标题: argument85 by [728西安]小红莓 [打印本页] 作者: 小红莓 时间: 2009-7-24 20:36:46 标题: argument85 by [728西安]小红莓
TOPIC: ARGUMENT85 - The following appeared in the letter to an editor of a Myrian newspaper.
"Under Governor Winslow's leadership over the past four years, Myria has enjoyed unprecedented prosperity. Average wage increases this year are higher than they have been at any time since the 1970's, the number of people who report being unemployed has decreased by 10 percent, and construction of new homes is up by one third. In contrast, over the past four years Governor Winslow's opponent, Mr. Homer, has been mayor of a city in which only a small number of new businesses have opened. If Myrians want another four years like the past four years, they should reelect Governor Winslow."
WORDS: 502
TIME: 00:30:00
DATE: 2009-7-24 20:32:36
Merely based on the fact that average wage in Myrian increases are higher that that since the 1970's, the reported unemployed people decreased by 10 percent, and construction of new homes is up by one third under Governor Winslow's leadership, and the fact that the city under Mr. Homer's leadership only had a small number of new businesses opened, the author suggests that myrains should reelect Governor Winslow if they want another four years prosperity. The argument seems logical while careful analysis reveals several critical flaws in it.
To begin with, the author fails to give clear evidence that Myria really enjoyed unprecedented prosperity. Firstly, even if average wage in Myrian increases are higher that that since the 1970's, perhaps the price of all products has increased too and the local people pay more money on daily life than before. In this case, the net income is lower than before. Secondly, even if the number of reported being unemployed people decreased by 10 percent, perhaps there are more unemployed people who are not reported. Or perhaps the total number of the Myria decreased because of the depression there and therefore the number of unemployed people decreased.
Next, the author fails to give enough evidence that the economy in the city governed by Mr. Homer is really bad. Even if only had a small number of new businesses opened there, perhaps the traditional businesses are working well and make even more profit than before under Mr. Homer's govern. Without given the average wages, net income, number of unemployed people and other important information, the author could not convince me that the economy in the city governed by Mr. Homer is really bad.
And, even if the economy in the city governed by Mr. Homer is really worse than Myria, there are many other possibilities that could explain it. Perhaps the city governed by Mr. Homer had a weaker condition before this four years and Mr. Homer has boost the local economy in a large extent, while on the contrary, Myria is a large highly developed city even four years ago. Perhaps the prosperity in Myria is not brought by the struggling of local people or some other leaders rather than Governor Winslow. Without ruling out all possible reasons, the arguer's suggestion is unconvincing.
What's more, even if Mr. Homer does not have the ability to benefit the local people, perhaps there are other candidates who are better than Governor Winslow and in this case the author has a false dilemma. Without given the detailed information of other candidates, it's too hasty to conclude that Governor Winslow is the best one and should be reelected.
To sum up, the argument is unconvincing as it stands. To strengthen it, the author should give clear evidence to show that Myria really enjoyed unprecedented prosperity while the city governed by Mr. Homer not, and it's the reason of Governor Winslow. To better assess it, I should also know there is no other candidate who is better than Governor Winslow.作者: 浪迹天涯000 时间: 2010-3-5 00:20:10