progress: \nquestion id: 1059557\nthe movemen...

progress: \nquestion id: 1059557\nthe movement of the progress bar may be uneven because questions can be worth more or less (including zero) depending on your answer.\nyou have been asked to write an essay about calls to ban all russian athletes from the olympics because of widespread doping. which of the following contains the best thesis statement and supporting ideas for this essay?\nthesis statement: a total ban of russian athletes is appropriate because the only way to discourage state sponsored doping is to punish the entire program. • whistleblowers and investigators have provided abundant evidence that doping is supported and sponsored by the russian government. • in the past, only individuals have been banned, and only when they were caught with drugs in their system. this is ineffective; the government simply swapped in other athletes and continued the doping program. • since the russian government controls financing, training facilities, sports associations, coaching programs, and olympic team selection, athletes may have no choice over taking banned substances. the international olympic committee has a duty to protect them.\nthesis statement: i’m against it. • we don’t know that all of the athletes have used banned substances. we should test everyone and only ban those who fail a drug test. • athletes from other countries have doped, too. • we don’t ban countries for using high - tech gear and equipment to gain an advantage.\nthesis statement:

Answer

# Answer: The first set of thesis statement and supporting ideas is better. The thesis statement "A total ban of Russian athletes is appropriate because the only way to discourage state - sponsored doping is to punish the entire program" is clear and well - supported by the following points: - Whistleblowers and investigators have provided abundant evidence that doping is supported and sponsored by the Russian government. - Past individual bans were ineffective as the government could swap athletes and continue the doping program. - The Russian government's control over various aspects of sports means athletes may have no choice, and the IOC has a duty to protect them. The second set of ideas with the thesis "I'm against it" is less well - developed. The points about not knowing all athletes have doped and other countries doping are rather general and do not directly counter the idea of a total ban as effectively as the first set of ideas support it. # Brief Explanations: The first set has a clear stance with strong, relevant evidence. The second set has weaker, more general counter - arguments.