Argu162 [Shining Sep 作文组] 9.1

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TOPIC: ARGUMENT162 - A recent study shows that people living on the continent of North America suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people living on the continent of Asia. Interestingly, Asians, on average, eat 20 grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans eat virtually none. It turns out that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. Thus, North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression.
WORDS: 423          TIME: 0:30:00          DATE: 2006-9-2

In this argument, the arguer asserts that North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression. The arguer cites a compare between Asians and Americans to prove his point. In addition, the arguer uses a research result of soy to support this argument. However, in my view, these false analogy and hasty generalization do not support this argument strongly.

First of all, there is no evidence to prove that isoflavones can prevent or cure chronic fatigue and chronic depression. The arguer just indicates that isoflavones which soy contains can prevent disease, but the expression is too vague to prove the argument. Because maybe this phytochemical can cure or prevent other diseases, such as cold or flu, but not chronic fatigue and depression. Hence the arguer's point that eating soy can be the way of preventing fatigue and depression is doubtable.

Second, not eating soy is not the certain causation, which leads to the result that North Americans suffer more chronic fatigue and chronic depression than Asians. The residents' food is different in those two countries. For example, Asian people usually eat some food with low fat and low calorie, such as tofu, rice and vegetable. On the contrary, North American people always choose some food with high fat and calorie, such as beef and potato. This obvious distinct characteristic indicates that other food may be the true reason of causing the chronic fatigue and depression, but not only the soy.

At last, it is improper to compare Asians with North Americans cursorily. Residents' living conditions in these two areas are completely different. Maybe the temperature in the area of Asian people is more suitable for living, or working in the North American, people have to suffer more intensity. Both climate and intensity of working may be the factors of chronic fatigue and depression. Or perhaps the Asian people are more optimistic than American people. The distinctive attitudes of lives cause these chronic diseases. Hence it is unreasonable to use these two kinds of people as the sample of this survey.

To sum up, the conclusion lacks of credibility because the evidence cited in the analysis does not lend strong support to what the arguer maintains. To strengthen the argument, the arguer would have to use two groups of North America people to do this trial. To better evaluate the argument, we would need more detail information about the phytochemicals called isoflavones to determine whether it could have effects on chronic fatigue and chronic depression.

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