Issue 69

TOPIC: ISSUE69 - "Government should place few, if any, restrictions on scientific research and development"

WORDS: 540 TIME: 00:45:00 DATE: 2008-4-7 16:25:26

The speaker asserts that research on various scientific domains should not be restricted by any form of action from government. I concede that a few studies conducted by scientists ought to be managed by our political leaders. With few exceptions, I strongly agree with speaker. Scientific researches, including physics, biology, chemistry, etc, are people's exploration of natural, politics, society, and thus should be encouraged instead of limited by not only government but also the masses.

Admittedly, some sorts of studies in sciences violate certain kind of morality, ethics or mores to which each mentally-normal member of society is hold. The potential outcomes of such researches would endanger our daily life, provided that governors place no restriction on scientists who are actively engaged in research activities. For instance, the subject of cloning human beings is quite attractive for certain biologists who are eager to pursue the law of nature. However, any action that attempts to produce a copy of a person, in any laboratory of the world, must be banned, with a view to its various deleterious effects that would have on ourselves. On the other hand, research on atomic energy ought to be carefully designed and planned by government. For the peace of all the nations on the earth, atomic bomb, one achievement of studying atoms, can not be put into practical use.

However, with a few exceptions in which scientists may bring harmful accomplishments that would conduce towards catastrophes to populace, government is supposed not to shape what scientists can cogitate but rather to encourage our elites to cultivate new knowledge and technologies by supporting manpower, material resources and financial resources. In the realm of astronomy, perhaps the paradigmatic negative archetype was Bruno who advanced the cosmic theory of an infinite universe. Unfortunately, Bruno was burned to death at the stake by the Inquisition of his time. Suppose that Bruno did not die at an early age, Armstrong would have visited the moon much earlier. Another example involves the Cultural Revolution in the 1970s of China. During that period, any sort of scientific experiment was forbidden by political leaders. As a result, the level of sciences and technologies of China had far fallen behind the stream of other countries.

Furthermore, our society is replete with examples of scientific researches, supported by government, that have brought positive attainments that make our life much more convenient, easy, and comfortable. Consider the disease of pneumonia which had killed many people's life in the 19th-century. The most recent half-century, medical researches have been conducted increasing by consortiums and governments, and also solved many life-threatening diseases. For instance, pneumonia is no longer an incurable disease for humans; patients who develop high blood pressure have better quality of life; and genetic engineering makes AIDS a less suffering disease. All of these accomplishments can not be fulfilled under a variety of confines from political figures.

In summary, though in certain cases studies on sciences and technologies should be guided by our government, under most circumstances public officials are supposed to provide every possible and helpful situation for scientists' research. In turn, with substantial materials and funds scientists will advance further knowledge and newer technologies that will no doubt make our society more civilized, tolerant, and respectful.

Argument 156

TOPIC: ARGUMENT156 - The following is taken from an advertisement placed in a weekly business magazine by the Dickens Academy.
"We distributed a survey to senior management at International Mega-Publishing, Inc. The result of the survey clearly indicates that many employees were well prepared in business knowledge and computer skills, but lacked interpersonal skills to interact gracefully with customers. International Mega-Publishing decided to improve customer satisfaction by sending their newly hired employees to our one-day seminars. Since taking advantage of our program, International Mega-Publishing has seen a sharp increase in sales, an indication that the number of their disgruntled customers has declined significantly. Your company should hire Dickens and let us turn every employee into an ambassador for your company."

WORDS: 444 TIME: 00:30:00 DATE: 2008-4-7 21:39:01

In this argument, the speaker advocates that each company should employ Dickens Academy to train the company's staffers and will no doubt increase efficiency of crews as a result. To substantiate the culmination, the speaker chiefly cites an example of International Mega-Publishing, Inc. which has yet sent its employee to Dickens for a vocational training. However, close scrutiny of evidence unveils that this argument actually suffers from several critical blemishes, as discussed below.

To begin with, the arguer fails to provide any practical evidence to demonstrate that the result of the survey, conducted by Dickens Academy, to senior management at International Mega-Publishing, Inc. is credible and convincing. All we know from this statement is solely represented by the speaker himself or herself. Without sufficient information about methods used in that survey, the outcomes of which is lame and unconvincing. Moreover, the participants in the study are senior managers that are quite differing from newly hired employees. Therefore, even though the conclusion of the study is cogent, it should not be generalized to fresh staff, and the behavior of Mega-Publishing is ridiculous.

