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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance, Reasoning and Clarity. Reasoning rests on 2 conclusions, too few to hold the grade down. Average 86 / 100
Signal
84 / 100
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Relevance
100 / 100
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Reasoning
60 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
100 / 100
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A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.
Procedure 12% The question 16% Claims 43% Reasoning 26% Positioning 4%
Structure · 9 steps
Claims · 3
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 19 words I think it is important to say because we hear over and over from our colleagues about the Constitution: Procedure The question · 26 words If using merchant category codes violated the Fourth Amendment, where is your bill on amending this for every purchase at a pharmacy, liquor store, or casino? Claims · 11 words This is a standard accounting tool that is used by banks.1 Reasoning · 43 words This argument, unless you are going to follow it up with legislation to essentially make it illegal to track and have the same codes, which is just a four-digit number, for pharmacies, casinos, liquor, 2 and other things as well, the argument falls flat. False choice False choice Claims · 15 words Law enforcement needs to go through a legal process to access the financial records here.3 Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 6 words it is not a good argument. Positioning Claims · 45 words We are talking about something that doesn’t track what you are buying. It doesn’t track the guns you are buying. It won’t tell them that, but it is just a general tool to help us stop some of the worst of the worst mass shootings.
At a glance
Lost points for False choice ×2 Procedure Positioning
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 84
2 of 4 deductions are Signal
Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “I think it is important to say because we hear over and over from our colleagues about the Constitution:” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “it is not a good argument.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 100
0 of 4 deductions are Relevance
Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the bill under debate.
Nothing lost points.
Reasoning · 60
2 of 4 deductions are Reasoning
Reasoning checks for sound logic and solid support for any conclusion. A low score means the speaker made unsupported leaps or used weak arguments.
False choice Two options presented as if they were the only ones. What the tags mean → “and other things as well, the argument falls flat.” The clauses present only two options — amend the codes everywhere or abandon the argument — as if no distinction specific to firearm retailers could exist.
False choice Two options presented as if they were the only ones. What the tags mean → “and other things as well, the argument falls flat.” The only support is the same either/or framing that critics must police every category of purchase or concede, excluding a reasonable middle position.
Conclusions found · 2
Conclusion “and other things as well, the argument falls flat.”
Because “If using merchant category codes violated the Fourth Amendment,”
“where is your bill on amending this for every purchase at a pharmacy, liquor store,”
“This is a standard accounting tool that is used by banks.”
“unless you are going to follow it up with legislation to essentially make it illegal to track and have the same codes,”
“which is just a four-digit number, for pharmacies, casinos, liquor,”
Reason flawed The clauses present only two options — amend the codes everywhere or abandon the argument — as if no distinction specific to firearm retailers could exist.
Conclusion “it is not a good argument.”
Because “If using merchant category codes violated the Fourth Amendment,”
“where is your bill on amending this for every purchase at a pharmacy, liquor store,”
“This is a standard accounting tool that is used by banks.”
“unless you are going to follow it up with legislation to essentially make it illegal to track and have the same codes,”
“which is just a four-digit number, for pharmacies, casinos, liquor,”
“and other things as well, the argument falls flat.”
Reason flawed The only support is the same either/or framing that critics must police every category of purchase or concede, excluding a reasonable middle position.
Respect · no score
Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.
Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.
Clarity · 100
0 of 4 deductions are Clarity
Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.
Nothing lost points.
Claims · 3
This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.
1 “This is a standard accounting tool that is used by banks” Merchant category codes are a standard accounting tool used by banks. search 2 “which is just a four-digit number” Merchant category codes are four-digit numbers. search 3 “Law enforcement needs to go through a legal process to access the financial records here” Law enforcement must go through a legal process to access individuals’ financial records held by banks. search
