Stock issue 1: Is there really a problem here that needs to be solved? Is it really true that a large number of student writers wont take risks in their writing? Is this problem more serious than other writing problems such as undeveloped ideas, lack of organization, and poor sentence structure? This stock issue invites the writer to convince her audience that a true problem exists. Conversely, an opponent to the proposal may argue that a true problem does not exist.

Stock issue 2: Will the proposed solution really solve this problem? Is it true that a pass/fail grading system will cause students to take more risks with their writing? Will more interesting, surprising, and creative essays result from pass/fail grading? Or will students simply put less effort into their writing? This stock issue prompts a supporter to demonstrate that the proposal will solve the problem; in contrast, it prompts the opponent to show that the proposal wont work.

Stock issue 3: Can the problem be solved more simply, without disturbing the status quo? An opponent of the proposal may agree that a problem exists and that the proposed solution might solve it. However, the opponent may say, Are there not less radical ways to solve this problem? If we want more creative and risk-taking student essays, cant we just change our grading criteria so that we reward risky papers and penalize conventional ones? This stock issue prompts supporters to show that only the proposed solution will solve the problem and that no minor tinkering with the status quo will be adequate. Conversely, opponents will argue that the problem can be solved without acting on the proposal.