Secondly, a sharp increase in Mega-Publishing's sales does not necessarily imply that the number of their disgruntled customers has declined considerably. The arguer mistakenly assumes a correlation amounts to a cause-and0-effect nexus. There are a myriad of potential factors that would cause increased profits of Mega-Publishing. A possible reason is that quality of products published by Mega corporation has greatly ameliorated; thus clientele are much more inclined to purchase books of Mega than other enterprises'. Or, it is highly probable that cost of manufacturing books has been sharply decreased and a low price of books is made possible, which is the actual reason attracting people.

Thirdly, the speaker does not state any statistics of disgruntled consumers either, which further undermines the culmination suggested in this argument. Perhaps customers who are unsatisfied with products of Mega are relatively a small group. Moreover, what purchasers are malcontent with are not conspicuously alleged. Therefore the possibility that the content of books is the actual factor contributable to people's dissatisfaction does exist. Without considering and obviating those potential causal factors, the arguer is too cursory to arrive at his or her ultimateness.

In summary, this argument indeed fails to convince us in many aspects, as discussed above. To solidify the verdict, the speaker would have to demonstrate that newly hired employees of Mega-Publishing lack the basic skills of communicating with clientele, and further prove that the reason why consumers are dissatisfied is just the performance of crew who work for Mega. Consequently, we need more detailed information to better evaluate the thread of reasoning in this argument.

Argument 111

TOPIC: ARGUMENT111 - The following appeared in a memo from the vice president of marketing at Dura-Sock, Inc.
"A recent study of Dura-Sock wearers suggests that our company is wasting the money it spends on its patented "Endure" manufacturing process, which ensures that our socks are strong enough to last for two years. Dura-Sock has always advertised its use of the "Endure" process, but the new study shows that the average Dura-Sock customer actually purchases new Dura-Socks every three months. Furthermore, Dura-Sock customers surveyed in our largest market, northeastern United States cities, say that they most value Dura-Sock's stylish appearance and availability in many colors. These findings suggest that Dura-Sock can increase its profits by discontinuing its use of the "Endure" manufacturing process."

WORDS: 407 TIME: 00:30:00 DATE: 2008-4-7 14:38:23

In this statement, the speaker suggests that profits of Dura-Sock can be increased through stopping its use of the ''Endure" manufacturing procedure. To substantiate this culmination, the arguer chiefly quotes the results responded by Dura-Sock customers recently. However, close scrutiny of evidence unveils that this argument actually suffers from several critical blemishes, as discussed below.

To begin with, the first outcome of the study conducted by Dura-Sock that clientele actually purchase new Dura-Socks every three months does not necessarily imply that customers do not care about quality of stock. The reason why customers buy new Dura-Socks is unknown. It is highly probable that high quality of socks produced by Dura-Sock has attracted people's attention, thus the masses are eager to buy Dura-Sock's products so frequently. Moreover, the method used in that study is not given in this statement, which possibly is not credible.

Secondly, consider the surveys sponsored in Dura-Sock's largest market, which is not so convincing as the arguer advocates. In the first place, the northeastern United States cities, the largest market of Dura-Sock, should not be considered as representative districts. The opinions of multitudes who live elsewhere are the same paramount as those northeastern cities. In the second place, the number of persons who participated in the survey is left untended by the speaker. If merely a few people, no more than 20, for example, have reflected their advice to Dura-Sock Company, the result of the survey is thus unpersuasive.

Thirdly, even though what the consumers are fond of is Dura-Sock's stylish appearance and availability in various colors, in effect respondents have not expressed the idea that they do not care how long Dura-Sock's socks would last at all. Perhaps the precondition of consumer's responses is just that the quality of socks manufactured by Dura-Sock is much better than other rivals’ socks. In addition, revenue of a company has to with a myriad of factors, including cost, efficiency of managers, and sales of product. It is ridiculous of the arguer to assume that discontinuing Dura-Sock's use of the ''Endure" manufacturing process will no doubt ameliorate its profits.

