Argument35 【7\8\9\10】作文小组 第五次作业 7.25

DemiquaverUID: 203651

TOPIC: ARGUMENT35 - The following appeared in the summary of a study on headaches suffered by the residents of Mentia.

"Salicylates are members of the same chemical family as aspirin, a medicine used to treat headaches. Although many foods are naturally rich in salicylates, for the past several decades food-processing companies have also been adding salicylates to foods as preservatives. This rise in the commercial use of salicylates has been found to correlate with a steady decline in the average number of headaches reported by participants in our twenty-year study. Recently, food-processing companies have found that salicylates can also be used as flavor additives for foods. With this new use for salicylates, we can expect a continued steady decline in the number of headaches suffered by the average citizen of Mentia."
WORDS: 359     TIME: 00:40:00          DATE: 2008-7-25 23:43:00

In this argument, the author concludes that the number of headaches suffered by the average citizen of Mentia will continually decline by use salicylates. In order to support his conclusion, the author of the argument cites a twenty-year study to show that use of salicylates correlates with the decline of the average number of people who suffer headaches. However, after taking a close scrutiny, I find the argument is flawed in several aspects.

To begin with, the argument is based on a premise that salicylates are effective in treating headaches. However, insufficient evidence is found in the passage. Although the author states that salicylates are members of the same chemical family as aspirin, it merely proves that the ingredient of the former is similar with the latter, or their chemical framework is almost the same. It is unconvincing and baseless to conclude that salicylates have same effect in treating headaches as aspirin.

Furthermore, the twenty-year study cited by the author to substantiate a correlation between use of salicylates and a steady decline in the average number of headaches is also incredible. First, I wonder how many people have participated in the study and how many participants have reported their feelings. If there were only several people working as samples in the study or the reporting proportion of all participants is comparatively low, concluding such a correlation is unfair. Second, the author fails to rule out other alternatives that may influence results of the reports by participants. It is possible that during the study, the participants also took other medicine to treat headaches, or they suffered less working pressure than before. All these possibilities may release people from headaches.

Finally, even assuming that salicylates have more or less effects in treating headaches, the author's expectation of a continued steady decline in number of people who suffer headaches is lack of credibility. Ordinary sense informs me that a lot of causes may due to headache such as a speedy life beat, high pressure of working, illness and so forth, all these may occur on an ordinary people. These possibilities lead his conclusion to an unconvincing one.

In sum, conclusion of the argument is unfair in several aspects. To strengthen it, the author should provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate that salicylates have direct effects in treating headaches. Also, he should offer us more information about the study in order to prove that the study is convincing. Moreover it is necessary for the author to rule out the possibilities which may also result in headaches.