. Cinderella’s stepmother or stepsisters made Cinderella stay home when they went to the important social events.
? - The story says that Cinderella had to stay home when her stepmother and stepsisters went to the important social events, but does not say they made her stay home. You can assume it though.
8. The step mother and stepsisters offered to take Cinderella to the Prince’s Ball with them.
F - No where in the story does it say this.
9. Cinderella walked to the Prince’s Ball.
F - The last line of the story says that Cinderella rode to the Prince’s Ball in style, not that she walked.
10. Cinderella wanted to go to the Prince’s Ball.
T - I would say that because she went to the Ball that would mean that she wanted to go.
11. The stepmother and stepsisters left Cinderella home on the night of the Prince’s Ball.
T - The story says they left her home to clean the fireplace.
12. Cinderella rode to the Prince’s Ball in a carriage drawn by six white horses.
? - The story says she turned a pumpkin into a gold-plated automobile and rode to the Ball in style, but does not say she rode to the Ball in the gold-plated automobile.
13. Although the stepmother and stepsisters had beautiful clothes, they never bought clothes for themselves.
F - The story says they bought beautiful clothes and gifts for themselves.
14. The stepmother and stepsisters went only to social events that were important.
? - The story says that they did go to important social events, but did not specify if that was the only type of events they attended.
15. Cinderella’s fairy godmother was an evil in disguise.
? - The story does not specify if she was good or evil. You assume she is good.
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