17"There are two types of laws: just and unjust. Every individual in a society has a responsibility to obey just laws and, even more importantly, to disobey and resist unjust laws."
(618 words)
The author asserts that the laws can be divided into just ones and unjust ones. He also holds that those just laws must be obeyed by every indicudual, while those unjust ones may be disobeyed and resisted. In my point of view, the conclusion needs to be discussed in a case-by-case way.
Law is important is every society, no matter in ancient or modern societys, no matter in eastern or western nations. In the primarily society, human being didn't have laws, they just fight each other to decide who have the right to eat the food. As time passed by, they found that if such circumstances continue, the society could barely make process anymore, thus they developed laws which helped to set a regulation between mankind. After thousands of years' evolution, modern people can't imagine how could a society survive without laws. In addition, every society has its own history and culture, so the laws are different among each groups, meanwhile, as the culture developed for such a long time, the law also changed along with the history. In short, the laws are diverse during time and among places. No one can easily justify whether the context of a law is just or unjust by a common standard.
However, as there are just and unjust laws, how can one make the line between them clear? In my opinion, the answer is the process of setting the law. The power of a government comes from the pubic, so as the law. Is the law established by the folk, or some repretation voted by the folk? Is the law set through democratic process, not just by a few people's will? If these two things are in case. Then I think that the debate between the just and unjust is just personal. On the contrary, despite the law may help the society become better, I will insist that the law is unjust.
Then, there will be a natural question about how to do with the unjust law, does every method, no matter how violent is suitable? I don't think. In nowadays society, there are many ways to express groups's sound, like through the court or parliament or go on to the street to complain. Martin Luther King, the famous Afirica American, led thousands of black people to the road and delievered them a speech "I have a dream", they don't do any violent things such as robbery, kidnapping, or murder. In the end, they won and got the right which they deserve. Another example is Mahatma Gandhi, who set the India free from the United Kingdom. The way he asked people to resist was legal, as didn't buy the goods produced by the Great Brition and make those production by Indians themselves. Just as Martin Luther King, he made achievement without any blood.
In sum, there are two types of laws: just and unjust. The way to conclusion which kind does a single law belong to is through the way the law set up. After the justification, one must obey those laws which he thinks is just. Meanwhile, those who take some law as unjust have to use legal method to amend them, not by violent. If these legal ways are not effective, one can choose to live in another country instead, living the others who judge these law as just continue to obey them. In short, even if the law may be unjust, we can't use the unjust methods to resist them, because according to the history, those who take the methods of violence to chang the law coule only get another, or even more unjust laws. In the worst situation, another autocracy substitude the contemporary autocracy after the violence.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Argument53
53.Thirteen years ago, researchers studied a group of 25 infants who showed signs of mild distress when exposed to unfamiliar stimuli such as an unusual odor or a tape recording of an unknown voice. They discovered that these infants were more likely than other infants to have been conceived in early autumn, a time when their mothers' production of melatonin-a hormone known to affect some brain functions-would naturally increase in response to decreased daylight. In a follow-up study conducted earlier this year, more than half of these children-now teenagers-who had shown signs of distress identified themselves as shy. Clearly, increased levels of melatonin before birth cause shyness during infancy and this shyness continues into later life.
(456 words)
In this argument, the author comes to the conclusion that increased levels of melatonin before birth cause shyness during infancy and this shyness coutinues into later life. To justify this conclusion, the author cites a study about a group of 25 infants and a follow-up study with these children-now teenagers earlier this year. This conclusion seems to be logical, however, deep scrutiny shows several mistakes in it which I will discuss them below.
Firstly, the studied conducted by some researchers thirteen years ago is statistically unreliable. The researchers just studied 25 infants, which make me suspect that thay can' t represent the general infants. It is highly possible that these 25 infants are special, and the reason why those researchers collected these infants rather than others was to get a result which they want to see. If this is the case, I can't be pursuaded that any data deriving from this study can be used to conclude any sound results.
Secondly, even if these infants are representative, the author can't convince me that this high rate of shyness has anything to do with melation, let alone that the former one has been caused by the later. Maybe the melatonin didn't take any function to effect the shyness, or the melation did something to the mother, not the infants, or maybe the melatonin effected these infants, but just in autumn. Without ruling out these or other possible reasons, any conclusion standing on this assumption are not convincing.
Finally, even if increased levels of melatonin before birth cause shyness during infancy, it doesn't mean that it can also cause this shyness continue into later life. To begin with, the author didn't show any data about those infants who wasn't as shy as these infants in the study, so we didn't know whether the rate of shyness among these infants is high or not. Even if the rate of shyness is higher in these children who was more shy than others during infancy, maybe there are other factors effecting this rate. As we all know that, the family atmosphere, and teaching of the teachers, the enviorment of the surrounding during his or her youths life can do something good or bad to effect or even deciede whether a child is shy when he grow up. Without explaining these or other possible factors, the author can't convince me that the melatonin before birth has anything to do with the shyness in later life.
In sum, in order to support thr conclusion, the author must prove that the infants in the study are representative. He also has to make sure that it is the melatonin effected the extra shyness during infancy and in later life other than ant other possible phenomenon.
(456 words)
In this argument, the author comes to the conclusion that increased levels of melatonin before birth cause shyness during infancy and this shyness coutinues into later life. To justify this conclusion, the author cites a study about a group of 25 infants and a follow-up study with these children-now teenagers earlier this year. This conclusion seems to be logical, however, deep scrutiny shows several mistakes in it which I will discuss them below.
Firstly, the studied conducted by some researchers thirteen years ago is statistically unreliable. The researchers just studied 25 infants, which make me suspect that thay can' t represent the general infants. It is highly possible that these 25 infants are special, and the reason why those researchers collected these infants rather than others was to get a result which they want to see. If this is the case, I can't be pursuaded that any data deriving from this study can be used to conclude any sound results.
Secondly, even if these infants are representative, the author can't convince me that this high rate of shyness has anything to do with melation, let alone that the former one has been caused by the later. Maybe the melatonin didn't take any function to effect the shyness, or the melation did something to the mother, not the infants, or maybe the melatonin effected these infants, but just in autumn. Without ruling out these or other possible reasons, any conclusion standing on this assumption are not convincing.
Finally, even if increased levels of melatonin before birth cause shyness during infancy, it doesn't mean that it can also cause this shyness continue into later life. To begin with, the author didn't show any data about those infants who wasn't as shy as these infants in the study, so we didn't know whether the rate of shyness among these infants is high or not. Even if the rate of shyness is higher in these children who was more shy than others during infancy, maybe there are other factors effecting this rate. As we all know that, the family atmosphere, and teaching of the teachers, the enviorment of the surrounding during his or her youths life can do something good or bad to effect or even deciede whether a child is shy when he grow up. Without explaining these or other possible factors, the author can't convince me that the melatonin before birth has anything to do with the shyness in later life.
In sum, in order to support thr conclusion, the author must prove that the infants in the study are representative. He also has to make sure that it is the melatonin effected the extra shyness during infancy and in later life other than ant other possible phenomenon.
Argument200
200.Statistics collected from dentists indicate that three times more men than women faint while visiting the dentist. This evidence suggests that men are more likely to be distressed about having dental work done than women are. Thus, dentists who advertise to attract patients should target the male consumer and emphasize both the effectiveness of their anesthetic techniques and the sensitivity of their staff to nervous or suffering patients.
(483 words)
In this argument, the author concludes that dentists who advertise to attract patients should target the male consumer and emphasize both the effectiveness of their anesthetic techniques and the sensitivity of their staff to nervous or suffering patients. To support this recommendation, the author cites a statistics which indicates that three men than women faint while visiting the dentist. This argument rests on a series of unsubstantiated assumptions, and is therefore unpersuasive as it stands.
First of all, the author didn't mention the number of male or female visiting the dentist. Just because of the plain fact that three times more men than women faint while visiting the dentist, we can't conclude that the men are more likely to be faint than women. If the number of women who visit the dentist is four times more than men, then the female are more likely to be faint instead. Without accounting these and other possible situations, the author can't convince me that that the possibility is higher for men to faint than women.
Secondly, even if the men are more likely to be distressed while visiting the dentist. We don't konw whether they are more likely to be distressed about having dental work. Maybe they faint just for their worrying about the capability of the dentist, thus while the operation begin, they know that the dentist is competent, most of men calm down instead. Meanwhile, the women still feel nervous, thus the rate of women who are distressed about having dental work is higher than men. I will insist my suspection upon the conclusion until the author can offer more details.
Finally, even if men are more likely to be distressed about having dental work done than women, there is no evidence that the dentistd should target the male consumers, for that maybe the earnings from the women are more than from men, thus such a target may make women angry, along with the declining of the revenues. For the similar reason, the conclusion that the dentist should emphasize both the effectiveness of their anesthetic techniques and the sensitivity of their staff to nervous or suffering patients in order to attract patients is unconvincing. It is highly possible that doing such a job can actually lessen the patients, maybe some other ways are better. Meanwhile, it is also possible that the patients are suffering other pains besides nervous, which need the focus of the dentists more.
In sum, to support the recommendation, the author should make sure that men are more likely to be distressed about having dental work than women are. Simultaneously, the author should prove that targeting on men and emphasizing both the effectiveness of their anesthetic techniques and the sensitivity of their staff to nervous or suffering patients can be helpful to make the patients easy, and in this way, the dentists can attract more patients to come, thus more revenues.
(483 words)
In this argument, the author concludes that dentists who advertise to attract patients should target the male consumer and emphasize both the effectiveness of their anesthetic techniques and the sensitivity of their staff to nervous or suffering patients. To support this recommendation, the author cites a statistics which indicates that three men than women faint while visiting the dentist. This argument rests on a series of unsubstantiated assumptions, and is therefore unpersuasive as it stands.
First of all, the author didn't mention the number of male or female visiting the dentist. Just because of the plain fact that three times more men than women faint while visiting the dentist, we can't conclude that the men are more likely to be faint than women. If the number of women who visit the dentist is four times more than men, then the female are more likely to be faint instead. Without accounting these and other possible situations, the author can't convince me that that the possibility is higher for men to faint than women.
Secondly, even if the men are more likely to be distressed while visiting the dentist. We don't konw whether they are more likely to be distressed about having dental work. Maybe they faint just for their worrying about the capability of the dentist, thus while the operation begin, they know that the dentist is competent, most of men calm down instead. Meanwhile, the women still feel nervous, thus the rate of women who are distressed about having dental work is higher than men. I will insist my suspection upon the conclusion until the author can offer more details.
Finally, even if men are more likely to be distressed about having dental work done than women, there is no evidence that the dentistd should target the male consumers, for that maybe the earnings from the women are more than from men, thus such a target may make women angry, along with the declining of the revenues. For the similar reason, the conclusion that the dentist should emphasize both the effectiveness of their anesthetic techniques and the sensitivity of their staff to nervous or suffering patients in order to attract patients is unconvincing. It is highly possible that doing such a job can actually lessen the patients, maybe some other ways are better. Meanwhile, it is also possible that the patients are suffering other pains besides nervous, which need the focus of the dentists more.
In sum, to support the recommendation, the author should make sure that men are more likely to be distressed about having dental work than women are. Simultaneously, the author should prove that targeting on men and emphasizing both the effectiveness of their anesthetic techniques and the sensitivity of their staff to nervous or suffering patients can be helpful to make the patients easy, and in this way, the dentists can attract more patients to come, thus more revenues.
Argument38
38.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."
(441 words)
In this argument, the author comes to the conclusion that the West Meria(WM) Pubic Heaoth Council should recommend the daily use of Ichthaid, as a good way to prevent colds and lower absenteeism. To jusdify to recommendation, the author poinst out that the colds are the reason most frequently given for absences from school and work. He also cites a survey which shows that the fish consumption has something to do with the frequency people visit the doctor for the treatment of colds. However, this argument is flawed in several respects.
Firstly, the fact that people visit the doctor only once or twice per year for the treatment of colds doesn't definitely mean the rate of citizens who catch cold is low. It is highly possible that those people who catch colds in East Meria(EM) just buy some medicine from the shop and don't go to the hospital, or they visiting the doctor for the treatment of other disease which are caused by colds, which means that the doctor wouldn't take such disease as "colds", while actually these are cold in the begin. Thus, without ruling out these and other possible reason, the author can't convince me that the frequency of people who catch cold is low in EM.
Secondly, even if the rate of people who catch colds is low in EM, there is no evidence that this is due to the high fish comsumption. Noboby can make it sure that there is any cause-and-effect relationship between two phenomenon just because they happen during the same time. Maybe the people in EM have a better health than WM, or the climate of EM is warmer. Unless the author can cites some scienfic data to assure their relationship, any conclusion based on this assumption is unreliable.
Finally, even if the fish conssumption can help people preventing the cold, no evidence shows that the Ichthaid(Ic) can also operate the same function. Since the Ic is a nutritioanl supplement derived from fish oil, we may wonder whether the effective parts which can prevent the colds disappear, as we don't know whether the reaction to cold by fish is due to Ic or not. Without explaining these qusetions, the author can't come to any convincing recommendation.
In sum, to convince me that it is suitable to recommend the daily use of Ic, the author should prove that the fish can help people decrease the frequency of cold, and make sure that any other factors that can affect the cold are the same between EM and WM. In addition, the author must show evidence that the Ic which is nutritional suppenlement can also be helpful.
