argument167=so what=第五次作业 by linyan821230

linyan821230UID: 2638813

TOPIC: ARGUMENT167 - A folk remedy* for insomnia, the scent in lavender flowers, has now been proved effective. In a recent study, 30 volunteers with chronic insomnia slept each night for three weeks on lavender-scented pillows in a controlled room where their sleep was monitored. During the first week, volunteers continued to take their usual sleeping medication. They slept soundly but wakened feeling tired. During the second week, the volunteers discontinued their medication. As a result, they slept less soundly than the previous week and felt even more tired. During the third week, the volunteers slept longer and more soundly than in the previous two weeks. This shows that over a short period of time lavender cures insomnia.

*A folk remedy is usually a plant-based form of treatment common to traditional forms of medicine, ones that developed before the advent of modern medical services and technology.
WORDS: 461

提纲：
1. 结论不合理
2. 作者没有明确依靠什么标准来判断失眠症是否已经治愈，因此读者无从判断。而且作者提出的信息并不充分，没有关于入睡时间的信息，在第三周没有关于睡醒后精神状态（睡眠质量）的信息。
3. 这个研究本身就存在一定缺陷：（1）对比1、2周，志愿者的变化可能是停药造成的；（2）对比2、3周的变化，志愿者的变化可能是由于第二周睡眠不足造成的，不足以说明是薰衣草的作用；（3）研究时间太短，人体是复杂系统，原本对环境变化就能做出响应，未必是薰衣草的作用；（4）研究人数太少
4. 得出结论：作者提供的信息不足，结论不够有说服力。建议调整研究方法，把志愿者分为两组，在其他情况完全相同的条件下，一组使用薰衣草的枕头，一组不使用，通过对比进行研究；延长研究时间，增加志愿者人数，可能能够得到更有说服力的结果。

linyan821230UID: 2638813

By comparing the sleeping condition of 30 volunteers with chronic insomnia during three weeks, a recent study on the effect of lavender flower scent has been implemented. The conclusion of the study, that over a short period of time lavender cures insomnia, is not thoroughly well-reasoned.

Firstly, the arguer doesn't indicate the criterion for deciding whether the insomnia has been cured, as a result the readers could not evaluate the effect of lavender flower scent in curing insomnia. In fact, insomnia means inability to obtain sufficient sleep, difficulty in falling or staying asleep. A cure for insomnia should be able to help insomniacs fall asleep easily, to lengthen sleep time or to advance sleep quality. Through the description of the 30 volunteers with chronic insomnia, the arguer presents that during the third week the volunteers slept longer and soundly, without the information that how long the volunteers take to fell asleep and whether they felt energetic after sleeping. Therefore there is not cogent evidence to prove the insomnia has been cured unless the arguer illustrates data in details.


Secondly, there are some flaws in the methodology in the study, which makes the conclusion less persuasive. Comparing the sleeping conditions of the volunteers in 1st week with 2nd week, the changes may be attributed to the discontinuing of their usual medication and can not be the evidence for the effect of lavender scent in modulating insomnia. Inferring to 3rd week, the fact the volunteers slept longer and more soundly may be the result of the lack of sleep in 2nd week, which may has nothing to do with the lavender scent. In addition, three-week period is a particular short time to study the effect of lavender scent as a cure for insomnia. Human body is a complicated system, which needs time to adapt itself to the changes of circumstances, especially for the insomniacs who generally are sensitive to the environmental changes. It takes a period of time for the volunteers to get used to the controlled rooms, lavender-scented pillows and discontinuation of medication. It is not clear what mainly induce the changes in the volunteers’ sleep condition. Moreover, 30 volunteers with insomnia are not enough to test the effect of lavender flower scent.

Overall, the study is not well-designed and the conclusion is not well-reasoned. In order to prove the effect of lavender scent in improving sleeping quality, it is suggested that to put these volunteers into two groups with the equal number of volunteers in each group. Both of the groups live in the same rooms and take the same medication. The only difference between them is that one group uses the lavender-scent pillows while the other doesn't. After an appropriate period of observation, a more persuasive conclusion may be obtained.

米丽水UID: 2637300

By comparing the sleeping condition of 30 volunteers with chronic insomnia during three weeks, a recent study on the effect of lavender flower scent has been implemented. The conclusion of the study, that over a short period of time lavender cures insomnia, is not thoroughly well-reasoned.

Firstly, the arguer doesn't indicate the criterion for deciding whether the insomnia has been cured, as a result the readers could not evaluate the effect of lavender flower scent in curing insomnia. In fact, insomnia means inability to obtain sufficient sleep, difficulty in falling or staying asleep. A cure for insomnia should be able to help insomniacs fall asleep easily, to lengthen sleep time or to advance sleep quality. Through the description of the 30 volunteers with chronic insomnia, the arguer presents that during the third week the volunteers slept longer and soundly, without the information that how long the volunteers take to fell->fall asleep and whether they felt energetic after sleeping. Therefore there is not cogent evidence to prove the insomnia has been cured unless the arguer illustrates data in details.


Secondly, there are some flaws in the methodology in the study, which makes the conclusion less persuasive. Comparing the sleeping conditions of the volunteers in 1st week with 2nd week, the changes may be attributed to the discontinuing of their usual medication and can not be the evidence for the effect of lavender scent in modulating insomnia. Inferring to 3rd week, the fact that the volunteers slept longer and more soundly may be the result of the lack of sleep in 2nd week, which may has nothing to do with the lavender scent.三个比较分析真细致，怪不得能展开。 In addition, three-week period is a particular short time to study the effect of lavender scent as a cure for insomnia. Human body is a complicated system, which needs time to adapt itself to the changes of circumstances, especially for the insomniacs who generally are sensitive to the environmental changes. It takes a period of time for the volunteers to get used to the controlled rooms, lavender-scented pillows and discontinuation of medication. It is not clear what mainly induce the changes in the volunteers’ sleep condition. 也就是说变化是环境变化引起的。这个分析尤其好Moreover, 30 volunteers with insomnia are not enough to test the effect of lavender flower scent.

Overall, the study is not well-designed and the conclusion is not well-reasoned. In order to prove the effect of lavender scent in improving sleeping quality, it is suggested that to put these volunteers into two groups with the equal number of volunteers in each group. Both of the groups live in the same rooms and take the same medication. The only difference between them is that one group uses the lavender-scent pillows while the other doesn't. After an appropriate period of observation, a more persuasive conclusion may be obtained.最后一段提出的具体措施非常好。