In summary, this argument indeed suffers from a few vital fallacies as discussed above. To solidify the ultimateness, the speaker would have to demonstrate that ordinary consumers do not pay attention to how long Dura-Sock's products last, and further provide more detailed information about the various factors in which customers are interested when they decide to buy socks.

Issue 185 Argument 9

TOPIC: ISSUE185 - "Scandals-whether in politics, academia, or other areas-can be useful. They focus our attention on problems in ways that no speaker or reformer ever could."

WORDS: 531 TIME: 00:45:00 DATE: 2008-4-6 20:59:04

The speaker asserts that various kinds of scandals are useful in attracting our attention to important issues. However, in my view the speaker is cursory too claim that. I concede that in many cases scandals can call our attention to paramount societal or political problems. On the other hand, scandals can also cover certain important sociopolitical problems with which we fail to concern.

Admittedly, under a few circumstances, scandals can call people's attention to pressing matters that the masses would otherwise ignore. This is especially true in politics and academia, in which scandals of prominent political leaders or professors may arouse great concern of multitudes, in the present as well as the past. Perhaps the most distinguished scandal is the Watergate event. In this scandal, the president of U.S.A., Nixon, was eager to steal information from his rival, aiming to win the campaign. In effect, the behavior committed by Nixon violated the law of privacy, and eventually abdicated from the position of presidency. Without this scandal, people would never care about others' private information. Another example involves a physic professor in a university located in my city. A paper proposed by this professor was unveiled to be a plagiary, which considerably call the university community's attention to the problem of academia and resulted in a system-wide reform. Our academic areas are the dear beneficiary of such reform.

However, scandals sometimes can distract us from more paramount and pressing societal matters. For example, several years ago, a judger who worked in Chinese Football Tournament was forbidden to engage in even one football game in respect that he was discovered that he committed bribery from a few football clubs. Every new development in that scandal became front-page news in almost every newspaper of sports. Any way, did this scandal work any positive feedback to football sports? No. That scandal was solely one incidence of paltry corruption. Moreover, for more than one year, the scandal distracted us from our most important sports' problems, such as vocational training, athletes' health, and normal schedule of the tournament. Consequently, this football scandal did not bring to our society any useful function when in retrospect.

Furthermore, in the realm of entertainment, scandals can serve chiefly to distract us from urgent matters. Consider, for instance, Chen Guanxi, a Chinese actor, whose personal photos which were exposed to mass media a few months ago. These unmasked photos taken by Chen Guanxi involve many noble singers, actors and costume models, in which there are some intimate scenarios including Chen and those stars. Admittedly, this scandal sparked a debate about duties and obligations of prominent stars and forever increased the level of mores to which our public figures were held. Nevertheless, this photo-gate scandal has distracted the masses from more important issues in the realm of performing--new stream of music, great discs of other stars, and appealing teleplays. Therefore, this photo scandal indeed provides more deleterious effects than rewards to the area of entertainment.

In summary, scandals can flag paramount matters in society more effectively than any speaker or reformer. However, whether a scandal works more benefit than harm to a community or society ought to be judged on a case-by-case basis.

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TOPIC: ARGUMENT9 - The following appeared in a memorandum from a dean at Omega University.
"Fifteen years ago, Omega University implemented a new procedure that encouraged students to evaluate the teaching effectiveness of all their professors. Since that time, Omega professors have begun to assign higher grades in their classes, and overall student grade averages at Omega have risen by thirty percent. Potential employers apparently believe the grades at Omega are inflated; this would explain why Omega graduates have not been as successful at getting jobs as have graduates from nearby Alpha University. To enable its graduates to secure better jobs, Omega University should now terminate student evaluation of professors."

WORDS: 443 TIME: 00:30:00 DATE: 2008-4-6 20:59:04

In this argument, the verdict concluded by the speaker is that Omega University ought to immediately discontinue student evaluation of professors in order to enable its graduates to find better careers. To substantiate this culmination, the speaker compares the situations before and after the policy of students’ evaluation of faculties. However, close scrutiny of evidence unveils that this argument actually suffers from several critical blemishes, as discussed below.

To begin with, the fact that Omega professors have started to assign higher grades in their classes is not necessarily the result of teachers' feeling press from the evaluation procedure. The speaker fails to give evidence that professors are afraid that their students' low appraise will influence faculty’s salary or promotion. Perhaps this phenomenon is just the purpose that the new procedure of evaluating resolves to effect. It is highly possible that higher working efficiency of teachers in Omega University brings more vivid knowledge to its students, the performance of which indeed ameliorates.

