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ruchia · 06-30-2008, 07:16 PM

The following appeared in a newsletter on nutrition and health.

"Although the multimineral Zorba pill was designed as a simple dietary supplement, a study of first-time ulcer patients who took Zorba suggests that Zorba actually helps prevent ulcers. The study showed that only 25 percent of those ulcer patients who took Zorba under a doctor's direction developed new ulcers, compared to a 75 percent recurrence rate among ulcer patients who did not take Zorba. Clearly, then, Zorba will be highly effective in preventing recurrent ulcers and if health experts inform the general public of this fact, many first-time ulcers can be prevented as well."

Citing the results of study in percentage figures the author of the newsletter here concludes that Zorba would help in preventing recurrence of ulcers. Also, the author claims that it might help prevent first time ulcers without any support from the data supporting it. In my opinion the argument seems to be based on some weak evidence and therefore unconvincing as it stands.

Firstly, the author claims that the 25% of the ulcer patients who took Zorba developed new ulcers. However, the author does not cite any absolute numbers to support the data. Perhaps there were only 4 patients in the study in which 1 of them developed ulcer again. Had one more person developed ulcer in this case, the percentage would have jumped to 50%. It is not substantial amount of data to support a claim. The author compares this data to data from ulcer patients who did not take Zorba and claims a 75 percent recurrence rate among them. However, again the author does not quote any absolute numbers. Also the author does not cite if the 2 group of patients were treated in a similar set of conditions. Perhaps the patients who took Zorba were also taking some other medications or the patients who did not take Zorba were taking some food product that caused Ulcer again. Hence, the argument could be strengthened if the author could support it with data on the conditions in which the study was conducted and also the absolute number of patients in each group.

Secondly, the author claims that if the health experts claim the effect of Zorba to the general public it might help in preventing first time occurrence of ulcers. However, the author does have any data to support it. The author is extrapolating the result of the current study. The author does not even know if the people who developed ulcers for the first time were taking Zorba or not. Since, it is a diet supplement, may be many people are already taking it and still they develop ulcers. Hence, the author’s claim seems to be a work of conjecture.

In conclusion the argument is based on very little evidence which has been extrapolated. The author needs to strengthen the argument by providing data such as the number of people who went through the study and the conditions in which the people were treated. Also, the author cannot simply extrapolate a piece of data.

samarfadl · 07-01-2008, 05:26 PM

hi ruchia!
thank u for commenting on my argument

i've read your analysis to this argument and i can say that u did a good work
you have analyzed almost all the points, there is no grammatical or spelling errors.
you can also add one point:
you might say that since zorba is multimineral pill and is not designed to specifcally cure ulcers, the amount of the dosage required to treat ulcers must be mentioned. Because if higher dosage is required, we must be sure that there would be no side effects.

i've also read your argument that you wrote after mine "about hiring discount food" it was also good written, no grammatical or spelling errors with good organization. nice work

see you soon with new arguments

ruchia · 07-01-2008, 07:15 PM

Hi...
Thanks for your comments and suggestions...

have you tried any of the issue essays.. I think they are more difficult.. I tried to compose a few of them. if you get some time, please review them also.

Once again thanks!! and keep writing.

maple_leaf · 07-02-2008, 04:34 PM

Hey Ruchia, when are you taking your GRE?

ruchia · 07-02-2008, 06:23 PM

August probably... not sure. when r u taking urs.?

maple_leaf · 07-03-2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruchia

August probably... not sure. when r u taking urs.?

I actually registered to take it in August. But I do not think I am well prepared. I will take it in late September I guess. I do not know whether I will have enough time to re-take it if I have to

ruchia · 07-03-2008, 04:22 PM

There is time.. 2 more months.. I think it should be enough for good prep.. !! good luck..

06-30-2008, 07:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
ruchia Within my grasp! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 189	Please review it The following appeared in a newsletter on nutrition and health. "Although the multimineral Zorba pill was designed as a simple dietary supplement, a study of first-time ulcer patients who took Zorba suggests that Zorba actually helps prevent ulcers. The study showed that only 25 percent of those ulcer patients who took Zorba under a doctor's direction developed new ulcers, compared to a 75 percent recurrence rate among ulcer patients who did not take Zorba. Clearly, then, Zorba will be highly effective in preventing recurrent ulcers and if health experts inform the general public of this fact, many first-time ulcers can be prevented as well." Citing the results of study in percentage figures the author of the newsletter here concludes that Zorba would help in preventing recurrence of ulcers. Also, the author claims that it might help prevent first time ulcers without any support from the data supporting it. In my opinion the argument seems to be based on some weak evidence and therefore unconvincing as it stands. Firstly, the author claims that the 25% of the ulcer patients who took Zorba developed new ulcers. However, the author does not cite any absolute numbers to support the data. Perhaps there were only 4 patients in the study in which 1 of them developed ulcer again. Had one more person developed ulcer in this case, the percentage would have jumped to 50%. It is not substantial amount of data to support a claim. The author compares this data to data from ulcer patients who did not take Zorba and claims a 75 percent recurrence rate among them. However, again the author does not quote any absolute numbers. Also the author does not cite if the 2 group of patients were treated in a similar set of conditions. Perhaps the patients who took Zorba were also taking some other medications or the patients who did not take Zorba were taking some food product that caused Ulcer again. Hence, the argument could be strengthened if the author could support it with data on the conditions in which the study was conducted and also the absolute number of patients in each group. Secondly, the author claims that if the health experts claim the effect of Zorba to the general public it might help in preventing first time occurrence of ulcers. However, the author does have any data to support it. The author is extrapolating the result of the current study. The author does not even know if the people who developed ulcers for the first time were taking Zorba or not. Since, it is a diet supplement, may be many people are already taking it and still they develop ulcers. Hence, the author’s claim seems to be a work of conjecture. In conclusion the argument is based on very little evidence which has been extrapolated. The author needs to strengthen the argument by providing data such as the number of people who went through the study and the conditions in which the people were treated. Also, the author cannot simply extrapolate a piece of data.

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07-01-2008, 05:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
samarfadl Never Give Up!! Join Date: May 2008 Location: 3rd rock from the sun!!!! Posts: 96	hi ruchia! thank u for commenting on my argument i've read your analysis to this argument and i can say that u did a good work you have analyzed almost all the points, there is no grammatical or spelling errors. you can also add one point: you might say that since zorba is multimineral pill and is not designed to specifcally cure ulcers, the amount of the dosage required to treat ulcers must be mentioned. Because if higher dosage is required, we must be sure that there would be no side effects. i've also read your argument that you wrote after mine "about hiring discount food" it was also good written, no grammatical or spelling errors with good organization. nice work see you soon with new arguments

07-01-2008, 07:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
ruchia Within my grasp! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 189	Hi... Thanks for your comments and suggestions... have you tried any of the issue essays.. I think they are more difficult.. I tried to compose a few of them. if you get some time, please review them also. Once again thanks!! and keep writing.

07-02-2008, 04:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
maple_leaf Eager! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Morristown, New Jesey Posts: 91	Hey Ruchia, when are you taking your GRE?

07-02-2008, 06:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
ruchia Within my grasp! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 189	August probably... not sure. when r u taking urs.?

07-03-2008, 04:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
ruchia Within my grasp! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 189	There is time.. 2 more months.. I think it should be enough for good prep.. !! good luck..

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