Arg-50
An ancient, traditional remedy for insomnia—the scent of lavender flowers—has now been proved effective. In a recent study, 30 volunteers with chronic insomnia slept each night for three weeks on lavender-scented pillows in a controlled room where their sleep was monitored electronically. During the first week, volunteers continued to take their usual sleeping medication. They slept soundly but wakened feeling tired. At the beginning of the second week, the volunteers discontinued their sleeping medication. During that week, they slept less soundly than the previous week and felt even more tired. During the third week, the volunteers slept longer and more soundly than in the previous two weeks. Therefore, the study proves that lavender cures insomnia within a short period of time.
Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.
The speaker concludes that lavender provides an effective cure for insomnia. To support this conclusion the speaker cites a three-week experiment in which researchers monitored a controlled group. The speaker's account of the experiment reveals several critical problems.
【此段结构】
本段采用了标准的Argument开头段结构，即：C – E - F的开头结构，首句概括原文的C(Conclusion)。接下来的一句话概括了原文为了支持他的结论所引用的E(Evidence)。最后尾句中给出开头段到正文段的过渡句，指出原文在逻辑上存在F(Flaw)。
【此段功能】
本段作为Argument开头段，具体功能就在发起攻击。首先，概括原文的结论：lavender对治疗失眠症很有效。接下来分别列举了原文为了支持这个结论引用的证据：一个三周的对比调查，论据的归纳用于铺垫出正文段的具体攻击。最后点出原文存在逻辑错误，引出后面的分析。
To begin with, the fact that subjects slept more soundly and awakened less tired the first week than the second demonstrates only that the subjects' sleep medications were somewhat effective yet it proves nothing about the effectiveness of lavender.
【此段结构】
本段采用了标准的Argument正文段结构，即：概括第一个逻辑错误的错误类型和原文犯错位置，接下来给出合理的理由和他因来反驳原文。
【此段功能】
本段作为正文第一段，攻击文章犯的主要逻辑错误：因果类错误。作者认为调查中提到的“睡得更好更香”只能反映lavender对睡眠效果好坏的作用，不能反映其对“入睡情况”的作用。
Another problem involves the speaker's account of the experiment's third week, during which the speaker reports only that the subjects slept longer and more soundly than in the previous two weeks. There are other factors that could have contributed to the third week's results. Perhaps the subjects were simply making up for sleep they lost the previous week when they discontinued their regular medication. In short, without ruling out other explanations for the third week's results, the speaker cannot confidently identify what caused the subjects to sleep longer and more soundly that week.
【此段结构】
本段采用了标准的Argument正文段结构，即：概括第二个逻辑错误的错误类型和原文犯错位置，接下来给出合理的理由和他因来反驳原文。
【此段功能】
本段作为正文第二段，攻击文章犯的主要逻辑错误：因果类错误(忽略他因)。原文中提到实验中第三周实验参与者睡得比前两周好，作者认为这一论据存在漏洞。进一步，作者提出可能造成这种结果的其他原因，例如，实验参与者在第三周补充了前两周缺失的睡眠。在没有忽略其他因素的前提下，作者不能对第三周的实验结果下结论。
Two final problems with the argument involve the experimental process. The experiment's results are reliable only if all other factors that might affect sleep patterns remained constant during the three-week period, and if the number of experimental subjects is statistically significant. Without a clearer understanding of the experiment's methodology, one should likely not base any conclusion on such results.
【此段结构】
本段采用了标准的Argument正文段结构，即：概括第三个逻辑错误的错误类型和原文犯错位置，接下来给出合理的理由和他因来反驳原文。
【此段功能】
本段作为正文第三段，攻击文章犯的主要逻辑错误：调查类错误。作者认为原文中引用的调查不足以说明问题。作者指出，原文中的调查必须满足other factors不变，以及实验参与者数量statistically significant才可以得到可靠的结论。
As it stands, the argument is not persuasive. To strengthen the assertion that lavender-scented pillows provide a solution for insomniacs the author must provide evidence that the test subjects' insomnia was worse just prior to the experiment than at the conclusion of the experiment, and that the number of subjects is statistically sufficient to warrant the conclusion. To better assess the argument, the audience should be provided with more information about the nature of the study.
【此段结构】
本段采用了标准的Argument结尾段结构，即：C – S的结尾结构，首先再次重申原文的站不住脚的Conclusion，接下来给出给合理建议Suggestion。
【此段功能】
本段作为Argument结尾段，具体功能就总结归纳+建议措施，首先再次重申：原文“lavender是治疗失眠的有效手段”这一论断是没有说服力的。接下来作者给出几条建议：一是要给出实验参与者“实验前失眠比实验后严重”的证据，二要说明所引用调查的样本数量satistically sufficient，三要提供实验的具体信息。这几条建议含蓄的隐射前面的错误，前后呼应，文章有力结尾，浑然一体。
满分因素剖析
一、语言方面
1. Another problem involves ... , during which the speaker reports ... .(标志性的
2. As it stands, the argument is not persuasive. (标志性的GRE argument结尾段开头，提出文章结论)To strengthen the assertion that ... the author must provide evidence that ... , and that... . To better assess the argument, the audience should be provided with more information about the ....(提出是原文更有说服力的合理化建议)
标志性的GRE argument C-S(conclusion+suggestion)结尾结构
二、逻辑结构
本文内容清晰，逻辑严谨，采用了开头段——正文段1——正文段2——正文段3——结尾段的五段论结构，文章长短适中，层次一目了然。开头段按照C-E-F的逻辑结构，顺利引出后文的分析。论证段中，从提出错误，到分析错误，到给出可能性，最后总结错误，层次清晰，衔接自然。结尾段总结全文，重申错误，给出合理化建议。这样一篇文章从开头到结尾逻辑严谨，内容清晰，圆满的完成了论证的作用。
本文的开头段言简意赅，采用了C-E-F的结构，内容丰富，起到开门见山的作用。
The speaker concludes that lavender provides an effective cure for insomnia. (标志性的GRE argument开头段首句写法，引出原文的concluison)To support this conclusion the speaker cites a three-week experiment in which researchers monitored a controlled group. (提出原文中为了支撑结论所提出的evidence)The speaker's account of the experiment reveals several critical problems.(标志性的GRE argument开头段尾句，提出原文存在逻辑上的Flaw，引出下文)