(441 words)
In this argument, the author comes to the conclusion that the West Meria(WM) Pubic Heaoth Council should recommend the daily use of Ichthaid, as a good way to prevent colds and lower absenteeism. To jusdify to recommendation, the author poinst out that the colds are the reason most frequently given for absences from school and work. He also cites a survey which shows that the fish consumption has something to do with the frequency people visit the doctor for the treatment of colds. However, this argument is flawed in several respects.
Firstly, the fact that people visit the doctor only once or twice per year for the treatment of colds doesn't definitely mean the rate of citizens who catch cold is low. It is highly possible that those people who catch colds in East Meria(EM) just buy some medicine from the shop and don't go to the hospital, or they visiting the doctor for the treatment of other disease which are caused by colds, which means that the doctor wouldn't take such disease as "colds", while actually these are cold in the begin. Thus, without ruling out these and other possible reason, the author can't convince me that the frequency of people who catch cold is low in EM.
Secondly, even if the rate of people who catch colds is low in EM, there is no evidence that this is due to the high fish comsumption. Noboby can make it sure that there is any cause-and-effect relationship between two phenomenon just because they happen during the same time. Maybe the people in EM have a better health than WM, or the climate of EM is warmer. Unless the author can cites some scienfic data to assure their relationship, any conclusion based on this assumption is unreliable.
Finally, even if the fish conssumption can help people preventing the cold, no evidence shows that the Ichthaid(Ic) can also operate the same function. Since the Ic is a nutritioanl supplement derived from fish oil, we may wonder whether the effective parts which can prevent the colds disappear, as we don't know whether the reaction to cold by fish is due to Ic or not. Without explaining these qusetions, the author can't come to any convincing recommendation.
In sum, to convince me that it is suitable to recommend the daily use of Ic, the author should prove that the fish can help people decrease the frequency of cold, and make sure that any other factors that can affect the cold are the same between EM and WM. In addition, the author must show evidence that the Ic which is nutritional suppenlement can also be helpful.
Issue74
74"The most effective way to communicate an idea or value to large groups of people is through the use of images, not language."
(475 words)
Which is the most effective way to communicate an idea or valut to large groups of people, through th use of images, or through the language? Some people may prefer the former one, while others may hold that the later one is better with their own good reason in it. However, I think we should not decisive opinion upon this issue to which I will give my ananysis below.
To begin with, the language is more accurate than images, it will express what one thinks more explicitly to the audience than images. Meanwhile, if there are some ambiguity needed to be quit, adding extra languages is more convenient, and more convincing than giving another images. For instance, you may know that there exists universal gravitation if you have seen a picture in which an apple is fall off a tree and is about to hit the head of Newton, but you will never understand what creates such a force unless you try to check up and understand those intricate phisics phenomenon and formular.
In the other hand, the image has its own advantages. It is visual and vivid, thus easiler to understand. Meanwhile, the audiences don't need to conquer the difficulies of language, anyone can understand the meaning of an images without learning another strange language before. Those who defend the author may contest that even one doesn't know another language, he or she can recur to the translation. However, we all know that there isn't any absolutely exact translation in the world, it always distort the original intention more or less. And the most important reason we use image to communicate is that it can express feeling which is hard to be transmitted through mere language. Why are those images on arts amazing? Because they can inspire the people's imagination, and there are not any two single person who will have the same feeling after they have scaned the same picture.
In short, as science and technology are developing so rapidly today, more people are starting to think about which is best media to communicate an idea or value. From visual communication to carved stone to simple spoken language to the appearing of character, every step is rough but firm, no matter in antient or modern period, no matter in easten or westen society, people are trying to find a better way to communication. In my point of view, the best choice is to have a balance among all kinds of methods, that is, to pick up any advantages of each media and make the best of technology and human wisdom to integrate them into more effective ones. Only through this, can we raise the ability to give out what is in our heart and the ability to understand what is in others' heart, thus we can work together and make a bright future.
(475 words)
Which is the most effective way to communicate an idea or valut to large groups of people, through th use of images, or through the language? Some people may prefer the former one, while others may hold that the later one is better with their own good reason in it. However, I think we should not decisive opinion upon this issue to which I will give my ananysis below.
To begin with, the language is more accurate than images, it will express what one thinks more explicitly to the audience than images. Meanwhile, if there are some ambiguity needed to be quit, adding extra languages is more convenient, and more convincing than giving another images. For instance, you may know that there exists universal gravitation if you have seen a picture in which an apple is fall off a tree and is about to hit the head of Newton, but you will never understand what creates such a force unless you try to check up and understand those intricate phisics phenomenon and formular.
In the other hand, the image has its own advantages. It is visual and vivid, thus easiler to understand. Meanwhile, the audiences don't need to conquer the difficulies of language, anyone can understand the meaning of an images without learning another strange language before. Those who defend the author may contest that even one doesn't know another language, he or she can recur to the translation. However, we all know that there isn't any absolutely exact translation in the world, it always distort the original intention more or less. And the most important reason we use image to communicate is that it can express feeling which is hard to be transmitted through mere language. Why are those images on arts amazing? Because they can inspire the people's imagination, and there are not any two single person who will have the same feeling after they have scaned the same picture.
In short, as science and technology are developing so rapidly today, more people are starting to think about which is best media to communicate an idea or value. From visual communication to carved stone to simple spoken language to the appearing of character, every step is rough but firm, no matter in antient or modern period, no matter in easten or westen society, people are trying to find a better way to communication. In my point of view, the best choice is to have a balance among all kinds of methods, that is, to pick up any advantages of each media and make the best of technology and human wisdom to integrate them into more effective ones. Only through this, can we raise the ability to give out what is in our heart and the ability to understand what is in others' heart, thus we can work together and make a bright future.
Issue159
159."The human mind will always be superior to machines because machines are only tools of human minds."
(549 words)
It is always said that the wisdom of human being are heritaged from generation to generation, and the active learning is the difference between human and animal. Since the industrial revolution in the late 18th century, the science and technology has been advancing rapidly, more and more mundane and boring job has been given to the machines. Is it possible that one day, you may wonder, machines can also think and learn actively, thus they may be superior to humans? This question needs a case-to-case analysis.
In my viewpoint, the reason why we make machines is to make us out of some tenuous and meaningless works, thus we can concentrate ourselves into other things which are more interesting or need initiative. In addition, the machines can use natural resourses which we can't use such as coal, petrol, to do much more job than human, in this way, the production capability can be growing strongly. Thus there will definitely be one day, people find those things defined as "interesting" today become boring or the rate of procreation of the production can't suffice to the human's needs. In this case, I may concede that the machines will be more superior, if this tendency move on and on, the capability of machines will be unlimited. Even this day become reality, I still won't take this as "superior".
Meanwhile, those who opppses the author may cite the game between Deep blue and Garry Kasparov. It was in 1997, that a chess computer invented by IBM called "Deep Blue" defeated world champion Garry Kasparov. Since that time, the scientific fictions and film predicting the situation of "robot domination" boomed. Public paniced, some of them even asked the government to set some law to forbidden, or at least postpone the technology, until mankind can find a way to prevent such things happen. It seems to me ridiculous that someone doesn't want to use machine to raise the quality of our lives. The key point is, what does the "superiotr" means? If this word just means the speed of calculation, the wearriless upon job, the capability to store data and materials, then yes, the machine has surpassed us since long time ago, and it is barely possible that we can be over them; in the other hand, if "superior" means the feeling, the imangination, the sensitivity of love to other people or animals or even the world, then I will never believe that the machines will exceed human, because they don't know anything about these things that we cherish most. As the machines can just be "superior" to human on those normal aspects, I suppose the humanmind will always be superior to machines which can be nothing but only tools of human minds.
Generally speaking, we human develop the machine in order to serve us, to make the production capablity advanced, to manticipate us from boringness and focus on something more worthy time and energy. Maybe one day the machines will make most of the achivement in the world, and all we need to do is just stay at home, put down some buttons. However, it is only us who can know the reason of producing, can give meaning to the works, thus can control when and how the machines stop or continue to serve us.
(549 words)
It is always said that the wisdom of human being are heritaged from generation to generation, and the active learning is the difference between human and animal. Since the industrial revolution in the late 18th century, the science and technology has been advancing rapidly, more and more mundane and boring job has been given to the machines. Is it possible that one day, you may wonder, machines can also think and learn actively, thus they may be superior to humans? This question needs a case-to-case analysis.
In my viewpoint, the reason why we make machines is to make us out of some tenuous and meaningless works, thus we can concentrate ourselves into other things which are more interesting or need initiative. In addition, the machines can use natural resourses which we can't use such as coal, petrol, to do much more job than human, in this way, the production capability can be growing strongly. Thus there will definitely be one day, people find those things defined as "interesting" today become boring or the rate of procreation of the production can't suffice to the human's needs. In this case, I may concede that the machines will be more superior, if this tendency move on and on, the capability of machines will be unlimited. Even this day become reality, I still won't take this as "superior".
Meanwhile, those who opppses the author may cite the game between Deep blue and Garry Kasparov. It was in 1997, that a chess computer invented by IBM called "Deep Blue" defeated world champion Garry Kasparov. Since that time, the scientific fictions and film predicting the situation of "robot domination" boomed. Public paniced, some of them even asked the government to set some law to forbidden, or at least postpone the technology, until mankind can find a way to prevent such things happen. It seems to me ridiculous that someone doesn't want to use machine to raise the quality of our lives. The key point is, what does the "superiotr" means? If this word just means the speed of calculation, the wearriless upon job, the capability to store data and materials, then yes, the machine has surpassed us since long time ago, and it is barely possible that we can be over them; in the other hand, if "superior" means the feeling, the imangination, the sensitivity of love to other people or animals or even the world, then I will never believe that the machines will exceed human, because they don't know anything about these things that we cherish most. As the machines can just be "superior" to human on those normal aspects, I suppose the humanmind will always be superior to machines which can be nothing but only tools of human minds.
Generally speaking, we human develop the machine in order to serve us, to make the production capablity advanced, to manticipate us from boringness and focus on something more worthy time and energy. Maybe one day the machines will make most of the achivement in the world, and all we need to do is just stay at home, put down some buttons. However, it is only us who can know the reason of producing, can give meaning to the works, thus can control when and how the machines stop or continue to serve us.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Issue48
48"The study of history places too much emphasis on individuals. The most significant events and trends in history were made possible not by the famous few, but by groups of people whose identities have long been forgotten."
(521 words)
The author asserts that the study of history places too much emphasis on individuals, meanwhile, the most siginificant events and trends in history were made by groups of people whose identities have long been forgotten, not the those famous few. I agree with the auuthor that it was the group effort that made the difference during the history. However, whether the leader have been too much emphasized in the study of history needs to to analyzed side by side.Firstly, it is sure that no matter in the antient or modern periods, no matter in the easten or the westen areas, the most significant events in history were made possible by groups of people. Without folk's attendance and support, neither could Mahatmas Gindhi set Indian free from the Great Britain nor could Matin Luther King pursuit the equality for African American. Maozedong, the former president of China, noce said, "folk is the exclusive motion of the world history." Another great politican, Abraham Lincoln praised thoes soldiers in the civil war in Gettysburg, "the world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here." Without the folk, even such great men can't achieve their success.In other respects, the funtion of the individuals is more important. There would be some one else discovered the Relativity Theory sooner or later if Albert Einstein had not done the job in 1905, yet if this is the case, the great progress in physics will be postponed, and the life we enjoy now may still seem like 20 or 30 years ago. Another example is Bill Gates. Those who defend the author may wonder, if this guy didn't quit Harvard and became a normal person, whether the humankind today have a convenient operating system. Of course we still have many, just not one of them is called "Microsoft". Yet, the scientific and technological development would be lagging for several years. In short, though the individuals can't decide the main tendency of the history, they are sure to determine when, where and how these significant changes are done.Finally, as for the author's first statement, it is natural that historians always do more research on individuals. The materials of individual is always more explicit the normal persons, which can contribute to the research. In addition, the life of the great person was often permeated with legend, which appeals to the people too. On the other hand, the great individual is sometimes miniature of the society in that periods. It is helpful to understand the folks and the history by researching those individual who are representative of the nation, even the world. When it comes to study of the reform-and-open up policies, the former Chinese leader, Dengxiaoping always gets a huge share of the limelight. One who knows about the individuals can better understand the history during that time.In conclusion, the history always belongs to people. Both individuals and folks must be emphasized in the respects of study history. Though history immoralities the memories of a few individuals, trying to make a balance is a better choice.
