Read Ara's rebuttal from an argumentative essay.

While it is true that changing class times poses logistical problems, the fact remains: students at our high school are not getting enough sleep, and this is affecting their ability to learn.

What kind of evidence would best support the rebuttal? Select three options.

A) statistics about how many hours teenagers need to sleep

B) statistics about when classes usually begin at US schools

C) statistics about the sleeping habits of high school students

D) information about the effects of sleep deprivation on teenagers

E) information about logistical problems involved in changing class times

The three kinds of evidence that would best support the rebuttal are:

A) statistics about how many hours teenagers need to sleep;

C) statistics about the sleeping habits of high school students;

D) information about the effects of sleep deprivation on teenagers.

Since what the rebuttal is stating is that teenagers are not getting enough sleep and, for that reason, are not performing and learning as expected, statistics and information that prove such argument to be true would be most useful. By quoting and mentioning studies that provide the necessary information, the argument becomes much stronger and plausible.

If teenagers' body clock demands more hours of rest - and that such rest should happen later at night until later in the morning -; if sleep deprivation causes people to pay less attention, retain less information and have health issues; and if all that has been shown by studies, a solid and powerful base for the argument is built in a convincing manner by mentioning such studies.

A) statistics about how many hours teenagers need to sleep

C) statistics about the sleeping habits of high school students

D) information about the effects of sleep deprivation on teenagers

The first piece of evidence that is useful for supporting the rebuttal is statistics about the sleeping habits of high school students. The author would first need to show that the students are not getting enough sleep, and this data would say how much sleep high school student are getting. This should then be followed up with how many hours teenagers need to sleep. The audience can then see the difference between what is actually happening versus what should happen. These statistics then should lead into how the sleep deprivation affects teenagers and their ability to learn.