TOPIC: ARGUMENT51 - The following appeared in a medical newsletter.
"Doctors have long suspected that secondary infections may keep some patients from healing quickly after severe muscle strain. This hypothesis has now been proved by preliminary results of a study of two groups of patients. The first group of patients, all being treated for muscle injuries by Dr. Newland, a doctor who specializes in sports medicine, took antibiotics regularly throughout their treatment. Their recuperation time was, on average, 40 percent quicker than typically expected. Patients in the second group, all being treated by Dr. Alton, a general physician, were given sugar pills, although the patients believed they were taking antibiotics. Their average recuperation time was not significantly reduced. Therefore, all patients who are diagnosed with muscle strain would be well advised to take antibiotics as part of their treatment."
In this argument, the author claims that all patients who are diagnosed with muscle strain would be well advised to take antibiotics as part of their treatment. In order to support his point of view, the author cites a study of two groups of patients that members of the group who take antibiotics recover much quicker. However, the argument suffers from several logical fallacies.
To begin with, if the members of the two groups are otherwise essentially the same remains to be a question. In all likelihood, the conditions of members of the two groups are different. For that matter, one group is consisted of healthy people while the other is not. Therefore more information should be provided so as to substantiate the author's viewpoint.
In the following place, the doctor's medical level may also different which is a significantly important point in the process of treating. At the same time, the two groups may not use the same medicine. These scenarios should be taken into account and excluded to strengthen the argument.
Thirdly, the author fails to account for the size of the sample. Only one experiment does not necessarily justify the conclusion, that is, the sample may not be statistically reliable and sufficiently representative. The study upon which the author draws the conclusion that taking antibiotics helps to healing depends is unsubstantiated.
Before I come to my conclusion, I have to point another flaw in the argument that the effect of sugar pills is overlooked. Perhaps the sugar pills have a particular effect to prevent muscle strain being cured. Or maybe the change of one's mood will result in different situations. Thus the author should tell us more for further explanation.
In conclusion, only the above--mentioned conditions such like the different features are neglected are all ruled out can I abandon the idea that the author' view is unconvincing.
In this argument, the author claims that all patients who are diagnosed with muscle strain would be well advised to take antibiotics as part of their treatment. In order to support his point of view, the author cites a study of two groups of patients that members of the group who take antibiotics recover much quicker. However, the argument suffers from several logical fallacies.
To begin with, if the members of the two groups are otherwise essentially the same remains to be a question.(这句有问题吧?用WHETHER是不是好一些?) In all likelihood, the conditions of members of the two groups are different. For that matter, one group is consisted of healthy people while the other is not.(???题目里说了,两组都是病人啊~~~这里确实是一个攻击点,但都是病人,所以最好不要说是否HEALTHY,可以说两组病人的体质不一样) Therefore more information should be provided so as to substantiate the author's viewpoint.
In the following place, the doctor's medical level may also different which is a significantly important point in the process of treating. At the same time, the two groups may not use the same medicine.(确实是用了不同的药啊?!) These scenarios should be taken into account and excluded to strengthen the argument.
Thirdly, the author fails to account for the size of the sample. Only one experiment does not necessarily justify the conclusion, that is, the sample may not be statistically reliable and sufficiently representative. The study upon which the author draws the conclusion that taking antibiotics helps to healing depends is unsubstantiated.
Before I come to my conclusion, I have to point another flaw in the argument that the effect of sugar pills is overlooked. Perhaps the sugar pills have a particular effect to prevent muscle strain being cured. Or maybe the change of one's mood will result in different situations. Thus the author should tell us more for further explanation.
In conclusion, only the above--mentioned conditions such like the different features are neglected are all ruled out can I abandon the idea that the author' view is unconvincing.