=七月流火=小组第3次小组作业 argue 167 by zx1532

zx15328UID: 2678014

In this argument, the author make a conclusion that the scent in lavender flowers is effective to cure insomnia. To support it , the author conduct a experiment in which 30 volunteers were arranged in a controlled room and slept each night for three weeks on lavender-scent pillows. By observing the difference reaction of them in three weeks .,however ,the author provide
little credible evidence to certify his conclusion.

Firstly, during the periods of experiment ,the author fails to give definition of insomnia. Only recording how long a person sleeps and how tired a person after sleep cannot to judge that whether this person suffer from insomnia. Without concerning the correct definition of insomnia, the outcome of the experiment should not be concerned as a ground evidence to support his conclusion

During the first week , volunteers slept more soundly and awakened less tired than they did during the second week. The fact only show that they have a better sleep during the first week. We don’t know that it is lavender-sent or the sleeping medication contribute to the better sleep. It proves noting about the effectiveness of lavender

Another fundamental problem is that the author report only that the volunteers slept longer and more soundly than in the previous two weeks, but give no information about whether the volunteers accepted other cures or medication before the third week experiment. I concede that lavender–scent may be a effective reason for the results, but there are also a variety of
potential factors relate to the third week ‘s situation . As the author’ s description, during the second week , the volunteers slept less soundly and felt more tired than the previous week ,so it is entirely possible that the volunteers were so tired that slept longer and more soundly. Or perhaps, the lavender-scent pillow actually bated sleep , the volunteers have a better sleep just because of adaption to the scent in the third week. In a word without ruling out other possible explanations for the final results, the author can not confirm that it is the lavender-scent that cause the volunteers to sleep longer and more soundly.

In sum, the explanation of the author is not well support his viewpoint. To strengthen the assertion that lavender-scent provides a cure for insomnia, the author must insure that all other factors that might affect sleep qualities remained constant during the experiment term. Furthermore, to exactly assess this argument, a clear definition of insomnia is needed.