The following appeared as part of a letter to the editor of a local newspaper:
"It makes no sense that in most places 15-year-olds are not eligible for their driver's license while people who are far older can retain all of their driving privileges by simply renewing their license. If older drivers can get these renewals, often without having to pass another driving test, then 15-year-olds should be eligible to get a license. Fifteen-year olds typically have much better eyesight, especially at night; much better hand-eye coordination; and much quicker reflexes. They are also less likely to feel confused by unexpected developments or disoriented in unfamiliar surroundings, and they recover from injuries more quickly."
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion, be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion. (used with permission from mba.com)
Essay
Author opines that 15-year-old's should be eligible for their driver's license since older drivers can get these renewals, often without having to pass another driving test. The reason he feels so is that Fifteen-year old's typically have much better fitness compared to old people in aspects needed for driving. The argument is weak for the following reasons.
Thinking that 15-year-old's must have licence just because elderly retain all of their driving privileges by simply renewing their license does not make sense. Young people may or may not have an idea of traffic rules and other factors needed for safe driving. They tend to have an over enthusiasm to drive the vehicles at high speed due to natural excitement or inspiration from action movies. In that case they can get into accidents putting their and others life at risk.
Even If older drivers can get these renewals, often without having to pass another driving test, they are much experienced and can drive safely. It is improper to say that just because another driving test is not conducted for elderly, 15-year-old's should be eligible to get a license.
Even though Fifteen-year old's typically have much better eyesight, especially at night, much better hand-eye coordination and much quicker reflexes, it does not guarantee that they will drive safely. They can be reckless in driving and drunk-drive accidents can be more in number is they are given licence to drive at such a tender age.
It is true that young people are also less likely to feel confused by unexpected developments or disoriented in unfamiliar surroundings, and they recover from injuries more quickly. But it is also true that young people may or may not know the proper safety aspects to be considered. Just because they recover from injuries does not say that they should be given permission for getting injured. The results can be much devastating in reality and result in a lot of irreversible damage.
Therefore, the argument made by author does not sense with given information for the above reasons. The Author opinion that 15-year-old's should be eligible for their driver's license since older drivers can get these renewals, often without having to pass another driving test is too weak to consider and needs to be supported by a lot of information as to explain what made the author think so.
"It makes no sense that in most places 15-year-olds are not eligible for their driver's license while people who are far older can retain all of their driving privileges by simply renewing their license. If older drivers can get these renewals, often without having to pass another driving test, then 15-year-olds should be eligible to get a license. Fifteen-year olds typically have much better eyesight, especially at night; much better hand-eye coordination; and much quicker reflexes. They are also less likely to feel confused by unexpected developments or disoriented in unfamiliar surroundings, and they recover from injuries more quickly."
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion, be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion. (used with permission from mba.com)
Essay
Author opines that 15-year-old's should be eligible for their driver's license since older drivers can get these renewals, often without having to pass another driving test. The reason he feels so is that Fifteen-year old's typically have much better fitness compared to old people in aspects needed for driving. The argument is weak for the following reasons.
Thinking that 15-year-old's must have licence just because elderly retain all of their driving privileges by simply renewing their license does not make sense. Young people may or may not have an idea of traffic rules and other factors needed for safe driving. They tend to have an over enthusiasm to drive the vehicles at high speed due to natural excitement or inspiration from action movies. In that case they can get into accidents putting their and others life at risk.
Even If older drivers can get these renewals, often without having to pass another driving test, they are much experienced and can drive safely. It is improper to say that just because another driving test is not conducted for elderly, 15-year-old's should be eligible to get a license.
Even though Fifteen-year old's typically have much better eyesight, especially at night, much better hand-eye coordination and much quicker reflexes, it does not guarantee that they will drive safely. They can be reckless in driving and drunk-drive accidents can be more in number is they are given licence to drive at such a tender age.
It is true that young people are also less likely to feel confused by unexpected developments or disoriented in unfamiliar surroundings, and they recover from injuries more quickly. But it is also true that young people may or may not know the proper safety aspects to be considered. Just because they recover from injuries does not say that they should be given permission for getting injured. The results can be much devastating in reality and result in a lot of irreversible damage.
Therefore, the argument made by author does not sense with given information for the above reasons. The Author opinion that 15-year-old's should be eligible for their driver's license since older drivers can get these renewals, often without having to pass another driving test is too weak to consider and needs to be supported by a lot of information as to explain what made the author think so.
