Basics
The second section of Reasoning Through Language Arts evaluates your ability to integrate reading and writing by way of a 45-minute Extended Response. GED guidelines specify that you will be asked to write an essay about the best-supported position—the most persuasive side of an argument—presented in two passages with opposing points of view. Accordingly, you will need to produce evidence supporting the most convincing position from either Passage I or Passage II. Attention to specific details within the passages will help you find the necessary pieces of evidence.
GED.com has excellent resources to help prepare for the Extended Response as follows:
• poster
• videos
• guidelines – english
• guidelines – spanish
• quick tips – english
• quick tips – spanish
• practice passages – english
• practice passages – spanish
Here, at HowtoPasstheGED.com, a five-paragraph essay will be used as a framework for writing an Extended Response.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Outline
Paragraph 1: Introduction of your position with three supporting points.
Paragraph 2: Discussion of first point.
Paragraph 3: Discussion of second point.
Paragraph 4: Discussion of third point.
Paragraph 5: Summary and Conclusion of your position and its three supporting points.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Choose (Before You Write)
• Read Passage I and Passage II.
• Choose the best-supported position.
• Select three points supporting this position.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Beginner Level (You’re Up and Running!)
• Write the first sentence of each of the five paragraphs.
• In paragraph 1, introduce your position and its three supporting points.
• In paragraph 2, put down the first point.
• In paragraph 3, put down the second point.
• In paragraph 4, put down the third point.
• In paragraph 5, restate your position and its three supporting points.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Intermediate Level (You’re Adding On!)
• In paragraph 1, introduce your position and its three supporting points.
• In paragraph 2, write at least three sentences about the first point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 3, write at least three sentences about the second point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 4, write at least three sentences about the third point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 5, restate your position and its three supporting points, including coming to a conclusion about them.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Advanced Level (Polish Your Essay If You Have Time)
• In paragraph 1, introduce your position and its three supporting points.
• In paragraph 2, write at least three sentences about the first point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 3, write at least three sentences about the second point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 4, write at least three sentences about the third point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 5, restate your position and its three supporting points, including coming to a conclusion about them.
The example below goes over the process of writing a five-paragraph essay as an Extended Response to Passage I versus Passage II.
Passage I
Organ Donation from Euthanasia is a Good Idea
In Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain, a total of 286 people who sought euthanasia provided organs to save the lives of 837 people. Almost half of those donors, 136, came from Canada.
When applied to a human being, euthanasia is the act of ending the life of a person with a hopeless, painful, incurable disease. After obtaining the person’s consent, one or more drugs are given in order to bring about a painless death. The practice of euthanasia is also referred to as Medical Assistance In Dying (MAID). In addition, euthanasia has been called mercy killing.
Usable donors suffer from diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Arthur Schafer, director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba, is proud that “Canadian patients who receive medical assistance in dying have been given the opportunity to make something morally significant out of their death, by opting to give life through their organs to other patients.”
– adapted from VOA (01/22/2023)
Passage II
Organ Donation from Euthanasia is a Bad Idea
A study published in the December 2022 issue of the American Journal of Transplantation finds Canada leading the world in harvesting organs from those who received medical assistance in dying.
Nicole Scheidl, executive director of Ottawa-based Physicians for Life, had a strongly negative reaction to the article.
“I was shocked,” she said. “I also think that it really undermines the organ donation framework in this country.”
A longtime opponent of any form of euthanasia, Scheidl said it reminds her of suspected organ harvesting of executed prisoners in places such as the People’s Republic of China.
“I think people are concerned,” she said. “I know transplant teams would want to make sure that individuals who were euthanized were not coerced.”
Scheidl added that more questions should be asked about euthanasia in Canada. She said there is not enough oversight or data collection, and it is being expanded too fast.
