Identifying/essay/reasons

Identifying the Argument of an Essay

Spotting the Reasons in the Editorial (Second Page)

Paragraph 2

As you keep the conclusion in mind, read paragraph 2 again carefully. What is this paragraph about? It gives us more specific information about the situation in Minden and how the federal government is involved.This is important information: we now know that the scheduling of athetic events has to do with when girls and boys teams are scheduled (presumably high school although it could also include middle school) and that boys
teams play more regularly on Friday and Saturday nights than girls teams do. We know that someone complained about this imbalance in the scheduling; we know the name of the federal agency involved ( the civil rights office of the U.S. Department of Education); we know that the school district signed some sort of agreement with the Department of Education ( paragraph 3 tells us what that agreement was ) and that the Dept. of Education has imposed a $200,000 fine if the school district doesn't accept regulations in addition to the 1993 agreement.
But do these facts ( if they are indeed facts ) function as reasons which are intended to support the conclusion? Let's find out. Put any of these facts into the slot after the BECAUSE:

                         Conclusion: The federal government shouldn't dictate athletics schedules

  (BECAUSE)   Reason 1: Boys teams play more regularly on Friday and Saturday                                              nights than girls teams do.
  (BECAUSE)   Reason 2: Someone complained to the Department of Education.
  (BECAUSE)   Reason 3: The Dept. of Education has imposed a fine if additional                                              regulations aren't met.
  (BECAUSE)   Reason 4: The school district signed an agreement in 1993.

None of these reasons directly support the conclusion except perhaps Reason 2:

The federal government shouldn't dictate athletics schedules [simply] BECAUSE                                                                                                           SOMEONE complained.

It is unclear whether the sentence "Someone complained to the U.S. Education Department's civil rights office" is actually intended as a reason; however, since it could be interpreted that way, we will include it as a reason.
Notice that Reasons 1, 2, and 4 do not make any sense as statements that are supposed
to support the conclusion; therefore, they cannot be included in the total list of reasons.