Argument167 [0710G突击先锋]同主题训练三

mellon_lUID：2364758

TOPIC: ARGUMENT167 - A folk remedy* for insomnia, the scent in lavender flowers, has now been proved effective. In a recent study, 30 volunteers with chronic insomnia slept each night for three weeks on lavender-scented pillows in a controlled room where their sleep was monitored. During the first week, volunteers continued to take their usual sleeping medication. They slept soundly but wakened feeling tired. During the second week, the volunteers discontinued their medication. As a result, they slept less soundly than the previous week and felt even more tired. During the third week, the volunteers slept longer and more soundly than in the previous two weeks. This shows that over a short period of time lavender cures insomnia.

*A folk remedy is usually a plant-based form of treatment common to traditional forms of medicine, ones that developed before the advent of modern medical services and technology.
WORDS: 362（415）          TIME: 00:30:00(+)          DATE: 2007-8-3 23:01:35

It seems to be convincing that the above argument concludes that over a short period of time lavender cures insomnia basing on a study of 30 volunteers for three weeks. However, so far as I am concerned, the argument is unpersuasive because of several flaws.

To begin with, the credibility of the study is questionable from two aspects. First, the mood of the 30 responds may greatly influence their sleep condition. It is highly possible that because they have already known how this study will be going to process, they substantially believe that they will sleep more soundly when sleeping on the lavender-scented pillows without taking medicine. Therefore, they would really act like what they have expected themselves to do. In addition, 30 people are two few to reflect the condition of the whole group of people who have the symptom of insomnia.

Second, supposing the study is reliable, it is unwarranted to draw the conclusion that the improvement of the symptom is due to the use of lavender-scented pillows. Though one week is left to diminish the effect of usual sleeping medication, whether it still influences people in the third week is open in doubt. Perhaps slight medicine still remains in the body while the side effect of it disappear thus people sleep more soundly and longer. It is also possible that after two weeks of bad sleep condition, they become very tired and finally fall asleep in a better way in the third week.

Furthermore, it is hasty to say that lavender could cure insomnia after only a short period of time. The result of only three weeks are two short to prove the effect of any remedy while it is known that insomnia is a chronic disease. This remedy may be helpful in improving the quality of sleeping in a short period of time, but it cannot cure insomnia. The short study time also leave another problem that whether it will cause side effects. Side effects will usually take place after a long time of test, otherwise, some harmful elements will calculate in human body and at last lead to a more severe problem.

To sum up, the argument is unconvincing because of some logical flaws and lacking enough evidence. To make the argument sounder, the arguer needs to first ensure the credibility of the study, and then provide sufficient evidence to show that the improvement of sleeping quality is due to lavender and finally make clear that lavender indeed cures insomnia.