argument38 【米国有米第7次作业】请不要留情！

joochangUID: 2265219

TOPIC: ARGUMENT38 - The following memo appeared in the newsletter of the West Meria Public Health Council.

"An innovative treatment has come to our attention that promises to significantly reduce absenteeism in our schools and workplaces. A study reports that in nearby East Meria, where fish consumption is very high, people visit the doctor only once or twice per year for the treatment of colds. Clearly, eating a substantial amount of fish can prevent colds. Since colds are the reason most frequently given for absences from school and work, we recommend the daily use of Ichthaid, a nutritional supplement derived from fish oil, as a good way to prevent colds and lower absenteeism."
WORDS: 402          DATE: 2006-12-30

The argument above represent a relatively sound case for arguing that Ichthaid which is the component of fish oil can prevent colds and even lower absenteeism because in arguer's opinion, colds are the reason most frequently given for absences from school and work.  However, a careful scrutiny of this argument would reveal that it suffers from several fallacies and therefore is unconvincing.

First of all, the arguer's claim that colds are reason most frequently given for absences from school and work is unpersuasive. No evidence is offered to support the assumption. There are a myriad of reasons to absent from school and workplace. For instance, suffering from injury, dyspepsia, headache, and so on. Without ruling out these and other possible reasons, without giving a reasonable survey about the reasons of absenteeism, the arguer cannot claim that colds are the main reason for absences from school and work.

In addition, the casual relationship between eating a substantial amount of fish and seldom getting cold is unwarranted. Perhaps people who live in nearby East Meria also eat other food, which maybe the real reason for seldom getting cold. Or, perhaps the climate in nearby East Meria is mild, and therefore people there seldom suffering from colds. Any of these scenarios, if true, would serve to undermine the claim that eating a substantial amount of fish can prevent colds.

Finally, the arguer unfairly relies on the assumption that Ichthaid, which is derived from fish oil, has something to do with preventing cold. Even if it can be proved that cold can be effectively checked by eating a substantial amount of fish, no evidence is offered to support that Ichthaid is the effective component to prevent cold. It is entirely possible that other components help to keep people from colds. Unless it can be shown that other components in fish is nothing to do with preventing cold, the conclusion that the daily use of Ichthaid is a good way to prevent colds and lower absenteeism.

In sum, the argument has several obvious flaws which render it logically unwarranted as it stands. To strengthen the argument, the arguer should provide clear evidence that colds are the reason most frequently given for absences from school and work. To persuade that eating a substantial amount of fish can prevent colds, more investigation and analysis are needed. Furthermore, to better assess the arguer's claim we would need more information about Ichthaid.

cckantUID: 2247822

TOPIC: ARGUMENT38 - The following memo appeared in the newsletter of the West Meria Public Health Council.

"An innovative treatment has come to our attention that promises to significantly reduce absenteeism in our schools and workplaces. A study reports that in nearby East Meria, where fish consumption is very high, people visit the doctor only once or twice per year for the treatment of colds. Clearly, eating a substantial amount of fish can prevent colds. Since colds are the reason most frequently given for absences from school and work, we recommend the daily use of Ichthaid, a nutritional supplement derived from fish oil, as a good way to prevent colds and lower absenteeism."
WORDS: 402          DATE: 2006-12-30

The argument above represent a relatively sound case (觉得relative sound case是一个比较正面的表述，不妨用occasionally valid case) for arguing that Ichthaid which is the component of fish oil can prevent colds and even lower absenteeism because in arguer's opinion, colds are the reason most frequently given for absences from school and work.  However, a careful scrutiny of this argument would reveal that it suffers from several fallacies and therefore is unconvincing.

First of all, the arguer's claim that colds are the reasons most frequently given for absences from school and work is unpersuasive. No evidence is offered to support the assumption. There are a myriad of reasons to absent from school and workplace. For instance, suffering from injury, dyspepsia, headache, and so on. Without ruling out these and other possible reasons, and without giving a reasonable survey about the reasons of absenteeism, the arguer cannot claim that cold are the main reasons for absences from school and work.

In addition, the casual relationship between eating a substantial amount of fish and seldom getting cold is unwarranted. Perhaps people who live nearby East Meria also eat other food, which may be the real reason for seldom getting cold. Or, perhaps the climate in nearby East Meria is mild, and therefore people there seldom suffering from colds. Any of these scenarios, if true, would serve to undermine the claim that eating a substantial amount of fish can prevent colds.

Finally, the arguer unfairly relies on the assumption that Ichthaid, which is derived from fish oil, has something to do with preventing cold. Even if it can be proved that cold can be effectively checked by eating a substantial amount of fish （argument中似乎没有提到鱼油能阻止感冒的发展，用这作让步是否有点不恰当呢？）, no evidence is offered to support that Ichthaid is the effective component to prevent cold. It is entirely possible that other components help to keep people from colds. Unless it can be shown that other components in fish is nothing to do with preventing cold, the conclusion that the daily use of Ichthaid is a good way to prevent colds and lower absenteeism is invalid句子没写完整.

In sum, the argument has several obvious flaws which render it logically unwarranted as it stands. To strengthen the argument, the arguer should provide clear evidence that colds are the reason most frequently given for absences from school and work. To persuade that eating a substantial amount of fish can prevent colds, more investigation and analysis are needed. Furthermore, to better assess the arguer's claim we would need more information about Ichthaid.

Summary comments:
1.        每个缺陷的驳斥长度恰当，没有过多的叙述
2．明显的逻辑缺陷都攻击到了
3．段首句很明确
4．结尾改进意见丰富