– adapted from VOA (01/22/2023)
Prompt
Passage I tilts toward organ donation from euthanasia being a good idea; Passage II tilts toward organ donation from euthanasia being a bad idea. In your response, analyze the positions presented in Passage I and Passage II to determine which passage is best supported. Use relevant and specific evidence to back your choice. You have 45 minutes to plan, type, and edit your response.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Outline
Paragraph 1: Introduction of your position with three supporting points.
Paragraph 2: Discussion of first point.
Paragraph 3: Discussion of second point.
Paragraph 4: Discussion of third point.
Paragraph 5: Summary and Conclusion of your position and its three supporting points.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Choose (Before You Write)
• Read Passage I and Passage II.
• Choose the best-supported position.
In this example, Passage I is chosen as the best-supported position.
• Select three points supporting this position.
(1) Euthanasia is well defined.
(2) Organ donation from euthanasia saves lives.
(3) Organ donation from euthanasia is ethical.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Beginner Level (You’re Up and Running!)
• Write the first sentence of each of the five paragraphs.
• In paragraph 1, introduce your position and its three supporting points.
• In paragraph 2, put down the first point.
• In paragraph 3, put down the second point.
• In paragraph 4, put down the third point.
• In paragraph 5, restate your position and its three supporting points.
Passage I is the best-supported position because euthanasia is well defined, organ donation from euthanasia saves lives, and organ donation from euthanasia is ethical.
Euthanasia is well defined.
Organ donation from euthanasia saves lives.
Organ donation from euthanasia is ethical.
In summary, Passage I is the best-supported position because euthanasia is well defined, organ donation from euthanasia saves lives, and organ donation from euthanasia is ethical.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Intermediate Level (You’re Adding On!)
• In paragraph 1, introduce your position and its three supporting points.
• In paragraph 2, write at least three sentences about the first point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 3, write at least three sentences about the second point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 4, write at least three sentences about the third point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 5, restate your position and its three supporting points, including coming to a conclusion about them.
Passage I is the best-supported position because euthanasia is well defined, organ donation from euthanasia saves lives, and organ donation from euthanasia is ethical.
Euthanasis is well defined. Passage I clearly defines euthanasia as the practice of ending the life of a person with a “hopeless, painful, incurable disease.” Passage II makes no attempt to define euthanasia, making the topic hard to discuss.
Organ donation from euthanasia saves lives. As Passage I notes, for every Medical Assistance In Dying (MAID) case, more than one organ was harvested, resulting in more than one life saved. Despite Passage II’s opposition to MAID, it’s hard to argue with math.
Organ donation from euthanasia is ethical. Passage II is concerned that euthanasia is the same everywhere, citing the suspected harvesting of organs from “executed prisoners in places such as the People’s Republic of China.” However, the organ donors cited from such countries as Canada in Passage I have chosen MAID of their own free will. Giving people a choice is ethical.
In summary, Passage I is the best-supported position because euthanasia is well defined, organ donation from euthanasia saves lives, and organ donation from euthanasia is ethical.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Advanced Level (Polish Your Essay If You Have Time)
• In paragraph 1, introduce your position and its three supporting points.
• In paragraph 2, write at least three sentences about the first point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 3, write at least three sentences about the second point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 4, write at least three sentences about the third point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 5, restate your position and its three supporting points, including coming to a conclusion about them.
Passage I is the best-supported position because euthanasia is well defined, organ donation from euthanasia saves lives, and organ donation from euthanasia is ethical.
Euthanasia is well defined. Passage I goes to great lengths to define euthanasia as the practice of ending the life of a person with a “hopeless, painful, incurable disease.” By clearly defining euthanasia, Passage I eliminates any concern that euthanasia can be used for the wrong reason. Although Passage II is against euthanasia for any reason, it makes no attempt at definition, rendering discussion of an opposing point of view problematic.
Organ donation from euthanasia saves lives. As Passage I notes, for every 286 people who sought euthanasia, donated organs saved the lives of 837 people. This math obviously means that for every Medical Assistance In Dying (MAID) case, more than one organ was harvested, resulting in more than one life saved. Despite Passage II’s opposition to MAID, it’s impossible to argue with math.