Secondly, no valid data is provided by the arguer to demonstrate that potential employers conspicuously trust the grades at Omega are inflated. It is ridiculous of the arguer to assume that employers have such prejudice. The speaker has neither conducted a survey of investigating job market nor had conversations with employers in corporations outside Omega University. Therefore, this presumption lacks enough evidence to make it more convincing. The speaker would have to provide more detailed information about what potential employers are concerned with.

Thirdly, the fact that graduates of Omega University are not so successful at hunting jobs as those of Alpha University are also does not represent that Omega University's students are not sufficient skillful. Whether students of Omega University had found promising jobs more easily than graduates of Alpha University had before the new procedure of evaluation was carried out is left untended by the arguer. If Omega's graduates are difficult in finding jobs all the time, this fact would not be so powerful as the arguer states. Moreover, probably, current job market needs plenty of graduates who are good at business, which is the strongpoint of Alpha, but the advantage of Omega University is arts. Therefore, low rate of successful job findings does not surely imply that the new procedure works a negative function.

In summary, this statement actually suffers from a few vital fallacies as mentioned above. To solidify the ultimateness, the speaker would have to prove that professors of Omega are indeed afraid of low evaluation from their students, and further provide enough information about the current job market. Without considering and obviating those potential factors aforementioned, the speaker is too cursory to arrive at the conclusion.

Issue 131

TOPIC: ISSUE131 - "The arts (painting, music, literature, etc.) reveal the otherwise hidden ideas and impulses of a society."

WORDS: 544 TIME: 00:45:00 DATE: 2008-4-6 11:23:46

The speaker asserts that arts can be used to unveil concealed ideas and impulses of a society. However, the speaker unfairly generalizes. I concede that in many cases arts can serve to call our attention to important hidden ideas and driven force of a society. On the other hand, arts can not represent certain notions of the masses. Moreover, artistic works may not be reckoned as successful, or even anti-social.

Admittedly, arts can serve chiefly to unmask special streams that we would otherwise neglect. For instance, the Divine Comedy, written by Dante, uncovered various unfair laws and rules conducted by political leaders. In this prominent book, hidden ideas and impulses were unveiled through symbolism and metaphor--such as hell, heaven, and monsters. Without Dante's artistic work, people today would never understand the true ideas of the multitudes of his period. Another paradigmatic archetype perhaps is Van Gogh who created impressionism on painting, which was accepted several years after his death. Albeit the works of Van Gogh were not recognized by people of his time, Van Gogh's paintings did represent certain impulses--postimpressionism in this case. If Van Gogh fails to pursue his ideas and faiths till he was not able to pick up a pencil, the appearance of impressional arts would otherwise be put off.

However, in most cases, art works stand the mainstream of social or political ideas and impulses, and are broadly recognized as great by their contemporaries. In the realm of literature, this is especially true. Consider Voltaire's works that represented the main trends amid literature--the Age of Enlightenment. Essays and articles written by Voltaire just reflect the thread of developments in human history. Or, consider Homer, a distinguished writer in Ancient Greek, who was famous for his two great works: Iliad and Odyssey which describe the noble wars of his age. In effect, Homer did most of his work on addition, expurgation and modification on the achievements of his contemporaries. Therefore, artistic works created by Homer actually recorded the paramount events in society--a myriad of wars in Ancient Greek.

Furthermore, when it comes to the field of music, the speaker's claim finds even less support from historical record. For instance, Nie Er, a prominent Chinese composer, created a great many art works including the national song of PRC. Nie Er composed most of his works during the 1950s when new ideas of liberation and individual freedoms dominated the society. The International Song, one of Nie Er's music, was considered as a representative work of that period. Another example involves Mozart. Even though Mozart experienced a short time of life in the world and passed away in his thirties, his artistic symphonies did stand the chief ideas, instead of hidden ideology, of his society. After all, monarchs of the Europe recognized Mozart's artistic greatness through granting him their most generous commissions--a symbol of mainstream culture of that period.

In summary, with a few exceptions in which arts are utilized to unveil undercover stream and unique creative impulses of a community or society, under most circumstances, arts created by plenty of historical and contemporary figures serve chiefly to reflect the prevailing attitudes and values of a society of their distinct dynasties. Consequently, in the final analysis, I tend to disagree with the speaker's claim.

