Question

Practice (page 7): Two students are debating whether the United States should get rid of the penny. Student A thinks that pennies are worthless, but Student B believes they serve a purpose. Decide which evidence each student should emphasize in an argument. Use the two-column chart below to list the evidence for Student A in one column and Student B in the other column.You may either copy and paste from the options or write the letter in the boxes. (Note: Some statements do not provide evidence for either argument.) Discuss your ideas with your Learning Coach.
Pennies bring good luck if found heads up.
Pennies cannot be used in vending machines, parking meters, or tollbooths.
Coin collectors sometimes find pennies that are worth quite a bit of money.
People donate pennies that add up to millions of dollars for charities each year.
A penny costs more to produce than it is actually worth.
The penny makes it easier to pay cash for purchases with exact change.
Since 1909, the penny has shown the image of Abraham Lincoln.
There is practically nothing that can be bought with a single penny.
Student A
Student B
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h

Answer 1

Student A (argues pennies are worthless)
- b — Pennies cannot be used in vending machines, parking meters, or tollbooths. (Shows practical limits/usefulness.)
- e — A penny costs more to produce than it is actually worth. (Shows economic waste.)
- h — There is practically nothing that can be bought with a single penny. (Shows very low purchasing power.)

Student B (argues pennies serve a purpose)
- a — Pennies bring good luck if found heads up. (Cultural/traditional value.)
- c — Coin collectors sometimes find pennies that are worth quite a bit of money. (Some pennies have collectible value.)
- d — People donate pennies that add up to millions of dollars for charities each year. (Aggregate charitable value.)
- f — The penny makes it easier to pay cash for purchases with exact change. (Practical use in cash transactions.)
- g — Since 1909, the penny has shown the image of Abraham Lincoln. (Historical/sentimental value.)