Organ donation from euthanasia is ethical. Nicole Scheidl, executive director of Ottawa-based Physicians for Life, is concerned in Passage II that euthanasia is the same everywhere, citing the suspected harvesting of organs from “executed prisoners in places such as the People’s Republic of China.” However, Arthur Schafer, director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba, is rightfully proud in Passage I that “Canadian patients who receive medical assistance in dying have been given the opportunity to make something morally significant out of their death, by opting to give life through their organs to other patients.” What could be more ethical than giving organ donors from such free countries as Canada the opportunity to exercise their own free will?
In summary, Passage I is the best-supported position because euthanasia is well defined, organ donation from euthanasia saves lives, and organ donation from euthanasia is ethical. In particular, Passage I leads to the conclusion that organ donation by way of euthanasia is a good idea, because it extends the lives of the dead by living on through the living.
Remember, the RLA Extended Response is based on what YOU determine to be the best-supported position presented in either Passage I or Passage II.
In order to demonstrate that YOU have room to maneuver, the example below goes over the process of writing a five-paragraph essay as an Extended Response to Passage I versus Passage II with a different choice.
Passage I
Organ Donation from Euthanasia is a Good Idea
In Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain, a total of 286 people who sought euthanasia provided organs to save the lives of 837 people. Almost half of those donors, 136, came from Canada.
When applied to a human being, euthanasia is the act of ending the life of a person with a hopeless, painful, incurable disease. After obtaining the person’s consent, one or more drugs are given in order to bring about a painless death. The practice of euthanasia is also referred to as Medical Assistance In Dying (MAID). In addition, euthanasia has been called mercy killing.
Usable donors suffer from diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Arthur Schafer, director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba, is proud that “Canadian patients who receive medical assistance in dying have been given the opportunity to make something morally significant out of their death, by opting to give life through their organs to other patients.”
– adapted from VOA (01/22/2023)
Passage II
Organ Donation from Euthanasia is a Bad Idea
A study published in the December 2022 issue of the American Journal of Transplantation finds Canada leading the world in harvesting organs from those who received euthanasia, also known as Medical Assistance In Dying (MAID).
Nicole Scheidl, executive director of Ottawa-based Physicians for Life, had a strongly negative reaction to the article.
“I was shocked,” she said. “I also think that it really undermines the organ donation framework in this country.”
A longtime opponent of any form of euthanasia, Scheidl said it reminds her of suspected organ harvesting of executed prisoners in places such as the People’s Republic of China.
“I think people are concerned,” she said. “I know transplant teams would want to make sure that individuals who were euthanized were not coerced.”
Scheidl added that more questions should be asked about euthanasia in Canada. She said there is not enough oversight or data collection, and it is being expanded too fast.
– adapted from VOA (01/22/2023)
Prompt
Passage I tilts toward organ donation from euthanasia being a good idea; Passage II tilts toward organ donation from euthanasia being a bad idea. In your response, analyze the positions presented in Passage I and Passage II to determine which passage is best supported. Use relevant and specific evidence to back your choice. You have 45 minutes to plan, type, and edit your response.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Outline
Paragraph 1: Introduction of your position with three supporting points.
Paragraph 2: Discussion of first point.
Paragraph 3: Discussion of second point.
Paragraph 4: Discussion of third point.
Paragraph 5: Summary and Conclusion of your position and its three supporting points.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Choose (Before You Write)
• Read Passage I and Passage II.
• Choose the best-supported position.
In this example, Passage II is chosen as the best-supported position.
• Select three points supporting this position.
(1) Euthanasia is poorly defined.
(2) Organ donation from euthanasia saves few lives.
(3) Organ donation from euthanasia is unethical.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Beginner Level (You’re Up and Running!)
• Write the first sentence of each of the five paragraphs.
• In paragraph 1, introduce your position and its three supporting points.
