9759 02 2007 Short Passage Mark Schemes

Markscheme for 2007 A Levels Paper 2 Question 2 2. Remember to always identify the Main Claim(s) before doing anything else. This will help you to identify what the Main Premises are. Main Claim: The practice of offering wealthier airline passengers the expensive option of flying First or Business class should no longer be tolerated in the twenty-first century [Note how the main claim has been worded EXACTLY how it was phrased in the question itself. As far as possible, all the premises and claims should be worded as the passage puts it to ensure ACCURACY of reconstruction] Some identified a different MC: “Offering wealthier airline passengers the expensive option of flying First or Business class is an outdated and objectionable practice that perpetuates social divisions.” This isn’t the MC because when you read the passage further, the author notes that this practice has “inevitable consequence of driving down the standard of provision for the majority of passengers who must suffer in Economy class” and “for that reason alone the practice should no longer be tolerated in the twenty-first century”. This thus shows that the MC is not the 1st sentence. And also that the Main Premise is… Main Premise: The practice has the inevitable consequence of driving down the standard of provision for the majority of passengers who must suffer in Economy class Some identified another premise: that the offering of First or Business class options perpetuates social divisions. This isn’t a premise for his argument but rather a ‘throwaway’ comment that, at best, strives to persuade the reader by appealing to his/her sense of justice and class equality. However, strictly speaking, it isn’t a premise because to establish the MC, the author says “for that reason alone”, i.e. there is only one main premise.] Simplistic Argument Reconstruction MP1: The practice of offering wealthier airline passengers the expensive option of flying First or Business class has the inevitable consequence of driving down the standard of provision for the majority of passengers who must suffer in Economy class MP2: If (the practice of offering wealthier airline passengers the expensive option of flying First or Business class has the inevitable consequence of driving down the standard of provision for the majority of passengers who must suffer in Economy class), then (it should no longer be tolerated in the twenty-first century)

C: The practice of offering wealthier airline passengers the expensive option of flying First or Business class should no longer be tolerated in the twenty-first century (MP1-2) Sample Intro In this passage, the author argues that the practice of offering wealthier airline passengers the expensive option of flying First or Business class should no longer be tolerated in the twenty-first century. Although he begins by pointing out that such a practice is outdated and objectionable because it perpetuates social divi