argument38 FLY AW小组第二十四次作业

xmbjowlUID: 2182375

In this memo, the arguer recommends that the daily use of Ichthaid, which is a nutritional supplement derived from fish oil, as a sensible means to prevent colds and lower absenteeism. To support the assertion, the memo mentioned a study conducted in nearby East Meria, indicating a cause-and-effect relationship between high fish consumption and low rate of suffering from colds. However, the argument commits a series of fallacies which undermine the recommendation.

In the first place, the frequency of visiting doctors lends little credence to the average healthy condition in East Meria. Perhaps the doctors charge so much fees that patients suffering from colds were all deterred by the terrible fees beyond the average throughout the country. Or perhaps since most kinds of colds are not serious enough that patients inclined to take medicines without consulting the doctors.Or perhaps the economic status in this area is rather poor, even if people experience colds fairly frequently, they cannot afford the high fees charged by the hospitals.

In the second place, even assuming the residents there go to clinics less frequently by virtue of their perfect health condition, the causality between a large amount of fish consumption and lower rate of colds is open to doubt. No evidence is provided that eating a substantial amount of fish can effectively prevent colds. Also, other relevant factors have not been carefully examined, such as the economic status of this area, the everyday diet of ordinay people, and other living habits of residents there.Maybe the citizens in the area take part in more outdoor exercise, or eat more balanced diet .Without ruling out all the other possibilities, the author cannot convince us a causal relationship between the fish consumption and preventing colds do exist.

Even if that a large amount of fish consumption can protect people from colds, it is unsubstantiated to assert that Ichthaid, a nutritional supplement derived from fish oil, could act as the same role as fish, and exert entirely the same function. It is necessary to study which part of fish induces such effects rather than arbitrarily deduce all parts of fish, even a nutritional supplement derived from fish oil, can act as well.Without providing the concrete principle of the new supplement, the claim that it can substitute for the fish in preventing colds is unsounded.

Even assuming that using of Ichthaid can prevent people from colds, it is unreasonable to expect that lower incidence of colds can be responsible for lower absenteeism. Although the report claims the colds serve as the main reason for absenteeism, no evidence is provided that most absences from school and work are really due to catching colds. Suffering from colds may only serve as an excuse for students or workers. The hidden reasons why the absenteesm happens vary from individuals, such as lack of sleeping hours, too much entertainment at night and slacken regulation, which are not given to the report. If so, the improvement of cold prevention will not induce significant changes at all.

In sum, the recommendation stated by the memo above is unsubstantiated. To strengthen the arguer's recommendation, more evidence should be provided, and more detailed information should be investigated, such as the relevant data regarding the amount of patients, the medical function of fish, the of the newly-developed nutritional supplement, as well as the true reason of absenteeism either in school or at work.

[ 本帖最后由 xmbjowl 于 2006-7-2 16:56 编辑 ]

seltaUID: 2157580

觉得用even assuming 来递推挺不错的，学习之～～～～～～