argument38 为我所用小组第十一次作业

guoshishuoUID: 2467577

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: 422        TIME: 00:30:00          DATE: 2008-4-5 12:44:14

The author recommends that they should use lchthaid to prevent colds and thus the absenteeism can be decreased. To support the recommendation, she provides several evidences. However, certain logical flaws exist in the argument and thus render it unconvincing as it stands.
To begin with, the mere fact that people in nearby East Meria consume a lot of fish and they visit the doctor only once or twice per year for the treatment of colds cannot indicate that fish can prevent colds. Perhaps those people actually get colds frequently but they consider it no need to go to see the doctor. Also, it is entirely possible that people in East Meria do a lot of exercises every day and are unlikely to get colds. Or maybe they eat other food that is helpful to prevent colds rather than fish. Without ruling out these possibilities, the author cannot convince me that eating a lot of fish can prevent colds.
Secondly, even if I concede that eating fish can help prevent colds, it is not to say that Ichthaid, which is derived from fish oil can also be helpful. Maybe eating fish can help prevent colds because of other supplements not Ichthaid. Also, the author overlooks the possibility that Ichthaid may have some side effects, which may affect people’s health. If either of the possibilities is the case, then using Ichthaid is of no use to prevent colds.
Thirdly, even if Ichthaid has effects in preventing colds, the argument unfairly assumes that it can help to reduce the absenteeism in their schools and workplaces. Perhaps those who are often absent just use getting colds as an excuse for their absenteeism. If this is the case, then using the nutritional supplement is of no use to reduce the absenteeism because they are not actually having colds and they can also use other excuses such as headaches, stomachaches to continually be absent to schools and workplaces. If this is the case, then the conclusion that eating Ichthaid can help reduce the absenteeism would lack merit whatsoever.
In conclusion, the author's recommendation is unconvincing. To better bolster it , she has to offer better evidences to show that those who live in East Meria really seldom have colds because they eat fish a lot. Also, she should try to substantiate that Ichthaid is helpful in preventing colds. Moreover, she must do some investigate to make it clear that those who are often absent from schools and workplaces really get colds rather than use it as an excuse.