(521 words)
The author asserts that the study of history places too much emphasis on individuals, meanwhile, the most siginificant events and trends in history were made by groups of people whose identities have long been forgotten, not the those famous few. I agree with the auuthor that it was the group effort that made the difference during the history. However, whether the leader have been too much emphasized in the study of history needs to to analyzed side by side.Firstly, it is sure that no matter in the antient or modern periods, no matter in the easten or the westen areas, the most significant events in history were made possible by groups of people. Without folk's attendance and support, neither could Mahatmas Gindhi set Indian free from the Great Britain nor could Matin Luther King pursuit the equality for African American. Maozedong, the former president of China, noce said, "folk is the exclusive motion of the world history." Another great politican, Abraham Lincoln praised thoes soldiers in the civil war in Gettysburg, "the world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here." Without the folk, even such great men can't achieve their success.In other respects, the funtion of the individuals is more important. There would be some one else discovered the Relativity Theory sooner or later if Albert Einstein had not done the job in 1905, yet if this is the case, the great progress in physics will be postponed, and the life we enjoy now may still seem like 20 or 30 years ago. Another example is Bill Gates. Those who defend the author may wonder, if this guy didn't quit Harvard and became a normal person, whether the humankind today have a convenient operating system. Of course we still have many, just not one of them is called "Microsoft". Yet, the scientific and technological development would be lagging for several years. In short, though the individuals can't decide the main tendency of the history, they are sure to determine when, where and how these significant changes are done.Finally, as for the author's first statement, it is natural that historians always do more research on individuals. The materials of individual is always more explicit the normal persons, which can contribute to the research. In addition, the life of the great person was often permeated with legend, which appeals to the people too. On the other hand, the great individual is sometimes miniature of the society in that periods. It is helpful to understand the folks and the history by researching those individual who are representative of the nation, even the world. When it comes to study of the reform-and-open up policies, the former Chinese leader, Dengxiaoping always gets a huge share of the limelight. One who knows about the individuals can better understand the history during that time.In conclusion, the history always belongs to people. Both individuals and folks must be emphasized in the respects of study history. Though history immoralities the memories of a few individuals, trying to make a balance is a better choice.
Argument117
117.The following is a memo from the business manager of Valu-Mart stores. "Over 70 percent of the respondents to a recent survey reported that they are required to take more work home with them from the workplace than they were in the past. Since Valu-Mart has not seen impressive sales in its office-supply departments in the past, we should take advantage of this work-at-home trend by increasing at all Valu-Mart stores the stock of home office machines such as printers, small copy machines, paper shredders, and fax machines. We will also increase stock of office supplies such as paper, pens, and staplers. With these changes, our office-supply departments will become the most profitable component of our stores."
(433 words)
In this argument, the author comes to the conclusion that Valu-Mart(VM) stores should increasing at all VM stores the stock of home office machines and office supplies. To justfy this conclusion, the author cites a recent survey. This argument rests on a series of unsubstantiated assumptions, and is therefore unpersuasive as it stands.Firstly, the survey the author mentions in the argument seems not statistically reliable. Do those responders reporting that they are required to take more work home with them from the workplace than they were in the past represent the customers VM aimed at? It's highlyl suspected. Even if it's representive, the plain fact that there is more work needed to done doesn't definitely contribute to more machines. Maybe they have already worked at home for a long time, thus extra machines is unnecessary. In a similar way, maybe the office suppies such as paper, pens, and staples are supplied by the company which wanted its employees to work at home, thus the total demand for these supplies doesn't increase.Without counting for these and other factors, the author can't convice me that the need for office machine and supplies will be growing.Secondly, even if the office machine and supplies will actually be more popular, it is highly possible that there are other factors causing the impressive sales in VM's office-supply deparments in the past, maybe it is due to the high price or the poor quality, thus increasing the stocks of machines can't be sure to promote the sales. If this is the case, the statement that increasing the stock can help increasing the sales can't be convincly trusted.Finally, the standpoint that the office-supply departments will become the most prefitables component of our stores is highly suspected. As we all know that, the profit is a function of both cost and sales. In addition, the author didn't mention any data about how much will these machines and supplies cost, as well as what are their prices. Moreover, we don't know anything about the profits of the other department of VM, so it's ridiculous to justify that the office-supply department will be the most profitable one just due to its growing sales. Thus, the author cannot justifiably rely on this claim to bolster its recommendation.In sum, to convice me that VM should increase the stocks of office machiens and supplies, the author must prove that the demand for these items will surely increase. In addition, the author must also supply details about the cost and price of the commodities VM will purchased, together with the profits of other department.
(433 words)
In this argument, the author comes to the conclusion that Valu-Mart(VM) stores should increasing at all VM stores the stock of home office machines and office supplies. To justfy this conclusion, the author cites a recent survey. This argument rests on a series of unsubstantiated assumptions, and is therefore unpersuasive as it stands.Firstly, the survey the author mentions in the argument seems not statistically reliable. Do those responders reporting that they are required to take more work home with them from the workplace than they were in the past represent the customers VM aimed at? It's highlyl suspected. Even if it's representive, the plain fact that there is more work needed to done doesn't definitely contribute to more machines. Maybe they have already worked at home for a long time, thus extra machines is unnecessary. In a similar way, maybe the office suppies such as paper, pens, and staples are supplied by the company which wanted its employees to work at home, thus the total demand for these supplies doesn't increase.Without counting for these and other factors, the author can't convice me that the need for office machine and supplies will be growing.Secondly, even if the office machine and supplies will actually be more popular, it is highly possible that there are other factors causing the impressive sales in VM's office-supply deparments in the past, maybe it is due to the high price or the poor quality, thus increasing the stocks of machines can't be sure to promote the sales. If this is the case, the statement that increasing the stock can help increasing the sales can't be convincly trusted.Finally, the standpoint that the office-supply departments will become the most prefitables component of our stores is highly suspected. As we all know that, the profit is a function of both cost and sales. In addition, the author didn't mention any data about how much will these machines and supplies cost, as well as what are their prices. Moreover, we don't know anything about the profits of the other department of VM, so it's ridiculous to justify that the office-supply department will be the most profitable one just due to its growing sales. Thus, the author cannot justifiably rely on this claim to bolster its recommendation.In sum, to convice me that VM should increase the stocks of office machiens and supplies, the author must prove that the demand for these items will surely increase. In addition, the author must also supply details about the cost and price of the commodities VM will purchased, together with the profits of other department.
Issue207
207."Rituals and ceremonies help define a culture. Without them, societies or groups of people have a diminished sense of who they are."
(486 words)
The identification of people in a societies or groups is very important. It can help person know the history of the society around him or her, thus will let him or her understand some special customs and ethics of the groups. Can, you may wonder, rituals and ceremonies help define a culture? Yes. However, are they the only way? In my point of view, besides rituals and ceremonies, there are many other methods can help doing this.I concede that rituals and ceremonies play an important role in helping define a culture. For example, since it is a long-held tradition for most Chinese people to reunite with their families during Chinese New Year, people in China today still return home from work or study to have Reunion dinner with their families on New Year's Eve, dispite the expensive ticket, dispite the tired spring transportation. Why people do this every year and never feel boring? Tradition. It is this rituals and ceremonies that help Chinese people solidifying the sense of the group, spur them proudness as a Chinese, whereever they are and wherever they go.However, in some respects, preserving cultural identity cannot be the mere purpose of ritual and ceremony. In fact, isolated cultures that do not need to distinguish themselves to preserve their identity nevertheless engage in their own distinct rituals and ceremonies. The initial purpose of ritual and ceremony is rooted not in cultural identity but rather superstition and spiritual belief. On an island near South American mainland, the citizens there today still have a ritual of some sort of dancing before every dinner, it is said that there once was an epidemic in that island and many people died, a wizard told the people that the phenomenon is due to an evil who poison the meal of the villagers, he then asked the people to dance to drive away evil spirits, and that worked. This is how such a ceremony remains till today, which has nothing to do with the sense of who they are.In addition, the cultural identity can also by solidified through other ways, such as the education upon history and language, the establishing of the regulation and law, the featured music and film, ets. When it comes to the modern society, more and more people in a groups discard their traditional rituals and ceremonies, which are always taken as lagging and superstition. They need more methods to preserve the identification belonging their own group, because did they forget where they were, they can't know where they will be.In sum, retuals and ceremonies help define a culture, and culture can help mankind in a certain society or group sense who they are. However, they are not the only way to reinforce the sense of the group. People today in such a changing world should develop other way to help increasing the sense, together with the development of the technology.
(486 words)
The identification of people in a societies or groups is very important. It can help person know the history of the society around him or her, thus will let him or her understand some special customs and ethics of the groups. Can, you may wonder, rituals and ceremonies help define a culture? Yes. However, are they the only way? In my point of view, besides rituals and ceremonies, there are many other methods can help doing this.I concede that rituals and ceremonies play an important role in helping define a culture. For example, since it is a long-held tradition for most Chinese people to reunite with their families during Chinese New Year, people in China today still return home from work or study to have Reunion dinner with their families on New Year's Eve, dispite the expensive ticket, dispite the tired spring transportation. Why people do this every year and never feel boring? Tradition. It is this rituals and ceremonies that help Chinese people solidifying the sense of the group, spur them proudness as a Chinese, whereever they are and wherever they go.However, in some respects, preserving cultural identity cannot be the mere purpose of ritual and ceremony. In fact, isolated cultures that do not need to distinguish themselves to preserve their identity nevertheless engage in their own distinct rituals and ceremonies. The initial purpose of ritual and ceremony is rooted not in cultural identity but rather superstition and spiritual belief. On an island near South American mainland, the citizens there today still have a ritual of some sort of dancing before every dinner, it is said that there once was an epidemic in that island and many people died, a wizard told the people that the phenomenon is due to an evil who poison the meal of the villagers, he then asked the people to dance to drive away evil spirits, and that worked. This is how such a ceremony remains till today, which has nothing to do with the sense of who they are.In addition, the cultural identity can also by solidified through other ways, such as the education upon history and language, the establishing of the regulation and law, the featured music and film, ets. When it comes to the modern society, more and more people in a groups discard their traditional rituals and ceremonies, which are always taken as lagging and superstition. They need more methods to preserve the identification belonging their own group, because did they forget where they were, they can't know where they will be.In sum, retuals and ceremonies help define a culture, and culture can help mankind in a certain society or group sense who they are. However, they are not the only way to reinforce the sense of the group. People today in such a changing world should develop other way to help increasing the sense, together with the development of the technology.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Argument65
65.The following appeared in a memo from the president of a chain of cheese stores located throughout the United States. "For many years all the stores in our chain have stocked a wide variety of both domestic and imported cheeses. Last year, however, the five best-selling cheeses at our newest store were all domestic cheddar cheeses from Wisconsin. Furthermore, a recent survey by Cheeses of the World magazine indicates an increasing preference for domestic cheeses among its subscribers. Since our company can reduce expenses by limiting inventory, the best way to improve profits in all of our stores is to discontinue stocking many of our varieties of imported cheese and concentrate primarily on domestic cheeses."
(506 words)
In this memo, the author recommendes that our stores have to stop stocking many of our varieties of imported cheese and concentrate primarily on domestic cheeses. To support the recommendation, the author cites some data from some of our newest store and a survey conducted by Cheeses of the World magazine. However, for everal reasons, the evidence offered in support of the recommendation provides little credible support for it.First and foremost, the statement that the five best-selling cheeses at our newest store were all domestic cheddar cheeses from Winsconsin due to the custmors' more freference to domestic cheeses is logically unsound in two respects. First, the author provides no evidence that there are many imported cheeses in these mentioned stores, maybe those stores didn't supply any imported cheeses, and people and no choice but to buy domestic ones. Second, the author cannot logically determine that the fact the domestic cheeses is best-selling is the result of their popularity, perhaps the five stores reduced the price of the cheeses to get a sales promotion. Thus I will not be conviced until the these two possible reasons are accounted for.Secondly, the author provides no evidence that the result of the survey is statistically reliable. It is highly possible that the subscribers of the magazine can't represent the custmors of the cheeses, maybe this magazine is aimed at the people who do some research or sell cheeses, then their preference can't be generalized to the custmors'. Even if there is an increasing preference for domestic cheeses among custmers, it doesn't mean that the sellings of such cheeses will increase too, let alone the ones sold by the author's stores. Under either scenario, the statement that the stores should focus on domestic cheeses is unconvicing.Finally, even if the selling of domestic cheeses in the author's store will increase, the author still can't conclude that discontinue stocking many of imported cheese and concentrate primarily on domestic cheeses will reduce expenses and improve profits in all of the stores. The author doesn't mention the price of imported cheese and domestic ones. What if the former ones are cheaper than the second one? Then the expenses reduced by limiting inventory will be offset by the extra pay. Meanwhile, since the author doesn't mention what kind of cheese will they purchase, it is also possible that only the cheddar cheeses from Winsconsin are popular, or they are just popular in the places where the five newest stores are. Then such a plan may not work by purchase other kinds of domestic cheese or in the other stores expect the five newest ones.In conclusion, the author's recommendation is ill-found. To strengthen is the author must provide clear evidence that the demostic cheeses are popular in the whole nation at least, perhaps by another convincing survey. The author must also provide specific evidence that by discontinue stocking many of our varieties of imported cheese and concentrate primarily on domestic cheeses, the company can actually reduce expenses ts in all the stores .