Issue 31 Argument 218

TOPIC: ISSUE31 - "Money spent on research is almost always a good investment, even when the results of that research are controversial."

WORDS: 531 TIME: 00:45:00 DATE: 2008-4-5 21:07:51

The speaker asserts that it is almost always wise to spend money on research, whether the results of that research are positive or negative to us. However, in my view the arguer unfairly generalizes. In some cases, money or other kind of resource should be attributed to study in these cases, while in some other cases it is not.

To begin with, in certain areas it is ridiculous to invest in researching, because no consequence would be attained. This is especially true in natural sciences. Perhaps the paradigmatic archetype is the perpetual motion machine, which any sort of research on this subject is of little value to society or physics, in the present and the past. The reason for this is simple: the ideal of manufacturing a perpetual motion machine violates the basic physic law which is already demonstrated by theoretical physicists; therefore it is impossible at all to devise such a machine. Another example involves one famous people in history--Robert Owen who described a ideal society: Utopia, in which everyone was born equally, no war, no starvation, and no information was necessary to be hidden. In effect the Utopia defied the natural law of developments of human beings, and was proved to be a paradoxical idea eventually. In short, research that has been shown to be false should not be concerned.

Aside from the cases aforementioned, I strongly agree that we ought to spend money, time, raw materials, and any other necessary investment on a research conducted by prominent scientists. For instance, in the time of Bruno, the study of astronomy was considered as barbaric by esteemed political leaders. However, by utilizing the theory that Earth and other planets revolve around the sun, advanced by Copernicus, Bruno ultimately achieved his most distinguished theory: the cosmic theory of an infinite universe which profoundly influenced the developments of astronomy and physics. Therefore, Bruno's study in astronomy should be encouraged instead of being restricted. Consider Freud, for instance, whose psychoanalytic theories, which initially met with hostility, greatly affected 20th-century thought. Consequently, people should try their best to support these categories of research.

In the realm of business, larger investment on research tends to guarantee bigger economic success. For example, IBM was once argued that it should not be devoted to the basic research of mathematic. However, various outcomes held of the study of mathematic contribute considerably to IBM's economic achievement today. When it comes to history, this is particularly true. Consider the pyramid in Egypt. Albeit many historians once opposed that pyramids should be left untouched and thus would help protecting that marvelous architectures. Yet, the government still invests on researching pyramid and eventually found out many precious cultural relics from several pyramids. Thus, it is wise to encourage people to go on in their researches.

In summary, with few exceptions in which research would not bring out any constructive result, to spend money on all fields of study is almost invariably a inerrant decision. Therefore, the next key determinant is that experts in these fields should try their best effort to guarantee that outside resources must be correctly utilized in appropriate subjects rather than such ones as perpetual motion machine and Utopia.

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TOPIC: ARGUMENT218 - The following appeared in a memorandum from the president of Hyper-Go Toy Company.
"Last year, sales of our Fierce Fighter toy airplane declined sharply, even though the toy had been a top seller for three years. Our customer surveys show that parents are now more worried about youthful violence and are concerned about better education for their children. Therefore, to maintain profits we should discontinue all our action toys and focus exclusively on a new line of educational toys. Several other toy companies have already begun marketing educational toys and report sales increases last year of 200 percent. And since the average family income is growing, sales of new Hyper-Go toys should also increase."

WORDS: 444 TIME: 00:30:00 DATE: 2008-4-5 21:07:51

In this argument, the speaker concludes that profits of Hyper-Go Toy Company will no doubt increase after the company discontinues all action toys and focus on educational toys. To substantiate the verdict, the arguer cites the results of their customer surveys, in which parents are shown to be more concerned with youthful violence and to be more worried about education for their children. Besides, the fact that family income is growing and profits of other companies that have already begun to sell educational toys are increasing is also reckoned as powerful reason by the speaker. However, close scrutiny of evidence unveils that this argument actually suffers from several blemishes as discussed below.

