Argument38 [OB小组]_第9次作业

ldongxpUID: 2311083

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: 376          TIME: 00:30:00          DATE: 2007-7-21 16:11:22

In this argument, the author recommends that use lchthaid daily to prevent colds and lower absenteeism. To support this recommendation, the author cites a study in nearby East Meria where people eat a lot of fish and visit doctor only once or twice per year for treatment of cold and colds are the reason most frequently given for absences from school and work. However, this argument suffers from several critical flaws and is therefore unconvincing as it stands.

First of all, the author assumes that the absenteeism in schools and workplaces is due to colds. The fact that colds are the reason most frequently given for absenteeism in West Meria doesn't mean that colds are the real reason for absenteeism. Perhaps most people absent leave work for shopping and take colds as excuses for absenteeism. Or perhaps the reason of absenteeism is some disease that is similar to cold and people mistake it for cold. Without ruling out these and other possibilities, the author cannot make a persuasive recommendation based on this assumption.

Secondly, the result of the study does not necessarily indicate that eating sufficient fish can prevent colds. There might be no causal relation between eating fish and preventing colds. Perhaps the people in East Meria also have sufficient vegetables that really prevent colds. Or perhaps the water in East Meria helps people there prevent colds. If either scenario above was true, the author cannot convince me.

Thirdly, even assuming that eating enough fish can prevent colds, the author unfairly assumes that lchthaid can prevent colds. There are so many materials in the body of fish and without evidence the author is not able to make such an assumption.

Finally, the author overlooks the differences between West Meria and East Meria. There are so many factors that may be different between West Meria and East Meria. Perhaps there are more trees in East Meria and the air there is clearer, which helps prevent cold. Or perhaps people in East Meria have better bodies so that they have fewer chances to catch cold. Eating sufficient fish may not lead to the same result in East Meria without accounting for such and other dissimilarities.

In sum, this argument is unpersuasive as it stands. To bolster the conclusion, the author must provide clear evidence that the absenteeism in West Meria is due to colds and eating sufficient fish can prevent colds. To better assess the conclusion, more information about the absenteeism in West Meria and more detail about the situation in East Meria are needed.

phillipsareaUID: 2318537

帮你看了,论述的很好,没什么大问题,可以CONVINCE别人..

P.S 那个ichthaid是什么意思啊???我写的时候没注意,PM我.