(506 words)
In this memo, the author recommendes that our stores have to stop stocking many of our varieties of imported cheese and concentrate primarily on domestic cheeses. To support the recommendation, the author cites some data from some of our newest store and a survey conducted by Cheeses of the World magazine. However, for everal reasons, the evidence offered in support of the recommendation provides little credible support for it.First and foremost, the statement that the five best-selling cheeses at our newest store were all domestic cheddar cheeses from Winsconsin due to the custmors' more freference to domestic cheeses is logically unsound in two respects. First, the author provides no evidence that there are many imported cheeses in these mentioned stores, maybe those stores didn't supply any imported cheeses, and people and no choice but to buy domestic ones. Second, the author cannot logically determine that the fact the domestic cheeses is best-selling is the result of their popularity, perhaps the five stores reduced the price of the cheeses to get a sales promotion. Thus I will not be conviced until the these two possible reasons are accounted for.Secondly, the author provides no evidence that the result of the survey is statistically reliable. It is highly possible that the subscribers of the magazine can't represent the custmors of the cheeses, maybe this magazine is aimed at the people who do some research or sell cheeses, then their preference can't be generalized to the custmors'. Even if there is an increasing preference for domestic cheeses among custmers, it doesn't mean that the sellings of such cheeses will increase too, let alone the ones sold by the author's stores. Under either scenario, the statement that the stores should focus on domestic cheeses is unconvicing.Finally, even if the selling of domestic cheeses in the author's store will increase, the author still can't conclude that discontinue stocking many of imported cheese and concentrate primarily on domestic cheeses will reduce expenses and improve profits in all of the stores. The author doesn't mention the price of imported cheese and domestic ones. What if the former ones are cheaper than the second one? Then the expenses reduced by limiting inventory will be offset by the extra pay. Meanwhile, since the author doesn't mention what kind of cheese will they purchase, it is also possible that only the cheddar cheeses from Winsconsin are popular, or they are just popular in the places where the five newest stores are. Then such a plan may not work by purchase other kinds of domestic cheese or in the other stores expect the five newest ones.In conclusion, the author's recommendation is ill-found. To strengthen is the author must provide clear evidence that the demostic cheeses are popular in the whole nation at least, perhaps by another convincing survey. The author must also provide specific evidence that by discontinue stocking many of our varieties of imported cheese and concentrate primarily on domestic cheeses, the company can actually reduce expenses ts in all the stores .
Issue88
88"Technologies not only influence but actually determine social customs and ethics."
(589 words)
I agree with the author that techonologies have something to do with social customs and ethics, and the later two things would be influence by the former one to a sort of extent. However, there are many other factors that influence social customs and ethics, thus the determinance of the two things is complicated.In nowadays world, science and techonology bring about what is called "modern", they help us to be free from hard and meaningless works, focus on the iniative and interested ones. In every country of this world, no matter rich or poor, developed or developing, change is happening every minutes. As for social customs, for example, before the Industrial Revolution, women often just stay at home, do some housework, look after husband and other relatives, rear children, even endure the complaint from mother-in-law. But now, more and more women go out of the narrow rooms, devote themselves into every field, from science to commercial, for art to politic, even president. Another example upon social customs is communication, paper letters were being substituted by E-mail, phone, fax, etc. People don't have to wait for a couple of days to send a message, and need a longer time to receive the reply. No one can deny that these changes of social customs are brought about by technologies.As for ethics, the similar alteration due to technologies has been happening since a long time ago. The production of Dolly, a sheep cloned, proved that it is possible to clone mammals from adult tissue. Panicked, the public calls for an outright ban on human cloning — arguing that human beings have a right to be "born in a human way, and not in a laboratory". Yet before this sheep, any discuss about human cloning is restrained in science fiction, let alone the ethics problem together with it. Meanwhile, the person experiences discomfort unless he or she can be a member of the opposite sex has been stigmatized in many parts of the world for a long time. Though remains controversial, transsexualism has become more widely accepted in Western culture in the mid to late 20th century, concurrently with the sexual revolution and the development of sexual reassignment surgeries. The two example show us how strongly technologies influence and partly determine social customs and ethics side by side.However, there are still some kinds of social customs and ethics which are not changed at all. In the aspect of social customs, for instance, according to the tradition, Tibetans who want to pilgrimage to Lhasa, have to kneel and bow low enough to touch the head to the ground every few steps of the way. Although it is more convenient for Tibetans to go to Lhasa now than ever before -- especially after the Qinghai-Tibet Railway has been open to traffic, no Pilgrim today changes to travel by train, bus, or plane. Because one who take modern vehicles can't be called a pilgrim, just a traveller. In addtion, as for the ethics, even our civilization has been established for over thousands of years, our oppositions to murder, stealing, robbery and cheating have never changed. Because these ethics are the basic of our human society, we can't survive without them, the world will be a mess if they are changed.As discussed above, I agree that technologies influence social customs and ethics, however, whether it can determine customs and ethics must be addressed on a case-to-case basis. Anyway, there is always somtthing that can't be changed, which are also the basic of technologies.
(589 words)
I agree with the author that techonologies have something to do with social customs and ethics, and the later two things would be influence by the former one to a sort of extent. However, there are many other factors that influence social customs and ethics, thus the determinance of the two things is complicated.In nowadays world, science and techonology bring about what is called "modern", they help us to be free from hard and meaningless works, focus on the iniative and interested ones. In every country of this world, no matter rich or poor, developed or developing, change is happening every minutes. As for social customs, for example, before the Industrial Revolution, women often just stay at home, do some housework, look after husband and other relatives, rear children, even endure the complaint from mother-in-law. But now, more and more women go out of the narrow rooms, devote themselves into every field, from science to commercial, for art to politic, even president. Another example upon social customs is communication, paper letters were being substituted by E-mail, phone, fax, etc. People don't have to wait for a couple of days to send a message, and need a longer time to receive the reply. No one can deny that these changes of social customs are brought about by technologies.As for ethics, the similar alteration due to technologies has been happening since a long time ago. The production of Dolly, a sheep cloned, proved that it is possible to clone mammals from adult tissue. Panicked, the public calls for an outright ban on human cloning — arguing that human beings have a right to be "born in a human way, and not in a laboratory". Yet before this sheep, any discuss about human cloning is restrained in science fiction, let alone the ethics problem together with it. Meanwhile, the person experiences discomfort unless he or she can be a member of the opposite sex has been stigmatized in many parts of the world for a long time. Though remains controversial, transsexualism has become more widely accepted in Western culture in the mid to late 20th century, concurrently with the sexual revolution and the development of sexual reassignment surgeries. The two example show us how strongly technologies influence and partly determine social customs and ethics side by side.However, there are still some kinds of social customs and ethics which are not changed at all. In the aspect of social customs, for instance, according to the tradition, Tibetans who want to pilgrimage to Lhasa, have to kneel and bow low enough to touch the head to the ground every few steps of the way. Although it is more convenient for Tibetans to go to Lhasa now than ever before -- especially after the Qinghai-Tibet Railway has been open to traffic, no Pilgrim today changes to travel by train, bus, or plane. Because one who take modern vehicles can't be called a pilgrim, just a traveller. In addtion, as for the ethics, even our civilization has been established for over thousands of years, our oppositions to murder, stealing, robbery and cheating have never changed. Because these ethics are the basic of our human society, we can't survive without them, the world will be a mess if they are changed.As discussed above, I agree that technologies influence social customs and ethics, however, whether it can determine customs and ethics must be addressed on a case-to-case basis. Anyway, there is always somtthing that can't be changed, which are also the basic of technologies.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Argument140
140.The following appeared in a report of the Committee on Faculty Promotions and Salaries at Elm City University. "During her seventeen years as a professor of botany, Professor Thomas has proved herself to be well worth her annual salary of $50,000. Her classes are among the largest at the university, demonstrating her popularity among students. Moreover, the money she has brought to the university in research grants has exceeded her salary in each of the last two years. Therefore, in consideration of Professor Thomas' demonstrated teaching and research abilities, we recommend that she receive a $10,000 raise and a promotion to Department Chairperson; without such a raise and promotion, we fear that Professor Thomas will leave Elm City University for another college."
(592 words)
In this argument, the author comes to the conclusion that Elm City University(ECU) should give professor Thomas, a contemporary faculty of botany, a exceeded salary for $10,000, and promote her to Department Chairperson. To justify the claim, the author points out that the classes teached by professor Thomas are among the largest at ECU. The author also cites that the money professor Thomas has brought to the university in research grants has exceeded her salary in each of the last two years. Such a reasoning seems to be logical, yet close scrutiny of this argument reveals that it is unconvicing in several aspects.First and foremost, the author unfairly claims that the fact that the classes teached by professor Thoma are among the largest at the ECU is the result of Thoma's popularity rather than some other explanation. It is highly possible that the botany class she teached is compulsory, so there is a number of students have to attend her class, no matter like it or not. Even if the class was not compulsory, it's also highly possible that Thoma is the only faculty in ECU who teached fundamental botany, so any student who would like to know some basic of botany have no choice but to her class, or the reason why so many students came to the class only because the exam of this class was easy, and Thoma always gave a high point. Since the author fails to account for these alternative explanation, any sound inference can't be made.In addition, the author highly appraised the money Thoma brought to ECU, mention that such a money was beyond her salary in each of the last two years. However, the author didn't mention other faculty, maybe the money many other professor brought to the university in research were also more than their salary, even far more than Thoma. Without such a comparison, the author can't convice me that Thoma did a better job than others in research. Moreover, the data used to explain how much money Thomas earned were just about the last two years. Since she has worked in ECU for 17 years, we have a reason the know how she did her research in the beginning 15 years. Finally, even if Thomas did better job than other professor, the author didn't say exactly how much is the number the benefit she brought exceeding her salary, so there is no reason to raise her salary for as high as $10,000, maybe such a large number is already beyond the money she earned. Furthermore, the author didn't substantiate Thomas's qualification for Department Chairperson. The job of management varies from the teaching and research, is Thomas competent for a chairperson, we don't know; is there any person, maybe someone had similar experience, who is more suitable to get the position? Is it sure that Thoma will go to another university if she doesn't have her salary raised? We still don't know. Without answering all of these questions, we can't come to the conclusion that Thoma is decent to be paid $10,000 raise, let alone a promotion to Department Chairperson. In sum, the conclusion reached in this argument is invalid and misleading. To make it logically acceptable, the arguer would have to prove that professor Thoma does a better teaching and researching than most of the faculty. Moreover, I would suspend my judgement about the credibility of the this argument until the author can provide more information about the necessity to have Thoma's salary risen and the rationality of the promition.
(592 words)
In this argument, the author comes to the conclusion that Elm City University(ECU) should give professor Thomas, a contemporary faculty of botany, a exceeded salary for $10,000, and promote her to Department Chairperson. To justify the claim, the author points out that the classes teached by professor Thomas are among the largest at ECU. The author also cites that the money professor Thomas has brought to the university in research grants has exceeded her salary in each of the last two years. Such a reasoning seems to be logical, yet close scrutiny of this argument reveals that it is unconvicing in several aspects.First and foremost, the author unfairly claims that the fact that the classes teached by professor Thoma are among the largest at the ECU is the result of Thoma's popularity rather than some other explanation. It is highly possible that the botany class she teached is compulsory, so there is a number of students have to attend her class, no matter like it or not. Even if the class was not compulsory, it's also highly possible that Thoma is the only faculty in ECU who teached fundamental botany, so any student who would like to know some basic of botany have no choice but to her class, or the reason why so many students came to the class only because the exam of this class was easy, and Thoma always gave a high point. Since the author fails to account for these alternative explanation, any sound inference can't be made.In addition, the author highly appraised the money Thoma brought to ECU, mention that such a money was beyond her salary in each of the last two years. However, the author didn't mention other faculty, maybe the money many other professor brought to the university in research were also more than their salary, even far more than Thoma. Without such a comparison, the author can't convice me that Thoma did a better job than others in research. Moreover, the data used to explain how much money Thomas earned were just about the last two years. Since she has worked in ECU for 17 years, we have a reason the know how she did her research in the beginning 15 years. Finally, even if Thomas did better job than other professor, the author didn't say exactly how much is the number the benefit she brought exceeding her salary, so there is no reason to raise her salary for as high as $10,000, maybe such a large number is already beyond the money she earned. Furthermore, the author didn't substantiate Thomas's qualification for Department Chairperson. The job of management varies from the teaching and research, is Thomas competent for a chairperson, we don't know; is there any person, maybe someone had similar experience, who is more suitable to get the position? Is it sure that Thoma will go to another university if she doesn't have her salary raised? We still don't know. Without answering all of these questions, we can't come to the conclusion that Thoma is decent to be paid $10,000 raise, let alone a promotion to Department Chairperson. In sum, the conclusion reached in this argument is invalid and misleading. To make it logically acceptable, the arguer would have to prove that professor Thoma does a better teaching and researching than most of the faculty. Moreover, I would suspend my judgement about the credibility of the this argument until the author can provide more information about the necessity to have Thoma's salary risen and the rationality of the promition.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Issue38
38"In the age of television, reading books is not as important as it once was. People can learn as much by watching television as they can by reading books."