To begin with, the decline of sales of Fierce Fighter toy airplane is not necessarily the result of the change of the respect that children’s parents are chiefly concerned. This fact may have other alternative explanations. For example, the quality of toy airplane had fallen sharply and thus children did not like any more. Or, the phenomenon that toy airplane had been a best seller for three years implies that almost every family owns a toy airplane and now they do not need such a toy any longer. Moreover, the credibility of surveys is quite questionable, since no statistics are given in this statement. Perhaps parents responded the studies were a small proportion and therefore did not represent the majority of parents.

Secondly, whether educational toys indeed attribute to the increased profits of other toy companies needs more detailed information to be best evaluated. It is highly possible that other kinds of toys, such as toy tank, that cause great interest of children and are bought by consumers. Another explanation of this fact is that the price of the toys made by other companies is much less than Hyper-Go Toy Company. It is equally probable that other toy corporations have sharply decreased the cost of producing toys and ameliorate the efficiency of their managers.

Thirdly, even though average family income is keeping growing, no information guarantees that people will spend more money on toys. The speaker is too cursory to assume this without taking more potential factors into account. People may nevertheless buy automobiles, renovate private residences, or go on a trip, which may lend support to the speaker's culmination.

In summary, the statement indeed suffers from a few vital fallacies as discussed above. To solidify the conclusion, the speaker would have to demonstrate that parents are an important element in the decline sales of toy airplane, and prove that other toy companies benefit mostly from their educational toys, and further provide more statistics about what purchases people are most concerned with.

Issue 26

TOPIC: ISSUE26 - "Most people would agree that buildings represent a valuable record of any society's past, but controversy arises when old buildings stand on ground that modern planners feel could be better used for modern purposes. In such situations, modern development should be given precedence over the preservation of historic buildings so that contemporary needs can be served."

WORDS: 561 TIME: 00:45:00 DATE: 2008-4-5 11:22:14

The speaker asserts that old buildings should yield to modern development, provided that old architectures stand on place that contemporary planners feel could be better utilized for modern purposes. However, I tend to disagree with what advocated by the arguer. Albeit sometimes priority should be given to satisfy the needs of contemporaries, we ought to protect historical buildings under most circumstances.

Admittedly, certain old residences or historical buildings are of no much value in helping the populace understand history and traditional culture. In this case, the masses may have enough reasons to pull down out-of-date architectures and construct new buildings, such as museum, modern palace, or skyline tower, on original position where historical buildings lie. Perhaps the paradigmatic example is ordinary people's houses that may be refined or cast down if city planners find the district where old residences locate is quite suitable for shopping malls which can bring considerable profits to a city, which is better for advancement of the city. In addition, in certain other cases, some historical architecture represent special old ideal, or even anti-social ideology, such as the stature of Saddam; therefore, this kind of buildings should be pull down because they defy the mainstream of development.

However, in most cases, historical standings are symbols of traditional culture of a nation. These architectures and engineering are of high value in educating young generations to appreciate precious relics of our ancestors and in exhibiting how civilized and respectful a state is. Modern world is replete with examples of historical buildings preserved, instead of exterminated by modern planners. For instance, the Forbidden City in Beijing almost becomes a symbol of China. Political leaders have not yet pull it down and make tools of its vast area, even though the best location would be utilized for constructing large shopping centers. Instead, the Forbidden City is carefully protected by city planners and open to tourists. In doing so, many folks have opportunity for visiting this relic of Qing Dynasty and will certainly have better understanding of culture of Qing period.

Furthermore, historical engineering are also a symbol of the creative ability of a nation. Consider the Great Wall in China, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Through studying this wall, modern historians can ferret out technologies used behind that wonder and have a clearer illustration of massive labors of that time, which is positive in contributing to the status of historical research. Moreover, sometimes modern planners even actively engage in finding prominent old architectures and preserve them on purpose. For instance, the Babylon City, built in Mesopotamia on the Euphrates River, was the site of the Hanging Gardens. Many historians are wanting to find whether the garden exist or not, in the present and the past. In short, when it comes to peculiar engineer that has profound meaning for our descendants, we should try our best to prevent it from being destroyed.

In summary, aside from few cases in which old building offers little value to society, in most cases we ought to consider alternative choice to put contemporary museums, malls, or towers. Once priceless and precious architectures were destroyed by us, they would never be restored to initial appearance, in which traditional culture and technology will be lost forever with the fall of historical buildings. Then, in the final analysis, I tend to disagree with the speaker's claim.