本帖最后由 紫陌纤尘o0 于 2010-10-11 10:00 编辑
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写在前面:AW考完了,偶然看到一个讲逻辑的国外网站(http://atheism.about.com/),回想一下看了N遍的AW INTRO(An Introduction to the Analytical Writing Section of the GRE General Test)发现,其实ETS是在force我们学习逻辑。那么,鄙人就结合AWintro的相关内容分析一下这篇文章。
Why is logic important?
Why bother to learn more about logic and arguments? Does it really matter and does it really help anyone? As a matter of fact, yes it does — and there are several good reasons to take the time to learn more about both topics.
The most immediate and obvious benefit from such a study is that it can allow you to improve the quality of the arguments you use.When you create logically unsound arguments, you are much less likely to convince people that you have a valid point to make, or get them to agree with you. Even if they aren’t familiar with logic, many people will realize that there is something wrong with some fallacious arguments without being able to identify the fallacy involved.
The GRE readers scoring your response are not looking for a "right" answer—in fact, there is no correct
position to take. Instead, the readers are evaluating the skill with which you articulate and develop an
argument to support your position on the issue.
学习逻辑最直接最明显的好处也正是rater在一休方面要evaluate的,即我们组织一个argument的能力。我们所写的issue文章是用来说服rater的,评卷人应该是把我们的一休当作一篇阿狗来看,因此,我们组织论述的能力至关重要。
A second and closely related benefit will be an improved ability to evaluate the arguments of others.
When you understand how arguments are supposed to be constructed and also how they shouldn’t be constructed, you will find all sorts of bad arguments out there. You may even be surprised to find out how many people are swayed by bad arguments.
The purpose of the task is to see how well equipped you are to insightfully analyze an argument written by
someone else and to effectively communicate your critique in writing to an academic audience.
In addition, you should consider the structure of the argument—the way in which these elements are linked
together to form a line of reasoning; that is, you should recognize the separate, sometimes implicit steps in
the thinking process and consider whether the movement from each one to the next is logically sound.
这是rater在阿狗方面要evaluate的,以及准备阿狗的一个较核心的东西——stucture,明白了作者的行文结构也就是搞清楚了逻辑链,这是阿狗入手的基础。
Although you may not realize it immediately, there are arguments all around us vying for our attention and acceptance. We hear arguments that we should buy car A rather than car B. We hear arguments that we should vote for politician Smith rather than for politician Jones. We hear arguments that we should adopt this social policy rather than that social policy.
这些例子在阿狗题目中屡见不鲜了吧,码几个出来瞅瞅~
7The following appeared in a letter to the editor of the Clearview newspaper.
"In the next mayoral election, residents of Clearview should vote for Ann Green, who is a member of the Good Earth Coalition, rather than for Frank Braun, a member of the Clearview town council, because the current members are not protecting our environment. For example, during the past year the number of factories in Clearview has doubled, air pollution levels have increased, and the local hospital has treated 25 percent more patients with respiratory illnesses. If we elect Ann Green, the environmental problems in Clearview will certainly be solved."
116The following appeared in a memo from Grocery Town's regional manager.
"The new Grocery Town store in Elm City, located near a new residential development, has a 'high-low' pricing policy where average prices are relatively high, but deep discounts are offered on some items in weekly specials. This store has been showing increased profits every month as the nearby residential development gets closer to full capacity. It follows that people prefer a pricing policy where they can find bargains on specific items. Since there is a new residential development planned in Oak City, we should change the pricing policy at all of our Oak City stores from our current 'everyday low prices' policy to a 'high-low' policy. This will increase the profits at all of our stores in Oak City."
In all of these cases, people are making or should be making arguments — and because they are trying to get you to believe their conclusions, you have to be able to evaluate those arguments. If you can demonstrate that an argument is sound and valid, not only do you have reason to accept it, but you can also defend this acceptance whenever someone asks you why you have done it.
The task consists of a brief passage in which the author makes a case for some course of action or interpretation of events by presenting claims backed by reasons and evidence. Your task is to discuss the logical soundness of the author's case by critically examining the line of reasoning and the use of evidence.
与intro中对阿狗的说明与要求基本吻合。作者提出一个观点用一些论据来说服你,你所要做的就是通过作者论据运用和论证的过程来分析它的逻辑思路,从而评价这一论述。
Unfortunately, the argument that prevails is usually the one which gets said loudest and last, regardless of its actual validity. When it appeals to people’s emotions, it can even have a better chance of looking superior. But you shouldn’t allow others to fool you into believing their claims just because they were persistent — you need to be able to challenge and question their assertions.
A further benefit will also hopefully be an ability to communicate more clearly and effectively. Muddled writing tends to come from muddled thinking, and that in turn tends to come from a poor understanding of what a person is trying to convey and why. But when you know how an argument should and should not be presented, it will be easier to un-muddle those ideas and reform them into a stronger pattern.
The purpose of the task is to see how well equipped you are to insightfully analyze an argument written by
someone else and to effectively communicate your critique in writing to an academic audience.
更加清晰有效的交流你的观点也是ETS的要求,当然也是graduate school 的要求。
• identify as many of its claims, conclusions, and underlying assumptions as possible
• think of as many alternative explanations and counterexamples as you can
• think of what additional evidence might weaken or lend support to the claims
• ask yourself what changes in the argument would make the reasoning more sound
前三点就是在帮助我们知道how an argument should and should not be presented,最后一点及如何改进这个argument的论述,使之有说服力。
经过以上的分析,我想大家也不难看出,逻辑的重要性在ETS的要求中可以说是随处可见,毕竟AW是取代当年的逻辑部分来考察我们逻辑分析能力的,对一些基本逻辑概念的掌握还是很必要的。
接下来,我会就一些基本的逻辑概念结合我的备考经历和我对AW的认识进行一些分析,作为对寄托的回报,如果对走在挑战ETS路上的战友们能有一丝的启发,将是我最大的欣慰。
——紫陌纤尘 |