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TOPIC: ARGUMENT162 - A recent study shows that people living on the continent of North America suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people living on the continent of Asia. Interestingly, Asians, on average, eat 20 grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans eat virtually none. It turns out that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. Thus, North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression.
WORDS: 444 TIME: 00:30:00 DATE: 2008-8-3 10:37:47
In this argument, the speaker recommends that North Americans (NAs) should eat soy on a regular basis to prevent fatigue and depression. To support his recommendation, he points out that Asians suffer less fatigue and depression that the NAs, and the Asians eat soy per day. Also, he cites that the isoflavones (I) contained in soy can prevent disease. However, the argument is specious several grounds, rendering it problematic as it stands.
Firstly, the speaker cites that Asians suffers less fatigue and depression than the NAs for they eat soy per day. Yet, the casual relationship between eating soy per day and less suffering fatigue and depression is unwarranted. No evidence is offered to provide that due to eating soy per day, the Asians suffer less fatigue and depression. To establish this casual relationship, the speaker must consider or eliminate this or other possible factor, for example, the NAs is more easier to suffer the fatigue and depression for their genetic factor, or because of the environment condition, the NAs will feel more depress, or the Asians less suffer the fatigue for they like sports. Without considering and eliminating these and those possibilities, I cannot accept the speakers claim.
Secondly, the speaker points out that the I containing in soy have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. Whereas, the speaker unfairly assumes that the I are the properties which can prevent fatigue and depression. Common sense tells us that diseases are sorted to different kinds, and each has different cause. Perhaps the I can control high blood-pressure, and have nothing effective on the fatigue and depression. If it is the case, it will be ineffective for the NAs to eat soy to cure their chronic fatigue and depression.
Finally, the speaker must consider other negative effect when he hastily makes the suggestion. The speaker should consider the side-effect of eating soy per day. If eating soy per day will harm the heart health, the suggestion cannot be made. Or perhaps, the NAs will be sensitive for the properties I, which will cause the rashes on face. Even if the soy is indeed benefit for the NAs' fatigue and depression, other factors such as their attitude to soy, price must be considered. Lacking of these information, the recommendation cannot convince me.
In conclusion, the argument has several patent flaws which render it logically unpersuasive as it stands. To strengthen the argument, further investigation and analysis are needed. To persuade me that eating soy is effective on the fatigue and depression, the speaker would need to provide clear evidence. Furthermore, to better assess the argument, we need more information about the properties I and its side-effect. |
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