(567 words)
With the development of the science and technology, people tend to spend more time than ever to sit in soft sofa, watching something automatically active from a small box, which is called TV. When it comes to question: which is the best way to learn knowledge -- by the TV or by the books, they are always a pyramid of opinions held by different individuals from different areas. Admittedly, most people would consider that the TV is more appeal to the children more, while the experts may emphasize the books. In my point of view, there is no certain conclusion that who is the winner between TV and books, since all the factors affected are two-edged weapons, we need to discuss this questions under different circumstances.In the ancient China, the only way to evaluate whether a person is well-educated was to see how well his article or poem was. And if a person can pass all examinations in which one needed to do certain written works the government called for, he will get a governmental position, despite his poverty and the inferior class he came from. How could a person wrote a wonderful composition under regulated topic in constrained time? The only way is through reading. Only by reading books, could one write a gifted article, that was the reason why there were so many great authors appearing during the past 4000 years. The situation in foreign country was the same. For instance, Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, is a noted polymath. Named as a leading author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat, he said during his autobiography that, "From my infancy I was passionately fond of reading, and all the money that came into my hands was laid out in the purchasing of books I was very fond of voyages. Reading was the only amusement I allowed myself." Rene Descartes also said, "The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest men of past centuries."When history comes to the modern world, TV began to appear and came into most of the family in the world, people, especially the children and housewives, were appealled by TV. They find it a more vivid way to get information, and this way help them to know more news more quickly than traditional ways -- books or chatting with people. Thus the time they spent on reading books shrank. However, in my viewpoint, even TV has such merits, it's a passive way to recieve information ultimately. We all have such experience -- a news was being reported on TV and the newsreportor mentioned a strange name of a person, or a place which we never heard of, we wanted to know what that name referred to, yet the reporter didn't say any word, and he turned to report other things immediately. Under such situation, if we still merely depend on TV, not the books, then maybe we will never know what that name meant.In sum, there are many ways to learn knowledge, TV and books have their advantadges seperately, as a person living in modern society, we should use all the things we can to acquire all the information we want. Just as Bacon said, "Reading make a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man."
(567 words)
With the development of the science and technology, people tend to spend more time than ever to sit in soft sofa, watching something automatically active from a small box, which is called TV. When it comes to question: which is the best way to learn knowledge -- by the TV or by the books, they are always a pyramid of opinions held by different individuals from different areas. Admittedly, most people would consider that the TV is more appeal to the children more, while the experts may emphasize the books. In my point of view, there is no certain conclusion that who is the winner between TV and books, since all the factors affected are two-edged weapons, we need to discuss this questions under different circumstances.In the ancient China, the only way to evaluate whether a person is well-educated was to see how well his article or poem was. And if a person can pass all examinations in which one needed to do certain written works the government called for, he will get a governmental position, despite his poverty and the inferior class he came from. How could a person wrote a wonderful composition under regulated topic in constrained time? The only way is through reading. Only by reading books, could one write a gifted article, that was the reason why there were so many great authors appearing during the past 4000 years. The situation in foreign country was the same. For instance, Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, is a noted polymath. Named as a leading author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat, he said during his autobiography that, "From my infancy I was passionately fond of reading, and all the money that came into my hands was laid out in the purchasing of books I was very fond of voyages. Reading was the only amusement I allowed myself." Rene Descartes also said, "The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest men of past centuries."When history comes to the modern world, TV began to appear and came into most of the family in the world, people, especially the children and housewives, were appealled by TV. They find it a more vivid way to get information, and this way help them to know more news more quickly than traditional ways -- books or chatting with people. Thus the time they spent on reading books shrank. However, in my viewpoint, even TV has such merits, it's a passive way to recieve information ultimately. We all have such experience -- a news was being reported on TV and the newsreportor mentioned a strange name of a person, or a place which we never heard of, we wanted to know what that name referred to, yet the reporter didn't say any word, and he turned to report other things immediately. Under such situation, if we still merely depend on TV, not the books, then maybe we will never know what that name meant.In sum, there are many ways to learn knowledge, TV and books have their advantadges seperately, as a person living in modern society, we should use all the things we can to acquire all the information we want. Just as Bacon said, "Reading make a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man."
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Argument47
47Scientists studying historical weather patterns have discovered that in the mid-sixth century, Earth suddenly became significantly cooler. Although few historical records survive from that time, some accounts found both in Asia and Europe mention a dimming of the sun and extremely cold temperatures. Either a huge volcanic eruption or a large meteorite colliding with Earth could have created a large dust cloud throughout Earth's atmosphere that would have been capable of blocking enough sunlight to lower global temperatures significantly. A large meteorite collision, however, would probably create a sudden bright flash of light, and no extant historical records of the time mention such a flash. Some surviving Asian historical records of the time, however, mention a loud boom that would be consistent with a volcanic eruption. Therefore, the cooling was probably caused by a volcanic eruption.
(467 words)
The article cites some surviving Asian historical records that a loud boom appeared in the middle six century, From these records, the author concludes that it was a volcanic eruption that caused the sudden cooling of the earth. In addition, just because on extant historical records of the time mention a flash, the author ruled out another important explanation for the cooling, that is, the meterorite colliding. This argument is flawed in several critical respects.The argument unfairly claims that the cooling of the earth is the result of a dimming of the sun, rather than some other phenomenon, such as the changes of the speed of the ocean circulation, the transformation of the distant between the sun and the earth. Together with the plain fact that only in Asia and Europe some accounts mention a dimming of the sun, the above two reasons were more likely to happen. In short, without exclude all other possible explanations for the cooling of the earth, the author can't convince me that it was by a dimming of the sun, earth suddenly became significantly cooler.Even if the cooling the earth did be led to by a dimming of the sun, the author made a mistake by setting up a cause-and-effect relationship between no record of the flash and no collision. It's highly possible that there was a flash by meterorite at that time, yet no one noticed such a phenomenon, because this meterorite hit the earth at a place where is far away from any urban or rural area at that time. Or maybe there were many people noticed the collision, but no one tried to record it, or there was such a record, yet it disappeared, or there was some records about this collision, another phenomenon accompanied by the collision rather than flash was recorded.Finally, even there wasn't any meteorite colliding with earth at all, and a loud boom actually happened in antient Asia at the time, there still existed a possibity that the boom is caused by other reason, such as earthquake, hillside creep, rather than volcanic eruption. The author's failure to investigate or even take into account other possible reasons for the boom renders the conclusion based upon it highly suspect.In sum, the conclution reached in this argument is invalid and misleading. To make it logically acceptable, the arguer would have to substantiate that a dimming of the sun was sure to be the only reason that caused the cooling of the earth, and that no meterorite happened anywhere in the earth at that time. Moreover, I would suspend my judgement about the credibility of this argument until the author can provide more informatian about that boom, and use more scientific results and archeologichal data to make the appearance of the volcanic eruption firmer.
(467 words)
The article cites some surviving Asian historical records that a loud boom appeared in the middle six century, From these records, the author concludes that it was a volcanic eruption that caused the sudden cooling of the earth. In addition, just because on extant historical records of the time mention a flash, the author ruled out another important explanation for the cooling, that is, the meterorite colliding. This argument is flawed in several critical respects.The argument unfairly claims that the cooling of the earth is the result of a dimming of the sun, rather than some other phenomenon, such as the changes of the speed of the ocean circulation, the transformation of the distant between the sun and the earth. Together with the plain fact that only in Asia and Europe some accounts mention a dimming of the sun, the above two reasons were more likely to happen. In short, without exclude all other possible explanations for the cooling of the earth, the author can't convince me that it was by a dimming of the sun, earth suddenly became significantly cooler.Even if the cooling the earth did be led to by a dimming of the sun, the author made a mistake by setting up a cause-and-effect relationship between no record of the flash and no collision. It's highly possible that there was a flash by meterorite at that time, yet no one noticed such a phenomenon, because this meterorite hit the earth at a place where is far away from any urban or rural area at that time. Or maybe there were many people noticed the collision, but no one tried to record it, or there was such a record, yet it disappeared, or there was some records about this collision, another phenomenon accompanied by the collision rather than flash was recorded.Finally, even there wasn't any meteorite colliding with earth at all, and a loud boom actually happened in antient Asia at the time, there still existed a possibity that the boom is caused by other reason, such as earthquake, hillside creep, rather than volcanic eruption. The author's failure to investigate or even take into account other possible reasons for the boom renders the conclusion based upon it highly suspect.In sum, the conclution reached in this argument is invalid and misleading. To make it logically acceptable, the arguer would have to substantiate that a dimming of the sun was sure to be the only reason that caused the cooling of the earth, and that no meterorite happened anywhere in the earth at that time. Moreover, I would suspend my judgement about the credibility of this argument until the author can provide more informatian about that boom, and use more scientific results and archeologichal data to make the appearance of the volcanic eruption firmer.
Issue36
36"The greatness of individuals can be decided only by those who live after them, not by their contemporaries."
(488 words)
It's what he had done leads to a single person's greatness, not what kind of person he himself was. We define a person as "greatness" always due to the impact his action made on society, the influence his idea add to other people, the moving his experience took during the periods. Moreover, what the great man thought and did was often refered as odd and ridiculous. As for this matter, people in their same time can't understand the things those great men did. On the other hand, those people who did many wrong, or even cruel things may be rewarded as a hero by their contemporaries.There are many such examples in political realm. During the 4000 years of China, the nation's empire always changed. According to the tradition, the post of empire was always given to his son or other relatives, by generation to generation, until a man in a different family took the position, that's how a new dynasty began. As an old Chinese proverbs said: Winner takes it all, while loser stands small. Winston Churchill, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom once wrote: "History is writen by victors.". Another example is Maozedong, the former president of the P.R.China(PRC). Admired by people all around the China before his death, Mao was blamed for the excesses of the Cultural Revolution after his passing away. It's only after Deng Xiaoping, completely unlike Mao, subsequently loosened governmental control over citizens' personal lives, that living standards have seen extremely large improvements, and freedom continues to expand for much of the PRC's population.As in arts field, many artists and author died poorly, while the value of their products was recognized by later generations, and became popular all over the world, some of these products were remained for thousands of years as classics. Van Gogh suffered from non-recognitoin of his art and the subsequent poverty and mental derangement. Yet today, Van Gogh's paintings, especially those done during his poverty, are pursuited by many crazy collectors.When it comes to the scientific territory, this point is still suitable. Giordano Bruno,the man who challenged the infallibility of the Roman Catholic Church by altering the accepted theory of the earth's position in the universe, was burned at the stake as a heretic. Another scientist, Galileo, a physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher, had played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. Although as the "father of modern observational astronomy" and the "father of science", Galileo was eventually forced to recant his heliocentric theory and spent the last years of his life under house arrest on orders of the Roman Inquisition.In sum, although the contemporaries can judge a man as great or not in experience, yet the definitoin of the "greatness" comes from whether the things he had done had a great function in the history, only by this, we can find out one's true position. Above all, history is the ultimate judge.
(488 words)
It's what he had done leads to a single person's greatness, not what kind of person he himself was. We define a person as "greatness" always due to the impact his action made on society, the influence his idea add to other people, the moving his experience took during the periods. Moreover, what the great man thought and did was often refered as odd and ridiculous. As for this matter, people in their same time can't understand the things those great men did. On the other hand, those people who did many wrong, or even cruel things may be rewarded as a hero by their contemporaries.There are many such examples in political realm. During the 4000 years of China, the nation's empire always changed. According to the tradition, the post of empire was always given to his son or other relatives, by generation to generation, until a man in a different family took the position, that's how a new dynasty began. As an old Chinese proverbs said: Winner takes it all, while loser stands small. Winston Churchill, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom once wrote: "History is writen by victors.". Another example is Maozedong, the former president of the P.R.China(PRC). Admired by people all around the China before his death, Mao was blamed for the excesses of the Cultural Revolution after his passing away. It's only after Deng Xiaoping, completely unlike Mao, subsequently loosened governmental control over citizens' personal lives, that living standards have seen extremely large improvements, and freedom continues to expand for much of the PRC's population.As in arts field, many artists and author died poorly, while the value of their products was recognized by later generations, and became popular all over the world, some of these products were remained for thousands of years as classics. Van Gogh suffered from non-recognitoin of his art and the subsequent poverty and mental derangement. Yet today, Van Gogh's paintings, especially those done during his poverty, are pursuited by many crazy collectors.When it comes to the scientific territory, this point is still suitable. Giordano Bruno,the man who challenged the infallibility of the Roman Catholic Church by altering the accepted theory of the earth's position in the universe, was burned at the stake as a heretic. Another scientist, Galileo, a physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher, had played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. Although as the "father of modern observational astronomy" and the "father of science", Galileo was eventually forced to recant his heliocentric theory and spent the last years of his life under house arrest on orders of the Roman Inquisition.In sum, although the contemporaries can judge a man as great or not in experience, yet the definitoin of the "greatness" comes from whether the things he had done had a great function in the history, only by this, we can find out one's true position. Above all, history is the ultimate judge.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Argument2
2.The following appeared in a letter sent by a committee of homeowners from the Deerhaven Acres to all homeowners in Deerhaven Acres. "Seven years ago, homeowners in nearby Brookville community adopted a set of restrictions on how the community's yards should be landscaped and what colors the exteriors of homes should be painted. Since then, average property values have tripled in Brookville. In order to raise property values in Deerhaven Acres, we should adopt our own set of restrictions on landscaping and housepainting."
