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avnikajain
- Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2015 8:01 am
ESSAY QUESTION:
The following appeared in a print advertisement for a dietary supplement:
"According to a recent study, professional bodybuilders who used Train & Gain, a new protein supplement, over the course of three months experienced an increase in measured strength of up to 20%. Since Train & Gain is now available without prescription at all major pharmacies, superior results are no longer limited to professional athletes. Try Train & Gain today and you too can boost your strength and achieve professional-level performance in just a few months."
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. Point out flaws in the argument's logic and analyze the argument's underlying assumptions. In addition, evaluate how supporting evidence is used and what evidence might counter the argument's conclusion. You may also discuss what additional evidence could be used to strengthen the argument or what changes would make the argument more logically sound.
YOUR RESPONSE:
The advertisement for Train & Gain says that anyone can boost their strength and achieve professional-level performance in just a few months, since the protein supplement is now available at all major pharmacies without prescription. It states as evidence that certain professional bodybuilders who used Train & Gain over the course of three months experienced a 20% increase in measured strength.
The argument is not convincing since what may have worked for professionals may not produce a similar result for the common man. Moreover, the advertisemen does not mention if there could be any side effects in people taking the protein supplement without prescription. The argument as a whole fails to account for certain very important questions.
Firstly, professional bodybuilders would generally be engaged in vigorous weight-training or other body building exercises while taking the protien supplements. This would help in using the extra protein to increase strength. But if a person were to have Train & Gain, without accompanying it with exercise, would the person still experience an increase in strength? Also, it possible that the 20% increase in strebgth in professioanl body builders was due to the exercise alone or some factor other than the intake of Train & Gain. For instance, the professionals may be taking other supplements or may have altered their diets to help them increase their strength. So, a cause- effect relation between increase in strength in professionals and the intake of Train & Gain cannot be made with surity.
Secondly, the ad claims that people taking Train & Gain will achieve professioanl-level performance in just a few months. This seems far-fetched. The study, even if it were to accurate, only showed that professioanl body-builders increased their strength by 20%. But a common man would have a level of strength much below a professional's. Thus, even if Train & Gain resulted in a 20% increase in strength in that person, it cannot be said to be equivalent to the strength of a professioanl.
Hence, the argument is not airtight, and needs to incorporate additional data to sound more convincing.
The following appeared in a print advertisement for a dietary supplement:
"According to a recent study, professional bodybuilders who used Train & Gain, a new protein supplement, over the course of three months experienced an increase in measured strength of up to 20%. Since Train & Gain is now available without prescription at all major pharmacies, superior results are no longer limited to professional athletes. Try Train & Gain today and you too can boost your strength and achieve professional-level performance in just a few months."
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. Point out flaws in the argument's logic and analyze the argument's underlying assumptions. In addition, evaluate how supporting evidence is used and what evidence might counter the argument's conclusion. You may also discuss what additional evidence could be used to strengthen the argument or what changes would make the argument more logically sound.
YOUR RESPONSE:
The advertisement for Train & Gain says that anyone can boost their strength and achieve professional-level performance in just a few months, since the protein supplement is now available at all major pharmacies without prescription. It states as evidence that certain professional bodybuilders who used Train & Gain over the course of three months experienced a 20% increase in measured strength.
The argument is not convincing since what may have worked for professionals may not produce a similar result for the common man. Moreover, the advertisemen does not mention if there could be any side effects in people taking the protein supplement without prescription. The argument as a whole fails to account for certain very important questions.
Firstly, professional bodybuilders would generally be engaged in vigorous weight-training or other body building exercises while taking the protien supplements. This would help in using the extra protein to increase strength. But if a person were to have Train & Gain, without accompanying it with exercise, would the person still experience an increase in strength? Also, it possible that the 20% increase in strebgth in professioanl body builders was due to the exercise alone or some factor other than the intake of Train & Gain. For instance, the professionals may be taking other supplements or may have altered their diets to help them increase their strength. So, a cause- effect relation between increase in strength in professionals and the intake of Train & Gain cannot be made with surity.
Secondly, the ad claims that people taking Train & Gain will achieve professioanl-level performance in just a few months. This seems far-fetched. The study, even if it were to accurate, only showed that professioanl body-builders increased their strength by 20%. But a common man would have a level of strength much below a professional's. Thus, even if Train & Gain resulted in a 20% increase in strength in that person, it cannot be said to be equivalent to the strength of a professioanl.
Hence, the argument is not airtight, and needs to incorporate additional data to sound more convincing.
