Argument166 寄托4人组 9-01

bridgewalkerUID: 208595

TOPIC：ARGUMENT 166 - The following appeared in a local newspaper.

"People should not be misled by the advertising competition between Coldex and Cold-Away, both popular over-the-counter cold medications that anyone can purchase without a doctor's prescription. Each brand is accusing the other of causing some well-known, unwanted side effect: Coldex is known to contribute to existing high blood pressure and Cold-Away is known to cause drowsiness. But the choice should be clear for most health-conscious people: Cold-Away has been on the market for much longer and is used by more hospitals than is Coldex. Clearly, Cold-Away is more effective."
WORDS：368          TIME：AM 12:30:00          DATE：1/9/2005

In this argument, the speaker tries to convince us that Cold-Away is more effective that Coldex, and is the best choice for people. Although it seems reasonable at the first glance, a careful scrutiny reveals that the reasoning suffers from several critical flaws.

To begin with, the speaker mistakenly assumes that the longer the medicine on the market, the more effective it is. Common sense tells us that the effectiveness of certain medicine cannot be merely judged by the time they exist on the market. Although Cold-Away is longer on the market, it does not follow that the Coldex is incompetent. Perhaps Coldex might be produced by recently discovered more effective techniques that is superior to Cold-Away in effectiveness. In this case, Coldex might be more effective than Cold-Away.

Moreover, the mere fact that Cold-Away is used by more hospitals than Coldex is insufficient to prove speaker's assertion that Cold-Away is more effective. It is quite possible that hospitals choose Cold-Away not because of its effectiveness, but for the reason that there was only one choice for them at the time they assigning contract with Cold-Away. Even if these hospitals have more than one choice to choose from, they use Cold-Away just because it is cheaper than Coldex, and consequently can save money for themselves.

In addition, given that Cold-Away was more effective than Coldex, the speaker's assertion that most health-conscious people should clearly choose Cold-Away is also open to doubt. As the speaker mentioned, Cold-Away is known to contribute to drowsiness. Although this is accused by Coldex, the speaker fails to provide substantial evidence to prove that this assertion from Coldex is false. If Cold-Away really have this side effect, some people should carefully consider that whether drowsiness will bring about danger to them when they at work or under other circumstances. For instance, drowsiness might result in accidents if drivers take Cold-Away. Similarly, it is dangerous for pilots to take it.

In sum, the argument is unpersuasive according to the flaws listed above. To strengthen it, the speaker should provide scientific examination of the effectiveness and side effects of both Cold-Away and Coldex. Only by this way, reasonable contrast can be made between the two brands.

tangjihedeUID: 2107695

zhan！

tangjihedeUID: 2107695

ARGUMENT 166 - The following appeared in a local newspaper.

"People should not be misled by the advertising competition between Coldex and Cold-Away, both popular over-the-counter cold medications that anyone can purchase without a doctor's prescription. Each brand is accusing the other of causing some well-known, unwanted side effect: Coldex is known to contribute to existing high blood pressure and Cold-Away is known to cause drowsiness. But the choice should be clear for most health-conscious people: Cold-Away has been on the market for much longer and is used by more hospitals than is Coldex. Clearly, Cold-Away is more effective."
WORDS：368          TIME：AM 12:30:00          DATE：1/9/2005

In this argument, the speaker tries to convince us that Cold-Away is more effective that Coldex, and is the best choice for people. Although it seems reasonable at the first glance, a careful scrutiny reveals that the reasoning suffers from several critical flaws.

To begin with, the speaker mistakenly assumes that the longer the medicine on the market, the more effective it is. Common sense tells us that the effectiveness of certain medicine cannot be merely judged by the time they exist on the market. Although Cold-Away is longer on the market, it does not follow that the Coldex is incompetent. Perhaps Coldex might be produced by recently discovered more effective techniques that is superior to Cold-Away in effectiveness. In this case, Coldex might be more effective than Cold-Away.[没话说的话可以加上“作者应该做一个具体疗效调查，而不能仅仅凭借在市场上的辈分来对疗效下判断”]

Moreover, the mere fact that Cold-Away is used by more hospitals than Coldex is insufficient to prove speaker's assertion that Cold-Away is more effective. It is quite possible that hospitals choose Cold-Away not because of its effectiveness, but for the reason that there was only one choice for them at the time they assigning contract with Cold-Away. Even if these hospitals have more than one choice to choose from, they use Cold-Away just because it is cheaper than Coldex, and consequently can save money for themselves.[兴许这些都是小医院，而大医院不用；再说，这个药是非处方药otc，药店就可以买，跟医院没有太大的关系。]

In addition, given that Cold-Away was more effective than Coldex, the speaker's assertion that most health-conscious people should clearly choose Cold-Away is also open to doubt. As the speaker mentioned, Cold-Away is known to contribute to drowsiness. Although this is accused by Coldex, the speaker fails to provide substantial evidence to prove that this assertion from Coldex is false. If Cold-Away really have this side effect, some people should carefully consider that whether drowsiness will bring about danger to them when they at work or under other circumstances. For instance, drowsiness might result in accidents if drivers take Cold-Away. Similarly, it is dangerous for pilots to take it.[这点还可以展开。比如说提高的血压的副作用是否严重，兴许对大多数人没事，真正不适合的只是很少的一部分患者；而引起嗜睡则会影响大部分人的工作。]

In sum, the argument is unpersuasive according to the flaws listed above. To strengthen it, the speaker should provide scientific examination of the effectiveness and side effects of both Cold-Away and Coldex. Only by this way, reasonable contrast can be made between the two brands.[对细节可以咬的更紧些，这样字数自然而然就上去了。]

bridgewalkerUID: 208595

苦闷啦！有话说也打不完啦！