(438 words)
In this argument the author comes to the conclusion that Deerhaven Acres should adpot their own set of restrictions on landscaping and housepainting. To justify the claim, the author points out that seven years ago, average property values tripled in Brookville community since their homeowners adopted some restrictions on the landscaping of the community's yards and the colors of the exteriors of homes. This claim sound logical, yet close scrutiny of this argument reveals that it is unconvincing in several aspects.First and foremost, the argument unfairly claims that the increase of average property values is the result of the restrictions on yards and exteriors of the house rather than some other phenomenon. The arguer ignores a host of other possible reasons for the increasing values. Perhaps there is a subway station was established in Brookville, therefore it's more convenient for its citizens to go to job in the downtown, or go for a journey on vacation, thus need for houses in this community increased; or perhaps there was an inflation during that time. Without ruling out all other possibles explanations for the growing values, the author can't convine me that the restriction is the only reason for value increasing.Secondly, author's inference rests on the poor assumption that during such a long time as seven years, the effects of such restrictions remain, and as people moved out and moved in, maybe the citizens now in Brookville don't like the standards they set seven years ago any more, and they are trying to change that. It is also entirely possible that the resctrictions are becoming an encumber for value of the house to continue increase, maybe the cost people should take to buy house in Broolville is becoming less and less in the very recently.Finally, the author failed to consider possible differences between Deerhaven and Broolville, which might help to bring about a different result for Brookville. In fact, it is entirely possible that Brookville is near a university, so the teachers there has a solid demands for houses. Without counting for these and other possible dissimilalrities any analogy between the two community is premature.In sum, the conclusion reached in this argument is invalid and misleading. To make it logically acceptable, the arguer would have to substantiate that the instrictions is the only reason for the growing value, and that even after seven years, this rule can still work. Moreover, I want to know that if there is some key point that can make the difference between Broolville and Deerhaven, if there isn't, then I can believe that it's suitable to set some restrictions for Deerhaven.
(438 words)
In this argument the author comes to the conclusion that Deerhaven Acres should adpot their own set of restrictions on landscaping and housepainting. To justify the claim, the author points out that seven years ago, average property values tripled in Brookville community since their homeowners adopted some restrictions on the landscaping of the community's yards and the colors of the exteriors of homes. This claim sound logical, yet close scrutiny of this argument reveals that it is unconvincing in several aspects.First and foremost, the argument unfairly claims that the increase of average property values is the result of the restrictions on yards and exteriors of the house rather than some other phenomenon. The arguer ignores a host of other possible reasons for the increasing values. Perhaps there is a subway station was established in Brookville, therefore it's more convenient for its citizens to go to job in the downtown, or go for a journey on vacation, thus need for houses in this community increased; or perhaps there was an inflation during that time. Without ruling out all other possibles explanations for the growing values, the author can't convine me that the restriction is the only reason for value increasing.Secondly, author's inference rests on the poor assumption that during such a long time as seven years, the effects of such restrictions remain, and as people moved out and moved in, maybe the citizens now in Brookville don't like the standards they set seven years ago any more, and they are trying to change that. It is also entirely possible that the resctrictions are becoming an encumber for value of the house to continue increase, maybe the cost people should take to buy house in Broolville is becoming less and less in the very recently.Finally, the author failed to consider possible differences between Deerhaven and Broolville, which might help to bring about a different result for Brookville. In fact, it is entirely possible that Brookville is near a university, so the teachers there has a solid demands for houses. Without counting for these and other possible dissimilalrities any analogy between the two community is premature.In sum, the conclusion reached in this argument is invalid and misleading. To make it logically acceptable, the arguer would have to substantiate that the instrictions is the only reason for the growing value, and that even after seven years, this rule can still work. Moreover, I want to know that if there is some key point that can make the difference between Broolville and Deerhaven, if there isn't, then I can believe that it's suitable to set some restrictions for Deerhaven.
Issue208
208."The way people look, dress, and act reveals their attitudes and interests. You can tell much about a society's ideas and values by observing the appearance and behavior of its people."
(450 words)
It can be proved by many psychological research that men's attitudes and interests can partly be reflected by the way they look, dress and act. And if most of the people in a certain society appear and behave like each other, one can easily summarize the society's ideas and values. However, sometimes this way to deducing guys' attitudes and interests is not complete, it should be dicussed nore deeply under different circumstances.In our daily life, it's natural to see a professor wearing a humble cloth, while a rich woman dressing the most popular and expensive coat. The reason why people choose to dress in this way and not in other way can easily be concluded by their attitudes and interests. Therefore, if most citizens in a country are dressed in traditional costume, then it's highly possible this country has a value referred to tradition rather than modernization.Moreother, only by deep and long-term observation can the conduction of a person or society be set up. For example, Marco Polo, a trader and explorer from the Venetian Republic, together with his father and his uncle, travelled through silk road to China, then spend more than 17 years during Yuan Dynasty. After contacing to almost every class in China, from emperor to folk, he wrote The Travels of Marco Polo, which make him well known all over the world. Alexis de Tocqueville, a French political thinker and historian, best known for his Democracy in America. After nine months examining and considerating how the United States was established, he wrote that well selling book, in which he explored the effects of the rising equality of social conditions on the individual in this country.Admittedly, the observation doesn't always work, people who only observe or believe the one-sided statement, can make mistake sometimes, in most situations, they draw a ridiculous conclusion. For instance, Robert Lawrence Kuhn, the author of The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin, the best-selling book of 2005 in China, said the human right situation in China is perfect. Meanwhile, he also cited some wrong data from leading survey, historical and demographical meterials to arrive at a conclusion that Chinese people are more suitable to live in one-party system. I can't imagin one who still have any faith to freedom and democracy can agree with him.In sum, the observation is vital in judging a person's attitude and interests, as well as in judging a society's ideas and values, yet it's not complete. To escape superfical conclusion and stupid result, one need to recur to all-around datas and deep consideration. Only through this way, can the conclusion be near the truth as much as possible.
(450 words)
It can be proved by many psychological research that men's attitudes and interests can partly be reflected by the way they look, dress and act. And if most of the people in a certain society appear and behave like each other, one can easily summarize the society's ideas and values. However, sometimes this way to deducing guys' attitudes and interests is not complete, it should be dicussed nore deeply under different circumstances.In our daily life, it's natural to see a professor wearing a humble cloth, while a rich woman dressing the most popular and expensive coat. The reason why people choose to dress in this way and not in other way can easily be concluded by their attitudes and interests. Therefore, if most citizens in a country are dressed in traditional costume, then it's highly possible this country has a value referred to tradition rather than modernization.Moreother, only by deep and long-term observation can the conduction of a person or society be set up. For example, Marco Polo, a trader and explorer from the Venetian Republic, together with his father and his uncle, travelled through silk road to China, then spend more than 17 years during Yuan Dynasty. After contacing to almost every class in China, from emperor to folk, he wrote The Travels of Marco Polo, which make him well known all over the world. Alexis de Tocqueville, a French political thinker and historian, best known for his Democracy in America. After nine months examining and considerating how the United States was established, he wrote that well selling book, in which he explored the effects of the rising equality of social conditions on the individual in this country.Admittedly, the observation doesn't always work, people who only observe or believe the one-sided statement, can make mistake sometimes, in most situations, they draw a ridiculous conclusion. For instance, Robert Lawrence Kuhn, the author of The Man Who Changed China: The Life and Legacy of Jiang Zemin, the best-selling book of 2005 in China, said the human right situation in China is perfect. Meanwhile, he also cited some wrong data from leading survey, historical and demographical meterials to arrive at a conclusion that Chinese people are more suitable to live in one-party system. I can't imagin one who still have any faith to freedom and democracy can agree with him.In sum, the observation is vital in judging a person's attitude and interests, as well as in judging a society's ideas and values, yet it's not complete. To escape superfical conclusion and stupid result, one need to recur to all-around datas and deep consideration. Only through this way, can the conclusion be near the truth as much as possible.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Issue41
41"Such nonmainstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling, and psychic and paranormal pursuits play a vital role in society by satisfying human needs that are not addressed by mainstream science."
(540 words)
With the development of the science and technology, as science can explain many questions we meet everyday, no matter material or ideological ones, there are more and more people are beginning to think that the science can solve every setback during our lives. However, there still exist a host of persons who hold the nition that science can't help human being out of everything. In my point of view, the two facets are not mutually exclusive, what the achievements of the elites means is just the welfare of the people.The nonmianstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling and psychic and paranormal pursuits have a long history. Before science's value was recognized by most people, they maneuvor the society for thousands of years. They did many good to the development of human being, as long as the bad things. For example, Copernics, astromer and founder of the heliocentric ordering of the planets, wrote many great masterpieces on astronomy and mathematics. However, thank to the pope then, who insisted that the earth is the core of the universe, the books Copernics wrote had not be read by public until his death. It is said that no great book of western intellectual history circulated less widely and was read by fewer people than Copernicus's Revolution. Nonetheless, it has come to be considered a seminal text of modern astronomy. We can also learn from this story that some so-called non-mainstream pursuits today may become mainstream fields of science tomorrow.Admittedly, non-mainstream areas have survived for thousands of years and still hold considerable influence over the masses for several reasons. To begin with, people are born curious. For people with such an anxious propensity to know their fate and the future, whether good or bad, astrology, fortune-telling and psychics serve as comfort. Ignorance, which largely originates from lack of education, allows for acceptance of such metaphysical research. Our civilization and culture has survived since ancient times, when people were ignorant of the true causes of natural phenomana. The only way to explain events was to resort to areas like astrology, which held respected roles as the sources of truth. Even with thousands of years of social evolution, some portions of those traditional cultures remain intact as non-mainstream elements in our present day society.While non-mainstream pursuits might help some people feel better about themselves, their choices and their consequences, speculation is of no tangible value to either individual or society. First, such pursuits are not rooted in reason. Second, without means to evaluate the legitimacy of these avenues of inquiry, participants become vulnerable to self-deception, false hopes, fantastic ideas, and detrimental delusion. So-called insights gained from these pursuits can easily serve as a convenient excuse for dangerous, irrational and unreasonable actions.In sum, the explosive development of science and technology has more or less brought about many chance to conquer the problem, as well as some new challenges and problems that people cannot solve using science only, which means that the nonmainstream areas is to some extent relevant to their daily lives and can them accomplish their goals more successfully in modern society. Those nonmainstream areas do play a vital role in society by satisfying humab needs that are not addressed by mainstream science.
(540 words)
With the development of the science and technology, as science can explain many questions we meet everyday, no matter material or ideological ones, there are more and more people are beginning to think that the science can solve every setback during our lives. However, there still exist a host of persons who hold the nition that science can't help human being out of everything. In my point of view, the two facets are not mutually exclusive, what the achievements of the elites means is just the welfare of the people.The nonmianstream areas of inquiry as astrology, fortune-telling and psychic and paranormal pursuits have a long history. Before science's value was recognized by most people, they maneuvor the society for thousands of years. They did many good to the development of human being, as long as the bad things. For example, Copernics, astromer and founder of the heliocentric ordering of the planets, wrote many great masterpieces on astronomy and mathematics. However, thank to the pope then, who insisted that the earth is the core of the universe, the books Copernics wrote had not be read by public until his death. It is said that no great book of western intellectual history circulated less widely and was read by fewer people than Copernicus's Revolution. Nonetheless, it has come to be considered a seminal text of modern astronomy. We can also learn from this story that some so-called non-mainstream pursuits today may become mainstream fields of science tomorrow.Admittedly, non-mainstream areas have survived for thousands of years and still hold considerable influence over the masses for several reasons. To begin with, people are born curious. For people with such an anxious propensity to know their fate and the future, whether good or bad, astrology, fortune-telling and psychics serve as comfort. Ignorance, which largely originates from lack of education, allows for acceptance of such metaphysical research. Our civilization and culture has survived since ancient times, when people were ignorant of the true causes of natural phenomana. The only way to explain events was to resort to areas like astrology, which held respected roles as the sources of truth. Even with thousands of years of social evolution, some portions of those traditional cultures remain intact as non-mainstream elements in our present day society.While non-mainstream pursuits might help some people feel better about themselves, their choices and their consequences, speculation is of no tangible value to either individual or society. First, such pursuits are not rooted in reason. Second, without means to evaluate the legitimacy of these avenues of inquiry, participants become vulnerable to self-deception, false hopes, fantastic ideas, and detrimental delusion. So-called insights gained from these pursuits can easily serve as a convenient excuse for dangerous, irrational and unreasonable actions.In sum, the explosive development of science and technology has more or less brought about many chance to conquer the problem, as well as some new challenges and problems that people cannot solve using science only, which means that the nonmainstream areas is to some extent relevant to their daily lives and can them accomplish their goals more successfully in modern society. Those nonmainstream areas do play a vital role in society by satisfying humab needs that are not addressed by mainstream science.
Translation of North Ameria -- Issue186
186."Practicality is now our great idol, which all powers and talents must serve. Anything that is not obviously practical has little value in today's world."
