Language Arts
“A strong essay begins before you write the first paragraph.” — Lady Flawless
🎯 Your Mission
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Understand the GED extended-response prompt.
Compare two arguments.
Choose the better-supported position.
Collect relevant evidence.
Create an organized essay plan.
🎙️ Lady Flawless Intro
Lady Flawless starts a 45-minute timer:
“Champ, the GED gives you 45 minutes to read two sources, plan your response, write, and edit.”
“That means you cannot spend the entire time wondering how to begin.”
She stops the timer:
“Today, you will learn how to build the plan. In Mission 20, you will turn that plan into a complete response.”
⭐ Know the Writing Task
The GED extended response gives you:
Two argumentative sources
Two different positions on the same issue
One 45-minute writing period
A prompt asking which argument is better supported
Your response should:
Make a clear claim.
Use evidence from the sources.
Explain why the evidence is strong.
Compare the two arguments.
Organize ideas clearly.
Use standard written English.
🚫 This Is Not a Personal-Opinion Essay
The question is not:
Which position do you personally agree with?
The question is:
Which position is better supported by evidence and reasoning?
Lady Flawless explains:
“You may personally agree with Source B but still determine that Source A presents the stronger argument.”
🧠 The Flawless Essay Plan
Step 1: Read the Prompt
Determine exactly what the task asks you to do.
Step 2: Identify Both Claims
What position does each author take?
Step 3: Collect the Evidence
Underline or record facts, statistics, examples, and expert information.
Step 4: Evaluate the Evidence
Ask which source uses more relevant, sufficient, and trustworthy evidence.
Step 5: Choose the Better-Supported Argument
Select the source you can defend with the strongest textual evidence.
Step 6: Build the Outline
Decide where each piece of evidence will appear before writing.
📝 Original Practice Prompt
Analyze the arguments presented in Source A and Source B. Determine which source presents the better-supported position on whether Lakeview should continue its free downtown shuttle. Use specific and relevant evidence from both sources to support your response.
📖 Source A: Continue the Shuttle
Lakeview should continue its free downtown shuttle while adjusting the schedule to control costs. The six-month pilot demonstrated that residents use the shuttle to reach important destinations.
Transportation records documented 31,200 rides during the pilot. Most rides occurred between the central bus station, the hospital district, and the downtown employment center. In a survey of 500 riders, 312 reported that they did not have regular access to a vehicle. Riders identified employment, medical appointments, and connections to other bus routes as their most common reasons for using the service.
The pilot cost $240,000. That expense is significant, but it does not mean the program should end. The hospital and a group of downtown businesses have offered to contribute a combined $110,000 toward another year of service. Transportation officials also found that ridership was lowest between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Reducing service during that period could save an estimated $35,000.
Some critics have reported seeing nearly empty shuttles. Their observations may be accurate during low-use hours, but they do not represent the complete ridership record. Lakeview should use the collected data to improve the schedule instead of eliminating a service that connects thousands of residents with jobs, healthcare, and public transportation.
📖 Source B: End the Shuttle
Lakeview should discontinue its free downtown shuttle when the pilot ends. The city should not commit public money to a transportation program that residents may not use consistently.
On two weekday afternoons, I observed shuttles traveling through downtown with only a few passengers. An almost empty vehicle still requires a driver, fuel, maintenance, and insurance. The six-month pilot cost $240,000, and outside financial support may not continue forever.
Residents already have other transportation choices. The city could consider providing discounted bus passes or encouraging residents to use app-based transportation services. These options could be less expensive than operating a separate shuttle route.
City leaders should protect public funds by ending the shuttle and investing in more flexible transportation options.
🔍 Step 1: Identify the Claims
Source A
Lakeview should continue the shuttle but adjust its schedule to reduce costs.
Source B
Lakeview should discontinue the shuttle and consider other transportation options.
🔎 Step 2: Collect the Evidence
Source A’s Evidence
Transportation records documented 31,200 rides.
A survey included 500 riders.
Most riders traveled to employment, healthcare, or transportation connections.
Outside organizations offered $110,000.
Reducing low-use hours could save an estimated $35,000.
The author acknowledges and responds to concerns about empty shuttles.
Source B’s Evidence
The author observed nearly empty shuttles twice.
The pilot cost $240,000.
Operating the shuttle requires several expenses.
The author proposes bus passes and app-based transportation.
⚖️ Step 3: Evaluate the Arguments
Source A is better supported because it uses:
Records collected over six months
Information from thousands of rides
A survey of 500 riders
Specific financial information
A response to opposing concerns
A cost-reduction proposal
Source B raises a valid cost concern, but it relies heavily on:
Two personal observations
Possible alternatives without cost estimates
An assumption that other options would be less expensive
✍️ Step 4: Write the Thesis
A thesis tells the reader which source is better supported and why.
Thesis Formula
Source ___ presents the better-supported argument because it uses ____________ and ____________ to demonstrate ____________.
Strong Thesis
Source A presents the better-supported argument because it uses long-term ridership records, survey results, and specific financial information to demonstrate that the shuttle provides a valuable service that can be adjusted to control costs.
🗺️ Step 5: Build the Outline
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Identify the issue.
Name the better-supported source.
State the thesis.
Paragraph 2: Strong Evidence
Introduce Source A’s ridership records.
Explain that six months of records are stronger than two observations.
Connect the evidence to the claim.
Paragraph 3: Additional Evidence and Comparison
Discuss the rider survey and financial contributions.
Explain how Source A responds to cost concerns.
Compare this with Source B’s unsupported alternatives.
Paragraph 4: Conclusion
Restate which source is better supported.
Summarize why its evidence and reasoning are stronger.
⭐ Build the Evidence Explanations
Do not drop a quotation into the essay and move forward.
Evidence Only
Source A states that the shuttle provided 31,200 rides.
Evidence With Explanation
Source A reports that the shuttle provided 31,200 rides during the six-month pilot. This record is stronger than Source B’s two observations because it represents the shuttle’s use across a much longer period.
🧠 Use Both Sources
Your essay should focus on the stronger argument, but it should also explain weaknesses in the opposing source.
Comparison Sentence
While Source B raises a reasonable concern about the program’s cost, the author does not provide cost estimates showing that the proposed alternatives would be less expensive.
⏱️ Suggested 45-Minute Plan
3 minutes: Read the prompt.
10 minutes: Read and mark both sources.
5 minutes: Choose the stronger argument and outline.
22 minutes: Write the response.
5 minutes: Review and edit.
🚫 Watch Out for Essay-Planning Traps
Do not:
Choose a position based only on your opinion.
Summarize both passages without evaluating them.
Copy large sections from the sources.
Use evidence without explaining it.
Invent facts that are not in the passages.
Begin writing without knowing your thesis.
⭐ Exit Ticket
What must a strong GED extended-response thesis identify?
A. The writer’s personal opinion about the topic
B. The better-supported source and the main reasons it is stronger
C. Every detail from both passages
D. The longest quotation in the passage
✅ Correct Answer: B
🎤 Lady Flawless Outro
“Champ, the essay becomes easier when you enter it with a plan.”
“Read the prompt, compare the claims, collect the evidence, choose the stronger argument, and build your outline.”
“In Mission 20, we turn that plan into your complete GED response.”