四、Argument开头段模式训练 .写作的开头尤其重要 .事先准备一个开头模式 .进行适当调整 .已经提出的模式: 第一段(4句话): 第一句归纳原论证结论(In this argument, the arguer concludes that) 第二句话指出原论证一个方面的论据(To support this conclusion, the arguer points out that) 第三句话指出另一个方面论据(In addition, the arguer reasons that)
第四句话表明对论述的基本判断(此判断有逻辑方面的缺陷)
Sample 1: Argument Question : The following appeared as part of an article in a trade magazine for breweries1. "Magic Hat Brewery3 recently released the results of a survey of visitors to its tasting room last year. Magic Hat reports that the majority of visitors asked to taste its low-calorie beers. To boost sales, other small breweries should brew2 low-calorie beers as well." 开头段: In this argument, the arguer concludes that all small breweries should brew low-calorie beers in order to increase sales. To support this conclusion, the arguer points out that most visitors to the tasting room of Magic Hat Brewery showed interest in its low-calorie beers. In addition, the arguer reasons that since most visitors like to taste the low-calorie beers of Magic Hat Brewery, most customers of other small breweries would also like to buy low-calorie beers.
A careful examination of this argument would reveal how groundless it is. Sample 2: Argument Question : The following appeared as part of an article in the book section on a newspaper. "Currently more and more books are becoming available in electronic form- either free-of-charge on the Internet or for a very low price-per-book in compact disc.* Thus literary classics are likely to be read more widely than ever before. People who couldn t have purchased these works at bookstore prices will now be able to read them for little or no money; similarly, people who find it inconvenient4 to visit libraries and wait for books to be returned by other patrons will now have access to whatever classic they choose from their home or work computers.
This increase in access to literary classics will radically5 affect the public taste in reading, creating a far more sophisticated and learned reading audience than has ever existed before." *A compact disc is a small portable disc capable of storing relatively6 large amounts of data that can be read by a computer. 开头段: In this argument, the arguer concludes that the increasing availability of books in electronic form will automatically bring about a far more sophisticated and learned reading audience. To support this conclusion, the arguer points out that the Internet and compact discs have made it more convenient for readers to find, buy or read books. In addition, the arguer reasons that since more people have easier access to literary classics, tasteful readers will emerge in large numbers. This argument is flawed in two major aspects.
五、逻辑问题例文分析 Case Study 3: The following appeared in the editorial section of a newspaper. “As public concern over drug abuse has increased, authorities have become more vigilant7 in their effort to prevent illegal drugs from entering the country. Many drug traffickers have consequently switched from marijuana, which is bulky, or heroin8, which has a market too small to justify9 the risk of severe punishment, to cocaine10. Thus enforcement efforts have ironically resulted in an observed increase in the illegal use of cocaine.” Student Essay The argument that enforcement effort over illegal drag trade, incurred11 by the increase of public concern over drug abuse, resulted in an observed increase in the illegal use of cocaine sound reasonable at first.
But the fact that movement against drag abuse is the venture of all human being and all the responsibility of all governments, and other reasons below will weak the result, or draw to an opposite conclusion. Drug abuse brings us human being nothing but a disaster, mental aberration12, debilitated13 health, career desolation, family breakage and people’s totally out of control. No doubt, however small the result will be, every government should take some action against drug abuse, make people way from illegal drugs and bring a steady and health society. All kinds of illegal drugs, not only cocaine, endangers our lives.