(699 words)
Is the practicality our great idol, which all powers and talents must serve? The proposition is greatly valuable with respect to most realms of human endeavor -- including education, art and politics. I take exception with the claim when it comes to the direction of the scientific research today. Practicality seems to be the litmus test for today's education. Elementary school students learn how to use the computer right along with the skill of reading and writing. Both our junior and senior middle schools are cutting the courses on art, which ostensibly has less value than other lessons. In addition, more and more undergradutes choose to major in technical fields for the purpose of securing lucrative jobs immediately after university. It can't be denied that many university students still advance to graduate-level study, yet the MBA is the most popular such dgree. After all, business administration is ultimately about practicality and pragmatism -- that is, to "fulfill the job" and to pay attention to the "bottomline".Today, what kind of art is produced is also dominated by practicality. Most new architectures today are affected by the functionality, security and cost, there are few architectural masterpieces find their way past the blueprint stage, if any. Moreover, the content of story films and music is totally controled by demographic considerations -- that is, by catering to the interests of 18 to 35 year olds, who account for most movie tickets and music CD sales. Meanwhile, the prior thing today's publishing industry should think of, is to deliver viable products to the marketplace. Our bookshells are filled with glut of "how to" books, which is the evidence that the publishers are pandering to our practicality as well. It isn't that artists today are not no longer creating perfect works in the nature of great artistic value. Self-contained record companys, moviemakers and presses abound today, but they are not booming, and they constitute a minuscule segment of the market. The property developers, tycoons in entertainment and publishing field only concern practicality of the products and profit they can create, not their artistic value and integrity.Practicality is also the overriding concern in contemporary politics. Most politicians seem propeled by the interest in being elected and reelected, rather than by any sense of mission, even sense of responsibility for the voters and country. The tactics and negotiation in diplomacy and legislation usually often appear intended to satisfy the relevant people -- minimizing costs, preserving options, and so forth. Those who would defend the author may claim that the people who mobilize the masses, agitate revolutions, and make political ideolody reality are idealists, not pragmatists. Consider such idealists as the founders of the United States, or Mahatma Gandhi, or Martin Luther King. Has these idealists only concerned themselves with short-term survival and immediate needs, rather than with their notions of utopia, the America and India may still be the colonies of Great Britain, and African Americans may still be relegated to the back row of buses. Though I concede this point, the plain fact is that such idealists are far fewer in number today. On the other hand, this claim amounts to an overstatement when it comes to the scientific research. The most popular surgery in medicine is cosmetic operation, this procedure strikes me as highly impractical, given the health risk and expense involved. Admittedly, the digital revolution today serves many pragmatic concerns, such as communicating and accessing information more quickly and efficiently. Much research on chemistry aimed at practicality -- to give us more convenience and make our life more comfortable. However, in other aspects, scientific research isn't driven by immidiate pragmatism, but rather toward broad and long-term objectives, such as the research on public sanitation, quality of life and environmental conservation.In sum, practicality may be our great idol in the realms of education, arts and politics. But I find that this version to be unfair generalization with respect to science. Finally, I query whether the claim begs the question. Above all, practicality doesn't merely mean the immediate needs, it also includes the long-term planning and prevention aimed at ensuring the quality of our future life, and our very survival as a species.
(699 words)
Is the practicality our great idol, which all powers and talents must serve? The proposition is greatly valuable with respect to most realms of human endeavor -- including education, art and politics. I take exception with the claim when it comes to the direction of the scientific research today. Practicality seems to be the litmus test for today's education. Elementary school students learn how to use the computer right along with the skill of reading and writing. Both our junior and senior middle schools are cutting the courses on art, which ostensibly has less value than other lessons. In addition, more and more undergradutes choose to major in technical fields for the purpose of securing lucrative jobs immediately after university. It can't be denied that many university students still advance to graduate-level study, yet the MBA is the most popular such dgree. After all, business administration is ultimately about practicality and pragmatism -- that is, to "fulfill the job" and to pay attention to the "bottomline".Today, what kind of art is produced is also dominated by practicality. Most new architectures today are affected by the functionality, security and cost, there are few architectural masterpieces find their way past the blueprint stage, if any. Moreover, the content of story films and music is totally controled by demographic considerations -- that is, by catering to the interests of 18 to 35 year olds, who account for most movie tickets and music CD sales. Meanwhile, the prior thing today's publishing industry should think of, is to deliver viable products to the marketplace. Our bookshells are filled with glut of "how to" books, which is the evidence that the publishers are pandering to our practicality as well. It isn't that artists today are not no longer creating perfect works in the nature of great artistic value. Self-contained record companys, moviemakers and presses abound today, but they are not booming, and they constitute a minuscule segment of the market. The property developers, tycoons in entertainment and publishing field only concern practicality of the products and profit they can create, not their artistic value and integrity.Practicality is also the overriding concern in contemporary politics. Most politicians seem propeled by the interest in being elected and reelected, rather than by any sense of mission, even sense of responsibility for the voters and country. The tactics and negotiation in diplomacy and legislation usually often appear intended to satisfy the relevant people -- minimizing costs, preserving options, and so forth. Those who would defend the author may claim that the people who mobilize the masses, agitate revolutions, and make political ideolody reality are idealists, not pragmatists. Consider such idealists as the founders of the United States, or Mahatma Gandhi, or Martin Luther King. Has these idealists only concerned themselves with short-term survival and immediate needs, rather than with their notions of utopia, the America and India may still be the colonies of Great Britain, and African Americans may still be relegated to the back row of buses. Though I concede this point, the plain fact is that such idealists are far fewer in number today. On the other hand, this claim amounts to an overstatement when it comes to the scientific research. The most popular surgery in medicine is cosmetic operation, this procedure strikes me as highly impractical, given the health risk and expense involved. Admittedly, the digital revolution today serves many pragmatic concerns, such as communicating and accessing information more quickly and efficiently. Much research on chemistry aimed at practicality -- to give us more convenience and make our life more comfortable. However, in other aspects, scientific research isn't driven by immidiate pragmatism, but rather toward broad and long-term objectives, such as the research on public sanitation, quality of life and environmental conservation.In sum, practicality may be our great idol in the realms of education, arts and politics. But I find that this version to be unfair generalization with respect to science. Finally, I query whether the claim begs the question. Above all, practicality doesn't merely mean the immediate needs, it also includes the long-term planning and prevention aimed at ensuring the quality of our future life, and our very survival as a species.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Argument51
51The following appeared in a medical newsletter.'Doctors have long suspected that secondary infections may keep some patients from healing quickly after severe muscle strain. This hypothesis has now been proved by preliminary results of a study of two groups of patients. The first group of patients, all being treated for muscle injuries by Dr. Newland, a doctor who specializes in sports medicine, took antibiotics regularly throughout their treatment. Their recuperation time was, on average, 40 percent quicker than typically expected. Patients in the second group, all being treated by Dr. Alton, a general physician, were given sugar pills, although the patients believed they were taking antibiotics. Their average recuperation time was not significantly reduced. Therefore, all patients who are diagnosed with muscle strain would be well advised to take antibiotics as part of their treatment.'
(361 words)
This argument suggested that all patients who are diagnosed with muscle strain would take antibiotics as part of their treatment. To convice reader, the author cited a survey which appeared that the patients who took antibiotics regularly has their recuperation time 40 percent less then another group of patients who took sugar pill instead. However, this argument is flawed in several critical respects.First, close scrutity appears that the samples for the survey aren't statistically reliable.
Acctually, from the survey we find little sign of such procedures for sampling, thus doubting whether the respondents constitute a sufficiently large sample so as to be representative of the overall population of the patients who took muscle injuries. We can also suspect such procedures as random sampling, and if this is the case, the results of the survey will be unconvicing.
Secondly, the author make a "faulty of analogy" fallacy. Since Dr. Newland specializes in sports medicine, it is highly possible that he is more skillful and experienced then Dr.Alton, who is just a general antibiotics, thus the first group may receive better treatment on other recuperation process expect the pill, or gets more efficiency guidence to recover. And the author can't not rule out the chance the first group's wounds are not that as the second group, that means they are healthier, then their sooner recover is natural and easy to understand.
Finally, even if the antibiotics can surely prevent the secondary infection, thus the patients have fewer possibility to heal more fastly. The author didn't substantiate that the pill also has anything to do with the diagnosation of aptient who already have muscle strain. Moreover, lacking scientific evidence that the antibiotics don't have any sideeffects to the patients with an exsiting wound, the author can't convince me that it's necessary to let such patients take the pills.
In sum, the conclusion reached in this arrument is invalid and misleading, to make it logically acceptable, the arguer would have to substantiate that the antibiotics is the only reason for the quicker recuperation, and he must give out some prove that the pills will di something good to the guys with a muscle strain.
(361 words)
This argument suggested that all patients who are diagnosed with muscle strain would take antibiotics as part of their treatment. To convice reader, the author cited a survey which appeared that the patients who took antibiotics regularly has their recuperation time 40 percent less then another group of patients who took sugar pill instead. However, this argument is flawed in several critical respects.First, close scrutity appears that the samples for the survey aren't statistically reliable.
Acctually, from the survey we find little sign of such procedures for sampling, thus doubting whether the respondents constitute a sufficiently large sample so as to be representative of the overall population of the patients who took muscle injuries. We can also suspect such procedures as random sampling, and if this is the case, the results of the survey will be unconvicing.
Secondly, the author make a "faulty of analogy" fallacy. Since Dr. Newland specializes in sports medicine, it is highly possible that he is more skillful and experienced then Dr.Alton, who is just a general antibiotics, thus the first group may receive better treatment on other recuperation process expect the pill, or gets more efficiency guidence to recover. And the author can't not rule out the chance the first group's wounds are not that as the second group, that means they are healthier, then their sooner recover is natural and easy to understand.
Finally, even if the antibiotics can surely prevent the secondary infection, thus the patients have fewer possibility to heal more fastly. The author didn't substantiate that the pill also has anything to do with the diagnosation of aptient who already have muscle strain. Moreover, lacking scientific evidence that the antibiotics don't have any sideeffects to the patients with an exsiting wound, the author can't convince me that it's necessary to let such patients take the pills.
In sum, the conclusion reached in this arrument is invalid and misleading, to make it logically acceptable, the arguer would have to substantiate that the antibiotics is the only reason for the quicker recuperation, and he must give out some prove that the pills will di something good to the guys with a muscle strain.
Issue51
51"Education will be truly effective only when it is specifically designed to meet the individual needs and interests of each student."
(438 words)
The issue of whether specifical designation to satisfy the individual needs and interests of each student is the only judge to an effective education is a complex one, since it involves a conflict between education and citizenship. In my point of view, the final judgement should depend on a case-by-case analysis of the two parts.It's true that needs and interests are part-and-parcel of the studying progress. They two are always referred to as the best teachers. The more useful and interesting a student finds a course, the more time and efforts he is willing to devote; the more time and efforts he devotes, the more progress he is likely to make in the course; the more progress he make in a course, the more interested he is in the course. Were individual needs and interests removed from our educational system, how can you imagine that our students would learn by heart a number of disciplines every day which they cannot find any interest in; how can you imagine that test-takers would remenber everything they have recited after the examination is over; and how can you imagine that our teacher's feelings would not be hurt when they see their pupils just doodle the class away?However, though the speaker's assertion that education catering to individual needs and interests has many merits, one can't wield the two points merely to certify the effection of education. For example, an important aspect of education in the United States is the relationship between education and national identity. Throughout its history, this nation has emphasized public education as a means of transmitting democratic values, creating equality of opportunity, and preparing new generations of citizens to function in society. These values are the basic of the country, these are why US was established, and how the government serves its citizens. Thus the teachers and faculties in the United States will treat these as normal ideas for which all the masses should take granted. At this monent, the specificality doesn't exist, yet few would agree that this point adversely affects its effort.To sum up, due to the above mentioned reasons, which sometimes correlate with each other to generate an integrate whole and thus become more convincing than any single one of them, we may be comfortable to say that specifical designation to surfice to the individual needs and interests of each student is prerequsite for a certain education to be taken as "truly effective", however, there are some situations in which above two things can't be taken as the only judgement, it's better to add the benefit of society to make it more reasoned.
(438 words)
The issue of whether specifical designation to satisfy the individual needs and interests of each student is the only judge to an effective education is a complex one, since it involves a conflict between education and citizenship. In my point of view, the final judgement should depend on a case-by-case analysis of the two parts.It's true that needs and interests are part-and-parcel of the studying progress. They two are always referred to as the best teachers. The more useful and interesting a student finds a course, the more time and efforts he is willing to devote; the more time and efforts he devotes, the more progress he is likely to make in the course; the more progress he make in a course, the more interested he is in the course. Were individual needs and interests removed from our educational system, how can you imagine that our students would learn by heart a number of disciplines every day which they cannot find any interest in; how can you imagine that test-takers would remenber everything they have recited after the examination is over; and how can you imagine that our teacher's feelings would not be hurt when they see their pupils just doodle the class away?However, though the speaker's assertion that education catering to individual needs and interests has many merits, one can't wield the two points merely to certify the effection of education. For example, an important aspect of education in the United States is the relationship between education and national identity. Throughout its history, this nation has emphasized public education as a means of transmitting democratic values, creating equality of opportunity, and preparing new generations of citizens to function in society. These values are the basic of the country, these are why US was established, and how the government serves its citizens. Thus the teachers and faculties in the United States will treat these as normal ideas for which all the masses should take granted. At this monent, the specificality doesn't exist, yet few would agree that this point adversely affects its effort.To sum up, due to the above mentioned reasons, which sometimes correlate with each other to generate an integrate whole and thus become more convincing than any single one of them, we may be comfortable to say that specifical designation to surfice to the individual needs and interests of each student is prerequsite for a certain education to be taken as "truly effective", however, there are some situations in which above two things can't be taken as the only judgement, it's better to add the benefit of society to make it more reasoned.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Issue43
43."To be an effective leader, a public official must maintain the highest ethical and moral standards."
