Argument35求拍

littlevinaUID: 2654512

TOPIC: ARGUMENT35 - The following appeared in the summary of a study on headaches suffered by the residents of Mentia.

"Salicylates are members of the same chemical family as aspirin, a medicine used to treat headaches. Although many foods are naturally rich in salicylates, for the past several decades food-processing companies have also been adding salicylates to foods as preservatives. This rise in the commercial use of salicylates has been found to correlate with a steady decline in the average number of headaches reported by participants in our twenty-year study. Recently, food-processing companies have found that salicylates can also be used as flavor additives for foods. With this new use for salicylates, we can expect a continued steady decline in the number of headaches suffered by the average citizen of Mentia."
WORDS: 410
TIME: 00:43:00
DATE: 2010-3-19 16:15:12

Basis on some facts and analysis, the arguer arrives at a conclusion that less people will suffer headaches in Mentia due to new use of salicylates which are members of the same chemical family as aspirin. These facts including salicylates are used as preservatives and flavor additives in food. And the result of a 20- year study showing decreasing number of population suffering headaches.
However, the arguer's conclusion is unpersuasive for several reasons as follows.

To begin with, the argument fails to substantiate salicylates can cure headaches as it claimed. Even has same chemical family with aspirin, the foundation of salicylates is unknown from the statement. As we all know that same chemical family of two things does not mean same foundation especially in medicine. It is quite possible that salicylates would lead severe headaches. If it is the case, the conclusion is totally wrong.

In the second place, even it is true that salicylates can lead decline of suffering headaches, the study cannot explain that fewer participants suffering headaches is due to commercial use of salicylates. The author overlooks lots of other crucial factors which affect decreasing of headaches happened. For instance, participants reported fewer headaches is contribute to take regular exercises and healthy diet and better medicine treatment. For that matter, salicylates used in commercial way is not related to decline of headaches. Without ruling out these possibilities, the argument's conclusion is meaningless.

The last but not the least, the argument's conclusion that residents who suffer headaches in Mentia will be fewer basis on new use of salicylates is unreliable. Firstly, the statement offers no evidence citizen of Mentia eat the products which contain salicylates. Even with the truth
salicylates used in commercial way and it can treat headaches, if the citizen do not buy the products and eat them, the effects of salicylates is meaningless. Secondly, predict of the decreasing population suffering headaches is ungrounded. Even residents eat products containing salicylates, it is quite possible that more poeple in Mentia will suffer more headaches for heavy pressure and unhealthy diet. For that matter, the number of people suffering headaches will not decline.

To sum up, the author's conclusion is unwarranted and hasty. To strengthen the conclusion, more details about salicylates can treat headaches should be provided. In addition, the arguer should show that salicylates used in commercial ways play the only rule of leading decreasing headaches occurrence. Moreover, we need know more information to ensure citizen of Mentia will suffer fewer headaches in future.