argument161 by beetle1986

beetle1986UID: 2431214

TOPIC: ARGUMENT161 - In a study of reading habits of Leeville citizens conducted by the University of Leeville, most respondents said they preferred literary classics as reading material. However, a follow-up study conducted by the same researchers found that the type of book most frequently checked out of each of the public libraries in Leeville was the mystery novel. Therefore, it can be concluded that the respondents in the first study had misrepresented their reading habits.

WORDS: 396          TIME: 00:29:32          DATE: 2008-2-23 下午 01:18:32

In this argument, the author claims that by comparing the two studies of reading habits conducted by the University of Leevile, he/she finds that respondents in the first study failed to represent their reading habits exactly. For several reasons, I am not convinced that this argument is accurate.

To begin with, the precondition of this argument is that the first study is statistical reliable. However, the author fails to provide any evidence to assure it. The details of the first study, such as demographic group, time, manner, and so on, are not informed. No evidence shows that the respondents are representative, so it is entirely possible that the respondents are all students in schools, they like the literary classics in their text books. It is also possible that the study is designed for particular purpose, and the respondents were leaded to give some certain answers. Without these information, it is hasty to draw any conclusion.

In addition, the second study is also specious. First, people can get books from numerous places, such book store, Internet private libraries and so on, public libraries is just one of them. It is possible that people are more likely to read literary classics online, for they are free and need not to drive to library. So conclusion only based on the study of library is unwarranted. Second, there are several reasons can reason why mystery novel were checked out most. It is possible that the number and kinds of literary classics are too small to meet the demand of residents, so even if the literary classics are all checked out every day, the total number is still lower than mystery novel, which has a large amount and various styles.  It is also possible that mystery novels are popular recently, just after the first study.

Finally, even if these two studies are both reliable, the conclusion is still arbitrary. First, some mystery novels are belonging to literary classics. Maybe these books are most popular in the library. Second, the preference of residents would change between the two studies. So, to evaluate this conclusion, we need more information.

To sum up, this argument is simply not reliable. To make this conclusion convincing, these information would be useful: (1) clear evidences that these two studies are reliable; (2) statistics of books people read by any way, which can reveal the reading habit of citizens.

bigyanUID: 2382427

In this argument, the author claims that by comparing the two studies of reading habits conducted by the University of Leevile, he/she finds that respondents in the first study failed to represent their reading habits exactly. For several reasons, I am not convinced that this argument is accurate.

To begin with, the precondition of this argument is that the first study is statistical reliable. However, the author fails to provide any evidence to assure it. The details of the first study, such as demographic group, time, manner, and so on, are not informed. No evidence shows that the respondents are representative, so it is entirely possible that the respondents are all students in schools, they like the literary classics in their text books. It is also possible that the study is designed for particular purpose, and the respondents were leaded to give some certain answers. Without these information, it is hasty to draw any conclusion.(第二组的调查同样也存在这个问题吧，我觉得可以一起说）

In addition, the second study is also specious. First, people can get books from numerous places, such book store, Internet private libraries and so on, public libraries is just one of them. It is possible that people are more likely to read literary classics online, for they are free and need not to drive to library. So conclusion only based on the study of library is unwarranted. Second, there are several reasons can reason why mystery novel were checked out most. It is possible that the number and kinds of literary classics are too small to meet the demand of residents, so even if the literary classics are all checked out every day, the total number is still lower than mystery novel, which has a large amount and various styles.  It is also possible that mystery novels are popular recently, just after the first study.

Finally, even if these two studies are both reliable, the conclusion is still arbitrary. First, some mystery novels are belonging to literary classics. Maybe these books are most popular in the library. Second, the preference of residents would change between the two studies. So, to evaluate this conclusion, we need more information.

To sum up, this argument is simply not reliable. To make this conclusion convincing, these information would be useful: (1) clear evidences that these two studies are reliable; (2) statistics of books people read by any way, which can reveal the reading habit of citizens.

逻辑错误都找到了，论证也没有什么问题
看来咱们的思路不太一样，我是两个一起说的，你是单独说的，也算开阔了我的论证思路呢