Argument38【07-10G Superstar大帖】8月6日作文

desirermimiUID: 2108321

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: 546       TIME: 00:30:00          DATE: 2007-8-6 10:42:29

In this argument, the author recommendation that using Ichathaid daily could reduce absenteeism in schools and workplace. In order to justify this recommendation, the author provides the information about nearby East Meria(EM)'s fish consumption and the frequency of going to doctor for cold. Although the argument has some merits, it suffers from some critical problems.

Firstly, one problem with this argument is that no evidence has been offered to prove that the eating a substantiate amount of fish can prevent colds. The author presents an "after this, therefore because of this" reasoning. However, the fact that EM's fish consumption is very high and  people visit the doctor only once or twice per years for the treatment of colds could not prove the former is the reason for the latter. It is entirely possible that people lived in ES like doing sports very much and then prevent they from having cold. Moreover, even if people often catch cold in EM, they might would like to endure the pain of cold than to go to doctor because of fear. Without considering and ruling out these possibilities, it would be sheer folly to contribute the reason of little catching cold to the high fish consumption.

Secondly, even if eating fish has significant effects on preventing colds, there is no evidence has been offered to prove that the Ichthaid could have the same effect. The mere fact that Ichthaid is a nutritional supplement derived from the fish oil in insufficient to conclude that Ichthaid contains some useful elements which are useful for preventing cold.It is entirely possible that the something which could prevent the cold existed in fish does not be contained in fish oil.  Moreover, even if the useful elements are also contained in fish oil, while after deriving process, it equally possible that the elements effect for preventing cold may decrease sharply or disappear. Lacking detailed information about the elements contained in fish oil, the author's recommendation could not be taken seriously.

In addition, even if Ichthaid has come real effect on preventing cold, the author's recommendation raise two serious problems in itself. Firstly, catching cold might not be the real reason for absenteeism in school or workplace but only an excuse and there are some other reasons-- such as people are lazy for work and study or they want to travel for a long time. If so, only decreasing the cold catching can not really prevent the absenteeism effectively because people may find other excuses such as headache or stomachache. Secondly, the author unfairly assumes that no alternative means for lowering the absenteeism except for preventing cold. It is entirely possible that means such as enhancing supervising or taking the reward and punishment into practice also could achieve the desired result. Without considering these possible means, the most effective solution might be ignored.

In sum, the author fails to validate the conclusion that preventing cold can help lower absenteeism. To make it logically acceptable, the author should demonstrate that catching cold is the real reason for absenteeism in study and workplace. In addition, the author would have to provide more concrete evidence, especially the information concerning about the Ichthaid effects and other possible solutions, to rule out the abovementioned possibility that would undermine the author's claim.

[ 本帖最后由 desirermimi 于 2007-8-6 13:02 编辑 ]