• In paragraph 2, put down the first point.
• In paragraph 3, put down the second point.
• In paragraph 4, put down the third point.
• In paragraph 5, restate your position and its three supporting points.
Passage II is the best-supported position because euthanasia is poorly defined, organ donation from euthanasia saves few lives, and organ donation from euthanasia is unethical.
Euthanasia is poorly defined.
Organ donation from euthanasia saves few lives.
Organ donation from euthanasia is unethical.
In summary, Passage II is the best-supported position because euthanasia is poorly defined, organ donation from euthanasia saves few lives, and organ donation from euthanasia is unethical.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Intermediate Level (You’re Adding On!)
• In paragraph 1, introduce your position and its three supporting points.
• In paragraph 2, write at least three sentences about the first point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 3, write at least three sentences about the second point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 4, write at least three sentences about the third point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 5, restate your position and its three supporting points, including coming to a conclusion about them.
Passage II is the best-supported position because euthanasia is poorly defined, organ donation from euthanasia saves few lives, and organ donation from euthanasia is unethical.
Euthanasia is poorly defined. Passage II does not attempt to define the ambiguous subject of euthanasia. Meanwhile, Passage I does a poor job of defining euthanasia, making discussion of the topic difficult.
Organ donation from euthanasia saves few lives. Passage II does not attempt to count how many people die from euthanasia and how many lives are saved as a result of organ donation. The numbers cited in Passage I seem awfully small.
Organ donation from euthanasia is unethical. While Passage I is proud of organ donation from euthanasia, Passage II rightfully raises concerns regarding similarities to the suspected harvesting of organs from “executed prisoners in places such as the People’s Republic of China.” Organ donation from people with no choice in the matter is unethical.
In summary, Passage II is the best-supported position because euthanasia is poorly defined, organ donation from euthanasia saves few lives, and organ donation from euthanasia is unethical.
Five-Paragraph Essay – Advanced Level (Polish Your Essay If You Have Time)
• In paragraph 1, introduce your position and its three supporting points.
• In paragraph 2, write at least three sentences about the first point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 3, write at least three sentences about the second point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 4, write at least three sentences about the third point, including mentioning something from the other side.
• In paragraph 5, restate your position and its three supporting points, including coming to a conclusion about them.
Passage II is the best-supported position because euthanasia is poorly defined, organ donation from euthanasia saves few lives, and organ donation from euthanasia is unethical.
Euthanasia is poorly defined. Passage II steers clear of defining the highly charged concept of euthanasia. Meanwhile, Passage I does a poor job of defining euthanasia, swinging from ending the life of a patient with a “hopeless, painful, incurable disease” to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) to mercy killing. Given Passage I’s explicative struggles, how is mercy killing different from killing?
Organ donation from euthanasia saves few lives. Passage II does not attempt to count how many people die from euthanasia and how many lives are subsequently saved as a result of organ donation. The numbers cited in Passage I are miniscule and do not constitute a trend, especially because they do not account for how many recipients would have received organs from conventional donors (who would have died by conventional means).
Organ donation from euthanasia is unethical. While Passage I’s Arthur Schafer, director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba, is proud that “Canadian patients who receive medical assistance in dying have been given the opportunity to make something morally significant out of their death,” Nicole Scheidl, executive director of Ottawa-based Physicians for Life, is rightfully concerned in Passage II that donation from euthanasia is tantamount to the suspected harvesting of organs from “executed prisoners in places such as the People’s Republic of China.” Scheidl then cogently wonders how many Canadian patients might have been coerced into euthanasia for the sake of organ donation. Organ donation from people with little to no free will is unethical.
In summary, Passage II is the best-supported position because euthanasia is poorly defined, organ donation from euthanasia saves few lives, and organ donation from euthanasia is unethical. In particular, Passage II leads to the conclusion that organ donation by way of euthanasia is a bad idea, because it is a matter of life, death, and the unknown.