issue208 argument 51为我所用第四次作业

jenniferganUID: 2443583

TOPIC: ISSUE208 - "The way people look, dress, and act reveals their attitudes and interests. You can tell much
about a society's ideas and values by observing the appearance and behavior of its people."
WORDS: 563          TIME: 00:45:25          DATE: 2008-3-26 20:31:02

Whether the way people look, dress, and act is a mirror image of their attitudes and interests? The statement claims
that the out looking of people is such a sensitive reflection of their attitudes that one can tell about a society’
s ideas and values by simply analyzing this reflection. On balance, I basically agree with the notion which
emphasizes the importance of people’s appearance in judging the social beliefs, however we should not magnify this
significance and neglect those characteristic values of a society that are so deep and hidden that cannot be
accurately embodied by the exterior looking of people.

The preference in dressing effectively mirrors people’s aesthetic values and inclinations which are determined by
the personality. Chinese people would like to dress themselves formally under most circumstances in order to show
their sobriety and moderation. Americans prefer anything that could express their personality and therefore they
always wear colorful clothing. The French, who are prestigious for their romantic dispositions, define “beauty” as
a form of romance. And their dressings are always impressive in their explicit way of expressing love. Judging from
this aspect, we could tell about people’s personality by their inclination in dressing.

An alternation in values and social criteria of aesthetics of a nation is always directly indicated and presented by
a corresponding change in people’s dressing. People are the most sensitive receptors to the reform in the values of
a society. When China carried out its open policy in the 1980s, fresh ideas in dressing flock into this conservative
land and changed the social criteria of beauty and fashion. What people wore are no longer those uniforms that were
made with cloths in the color of either blue or black. Now when you take a walk in Beijing, there’s hardly any
difference in people’s preference of clothing between the residents and their counterparts in those world famous
fashion cities. As the component of society, people always act in accordance with social changes.

However, the function of people’s exterior appearance is normally limited to a shallow level, that is to say, when
it comes to the fundamental elements of the value of a society, such as moral disciplines, which require a
continuously observation and study, we need to rely on historical records and other statistical evidence which
indicates the overall development of these elements. For example, in many counties, divorce is considered as a
betrayal to the marriage instead of a democratic and personal choice of living as other nations believe. As to such
kind of social beliefs, the way people dress themselves cannot possibly indicate a hint. After all, people’s
exterior appearance is only sensitive to their own personality and those social values that are directly relevant to
their behaviors and identification. However, the moral disciplines of a society are a lifelong process of
accumulation which alters every minute in accordance with other aspects of the society. Consequently, a stable and
continuous record is necessary to analyze and study the background and overall developing trend of the discipline,
which may help to draw a complete conclusion of the object.

In sum, even though the effectiveness of people’s appearance in revealing a society’s basic ideas and values
should not be denied, some interior values of the society cannot be simply reflected by the way people dress and
acts, and therefore it required us to resort to more reliable information.

TOPIC: ARGUMENT51 - The following appeared in a medical newsletter.
"Doctors have long suspected that secondary infections may keep some patients from healing quickly after severe
muscle strain. This hypothesis has now been proved by preliminary results of a study of two groups of patients. The
first group of patients, all being treated for muscle injuries by Dr. Newland, a doctor who specializes in sports
medicine, took antibiotics regularly throughout their treatment. Their recuperation time was, on average, 40 percent
quicker than typically expected. Patients in the second group, all being treated by Dr. Alton, a general physician,
were given sugar pills, although the patients believed they were taking antibiotics. Their average recuperation time
was not significantly reduced. Therefore, all patients who are diagnosed with muscle strain would be well advised to
take antibiotics as part of their treatment."
WORDS: 424          TIME: 00:30:36          DATE: 2008-3-26 20:31:02

Before accepting that all patients with muscle strain would be better to take antibiotics, the reasoning in this
argument could be questioned from several aspects. The arguer conducts the conclusion from a doctors' hypothesis
without considering different symptoms and physical conditions and fitness between different patients.

To begin with, it is not cogent that antibiotic is helpful for all patients with muscle strain as the arguer
asserts. What is impossible is that all muscle strain causes an infection to patients. For example, as is known to
us all, many people may get muscle strain, which is just a slight muscle pulled, when they are exercising. The
patients just need to put some ointment on sore skin or wound to help it heal, such as Voltaren. In this way, they
will recuperate soon without taking antibiotics. In addition, even if some muscle strain will cause infection, it is
entirely possible that patients and doctors will be careful to avoid the secondary infection after the first time.

Furthermore, even if antibiotic plays a significant role in muscle strain recuperation, does it mean that all
patients could take it without any consideration about disadvantage to health it brings? The arguer is blind to its
side-effect which is harmful to patients. For instance, the patients, who are allergic to antibiotics, could not
take antibiotics. After taking antibiotics, they will become ill or get a rash. Further, antibiotics could cause a
more serious result to certain kinds of patients, such as children and pregnant women. In fact, it is because of its
damage to growing audition system that children and pregnant women should avoid taking antibiotics.

In addition, the result based on the study is not convincing. There is no evidence can illuminate antibiotic is the
only factor affects the time of recuperation. It is an unfair comparison between two groups if their members are not
the same career and in the same age. These factors also determine the time of recuperation in a certain extent. For
example, the patients in first group may be young and vigorous athletes, and patients in the other group may be
middle-aged office clerks. Obviously that, because of the better physical fitness athletes own, they could recover
in less time than those clerks.

After a scrutiny, it is clear that we can not safely reach the conclusion that all patients who are diagnosed with
muscle strain would be well advised to take antibiotics as part of their treatment. And the arguer needs to choose
samples more carefulness and rigor to support the statement.


有参考别人的，今天状态不佳，不好意思啊！