(455 words)
The debate about what kinds of quality should an effective leader has has lasted for thousands of years. When it comes to the level of ethical and moral standards, there are always a host of different opinions held by different individuals from different areas. Shouldn't, you may wonder, a public official must maintain ethical and moral standards to some sort of extent? Admittedly, most people wound agree. The key question that need us to talk over is what is the degree? Must it be the highest one? My answer is: yes, absolutely.Obviously, people nowadays are more concerned about a publice official's ethical and moral standards. The most effective leaders are those who maximize the public's interests and fulfil the promise, the ones that has been given out to the people from whom he gets his power and receive his fee. Moreover, the prevailing view of an effecive leader in both east or west of the world is to be honest to the public, to tell them what you did and what will you do completely as it concerns with the official business, especially when you are in trouble. As one of the famous philosophers ever writes, "Truth heals." As a public official, no matter how high or how low his position is, no matter how large or how small his responsibility is, an effective leader will always tell his citizens the truth.In the political realm, an official without high ethical and moral standards is doomed to fail to lead the public effectively. The former president of the United States, John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural address that: " You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all the time." Those guys who try to hinder something from public, in the worse case, he spells disaster for public and nation. Definitions of successful political leadership and of ethical or moral leadership are tied up in the means a leader uses to wield his power and obtain that power in the first place. Another former president of the United States, Richard Nixon was forced to hand over the complete set of White House tapes, and resigned from office after he was fully aware that the evidence on the tapes implicated him in the cover-up, before the House of Representatives could meet to vote on impeachment.Above all, though an effective public leader takes much more than mere ethics and morality, yet it is impossible to take a leader who lies to the public as "effective". As a result, it is the priority to maintain the highest ethical and moral standards to be an effective leader.
(455 words)
The debate about what kinds of quality should an effective leader has has lasted for thousands of years. When it comes to the level of ethical and moral standards, there are always a host of different opinions held by different individuals from different areas. Shouldn't, you may wonder, a public official must maintain ethical and moral standards to some sort of extent? Admittedly, most people wound agree. The key question that need us to talk over is what is the degree? Must it be the highest one? My answer is: yes, absolutely.Obviously, people nowadays are more concerned about a publice official's ethical and moral standards. The most effective leaders are those who maximize the public's interests and fulfil the promise, the ones that has been given out to the people from whom he gets his power and receive his fee. Moreover, the prevailing view of an effecive leader in both east or west of the world is to be honest to the public, to tell them what you did and what will you do completely as it concerns with the official business, especially when you are in trouble. As one of the famous philosophers ever writes, "Truth heals." As a public official, no matter how high or how low his position is, no matter how large or how small his responsibility is, an effective leader will always tell his citizens the truth.In the political realm, an official without high ethical and moral standards is doomed to fail to lead the public effectively. The former president of the United States, John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural address that: " You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all the time." Those guys who try to hinder something from public, in the worse case, he spells disaster for public and nation. Definitions of successful political leadership and of ethical or moral leadership are tied up in the means a leader uses to wield his power and obtain that power in the first place. Another former president of the United States, Richard Nixon was forced to hand over the complete set of White House tapes, and resigned from office after he was fully aware that the evidence on the tapes implicated him in the cover-up, before the House of Representatives could meet to vote on impeachment.Above all, though an effective public leader takes much more than mere ethics and morality, yet it is impossible to take a leader who lies to the public as "effective". As a result, it is the priority to maintain the highest ethical and moral standards to be an effective leader.
Argument17
17.The following appeared in a letter to the editor of the Walnut Grove town newspaper. "Walnut Grove's town council has advocated switching from EZ Disposal (which has had the contract for trash collection services in Walnut Grove for the past ten years) to ABC Waste, because EZ recently raised its monthly fee from $2,000 to $2,500 a month, whereas ABC's fee is still $2,000. But the town council is mistaken; we should continue using EZ. EZ collects trash twice a week, while ABC collects only once. Moreover, EZ-which, like ABC, currently has a fleet of 20 trucks-has ordered additional trucks. Finally, EZ provides exceptional service: 80 percent of respondents to last year's town survey agreed that they were 'satisfied' with EZ's performance."
(454 words)
In this argument the author comes to the conclusion that Walnut Grove's town should remain the contrast with EZ Dispose, though the Dispose has raised their fee recently. To justify that, the author points out that EZ has ordered additional trucks, which means it will have more trucks than its competitor, ABC Waste, which still has a fleet of 20 trucks. The author also cites that EZ' s performance has been praised by 80% of respondents in a recent survey. Close scrutiny of this argument reveals that it is unconvincing in several aspects.First and foremost, EZ collects trash more frequencely than ABC doesn't mean that the former one can provide higher quality. It is highly possible that the town which ABC serve do not have much less than Walnut Grove town which EZ work for, it is not nessesary for ABC to do its job twice a week, maybe that is the reason why ABC remains its charge. Without accounting for these and other possible dissimilaries, any analogy between the two company, the author can not assume that EZ is better.In addition, the author appreciates that EZ's ordering more truck than ABC. However, we know the fact that to make a commitment is one thing, to keep it is far more difficult. There is no indication that they might fulfill their promise. Even if EZ has had additional trucks, there is no evidence that they will use them for serving Walnut Grove town. There may be some other towns ask EZ to collect crash for them so the company find it should increase the number of trucks. As a consequence, the author could not make any prediction.Finally, the survey cited by the author is too vague to be informative. The claim does not indicate who conducted the survey, and how the survey was conducted-maybe the EZ itself planned the survey, so the questions were leading, then people might echo with expected answers, thus the results would be greatly unconvicing, and it is possible that the reason why many respendents were satisfied with EZ's performance is that they got a chance to compare, thus they do not know how better a trash collect company can be. Until these questions are answered, the results are worthless as evidence.In sum, the conclusion reached in this argument is invalid and misleading. To make it logically acceptable, the arguer would have to substantiate that ABC will be a worse company for collecting trash for Walnut Grove town. Moreover, I would suspected my judgment about the credibility of this argument until the author can previde more information about fee it charge is worth its job, maybe the contrast with ABS is a good chance to see.
(454 words)
In this argument the author comes to the conclusion that Walnut Grove's town should remain the contrast with EZ Dispose, though the Dispose has raised their fee recently. To justify that, the author points out that EZ has ordered additional trucks, which means it will have more trucks than its competitor, ABC Waste, which still has a fleet of 20 trucks. The author also cites that EZ' s performance has been praised by 80% of respondents in a recent survey. Close scrutiny of this argument reveals that it is unconvincing in several aspects.First and foremost, EZ collects trash more frequencely than ABC doesn't mean that the former one can provide higher quality. It is highly possible that the town which ABC serve do not have much less than Walnut Grove town which EZ work for, it is not nessesary for ABC to do its job twice a week, maybe that is the reason why ABC remains its charge. Without accounting for these and other possible dissimilaries, any analogy between the two company, the author can not assume that EZ is better.In addition, the author appreciates that EZ's ordering more truck than ABC. However, we know the fact that to make a commitment is one thing, to keep it is far more difficult. There is no indication that they might fulfill their promise. Even if EZ has had additional trucks, there is no evidence that they will use them for serving Walnut Grove town. There may be some other towns ask EZ to collect crash for them so the company find it should increase the number of trucks. As a consequence, the author could not make any prediction.Finally, the survey cited by the author is too vague to be informative. The claim does not indicate who conducted the survey, and how the survey was conducted-maybe the EZ itself planned the survey, so the questions were leading, then people might echo with expected answers, thus the results would be greatly unconvicing, and it is possible that the reason why many respendents were satisfied with EZ's performance is that they got a chance to compare, thus they do not know how better a trash collect company can be. Until these questions are answered, the results are worthless as evidence.In sum, the conclusion reached in this argument is invalid and misleading. To make it logically acceptable, the arguer would have to substantiate that ABC will be a worse company for collecting trash for Walnut Grove town. Moreover, I would suspected my judgment about the credibility of this argument until the author can previde more information about fee it charge is worth its job, maybe the contrast with ABS is a good chance to see.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Argument147
147.The following appeared in an editorial in a business magazine. "Although the sales of Whirlwind video games have declined over the past two years, a recent survey of video-game players suggests that this sales trend is about to be reversed. The survey asked video-game players what features they thought were most important in a video game. According to the survey, players prefer games that provide lifelike graphics, which require the most up-to-date computers. Whirlwind has just introduced several such games with an extensive advertising campaign directed at people 10 to 25 years old, the age-group most likely to play video games. It follows, then, that the sales of Whirlwind video games are likely to increase dramatically in the next few months."
(506 words)
The editorial is well-presented, but not thoroughly well-reasoned. Despite the decrease of the sales of Whirlwind video games over the past two years, the editorial concludes that the sales will increase. To justify this conclusion, the editorial's author cites a recent survey in which videogame players indicated a preference for games with lifelike graphics requiring up-to-date computers. The editorial then points out that Whirlwind has introduced several such games along with an extensive advertising campaign aimed at people 10 to 25 years old-the demographic group most likely to play video games. I find this argument specious on several grounds.To begin with, the validity of the survey is doubtful, lacking informatin about the number of players surveyed and the number of respondents, it is impossible to access the validity of the results. For example, if 200 players were surveyed but only 2 responded, the survey on which the argument depends is statistically reliable. It is also possible that the decline was due to factors such as imprudent pricing and distribution strategies or poor management. Since the author has not dearly identified the cause of the decline, I cannot be conviced that Whirlwind's new strategy will reverse that decline at all-let alone dramatically.Secondly, the author commits a fallacy of hasty generalization. Even if most players do prefer games providing lifelike graphics, it does not follow that they will buy such games produced by Whirlwind. It is highly possible that they just like the videos, but can't afford it becauce of its high price, or they already have some of such games so there is no need to buy any games in the near future. And perhaps Whirlwind's competitors are now introducing similar games at lower prices or with features that render them more attractive to videogame players than Whirlwind's new game. And even if they want to buy Whirlwind's item, and can afford to pay the games, it doesn't mean that they have the most up-to-date computers which such games require. Without ruling out these and other possible factors, the author cannot confidently conclude his results.Finally, there is no evidence that since the Whirlwind has just introduced several games with an extensive advertising campaign directed at people 10 to 25 years old, there sales will increase dramatically in the next few months. How many of these people 10 to 25 years old indicated will buy the game with lifelike graphics, especially those produced by Whirlwind? What is the percentage? The author does not provide any solid information about this point, I simply cannot be swayed by the prediction that Whirlwind is about to experience a dramatic increase in sales.From what have been discussed above, I believe the author can not make any prediction. To strengthen the analysis, the author should give out more details about why the sales of Whirlwind video games declined, and whether Whirlwind's new strategy eliminates that cause. In additin, the author should make sure the target customers will surely buy their products, thus leading to the increase of the sales.
(506 words)
The editorial is well-presented, but not thoroughly well-reasoned. Despite the decrease of the sales of Whirlwind video games over the past two years, the editorial concludes that the sales will increase. To justify this conclusion, the editorial's author cites a recent survey in which videogame players indicated a preference for games with lifelike graphics requiring up-to-date computers. The editorial then points out that Whirlwind has introduced several such games along with an extensive advertising campaign aimed at people 10 to 25 years old-the demographic group most likely to play video games. I find this argument specious on several grounds.To begin with, the validity of the survey is doubtful, lacking informatin about the number of players surveyed and the number of respondents, it is impossible to access the validity of the results. For example, if 200 players were surveyed but only 2 responded, the survey on which the argument depends is statistically reliable. It is also possible that the decline was due to factors such as imprudent pricing and distribution strategies or poor management. Since the author has not dearly identified the cause of the decline, I cannot be conviced that Whirlwind's new strategy will reverse that decline at all-let alone dramatically.Secondly, the author commits a fallacy of hasty generalization. Even if most players do prefer games providing lifelike graphics, it does not follow that they will buy such games produced by Whirlwind. It is highly possible that they just like the videos, but can't afford it becauce of its high price, or they already have some of such games so there is no need to buy any games in the near future. And perhaps Whirlwind's competitors are now introducing similar games at lower prices or with features that render them more attractive to videogame players than Whirlwind's new game. And even if they want to buy Whirlwind's item, and can afford to pay the games, it doesn't mean that they have the most up-to-date computers which such games require. Without ruling out these and other possible factors, the author cannot confidently conclude his results.Finally, there is no evidence that since the Whirlwind has just introduced several games with an extensive advertising campaign directed at people 10 to 25 years old, there sales will increase dramatically in the next few months. How many of these people 10 to 25 years old indicated will buy the game with lifelike graphics, especially those produced by Whirlwind? What is the percentage? The author does not provide any solid information about this point, I simply cannot be swayed by the prediction that Whirlwind is about to experience a dramatic increase in sales.From what have been discussed above, I believe the author can not make any prediction. To strengthen the analysis, the author should give out more details about why the sales of Whirlwind video games declined, and whether Whirlwind's new strategy eliminates that cause. In additin, the author should make sure the target customers will surely buy their products, thus leading to the increase of the sales.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Happy new year!
It is a warm Sundy afternoon, there is no one in the dorm except me. Now it is 2009, and the new year's happiness has just vanished. Till now, I still have four exams to pass, but I don't worry about them at all, they are just some lesson, so it's not some big thing. Last month, I have signed the chapter from the E mail,.but after that, I think myself become some sort of cynicism, which means dissappointment to everything, there is once a time I take the life as meanlingless, for I can't figure out what I live for, it's naive, isn't it?
But life will still move on, no matter what I think.
But life will still move on, no matter what I think.
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