八、Argument结尾段模式训练

Example 1: 上文的最后一段

Example 2:

The following appeared in a letter from a staff member in the office of admissions at Argent University.

   “The most recent nationwide surveys show that undergraduates choose their major field primarily based on their perception of job prospects in that field. At our university, economics is now the most popular major, so students must perceive this field as having the best job prospects. Therefore, we can increase our enrollment if we focus our advertising and recruiting on publicizing the accomplishments of our best-known economics professors and the success of our economics graduates in finding employment.”

Topic Sentence 1:  First, the argument is based on a gratuitous assumption that students throughout the country must perceive economics as having the best job prospects because economics is the most popular major at Argent University. 

Topic Sentence 2:  Second, the arguer overemphasizes the importance of economics major and ignores other possible factors that may contribute to the enrollment. 

Topic Sentence 3: Another assumption in short of legitimacy is the causal relationship claimed between publishing the accomplishments of Argent’s best-known economics professors as well as the success of its economics graduates in finding employment and the enrollment increase.

（to continue）

    In conclusion, the argument is unconvincing because the arguer oversimplifies both the problem and its possible solutions. To strengthen the argument, the arguer would have to provide evidence that the economics is indeed the most attractive major for undergraduates all over the country. To better evaluate the argument, we would need more information about the present enrollment situation of both the economics field and other fields at Argent University as well as other possible effective means for promoting enrollment.

九、Argument小结

十、是非问题例文分析

Case Study 1：

“People often complain that products are not made to last. They feet that making products that wear out fairly quickly wastes both natural and human resources. What they fail to see, however, is that such manufacturing practices keep costs down for the consumer and stimulate demand.”

    Which do you find more compelling the complaint about products that do not list or the response to it?  Explain your position using relevant reasons and/or examples drawn from your own experience, observations, or reading.

 2分作文：

I find the response better than the complaint of people. The response seems to originate without much thought involved. It is more of an emotional complaint than one anchored in logic or thought. Yes, it is a waste of human resources but that is without consideration to the benefits: lower costs and stimulated demand. Thus, the response fails to recognize the benefits.

    The strength of the response is that it forces the reader to reconsider the complaint.  It adds a new dimension to the argument. It, however, fails to address the issue of wasting human resources. Does this mean the responder agrees with the notion of wasting resources.

    In all actuality both the response and complaint is ineffective. The complaint doesn’t recognize or address the benefits, like the response doesn’t address the issue of wasting resources. The response, however, does bring in a new dimension and thus weakens the argument of the complaint.