Self-study
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Summarize Argument: Counter-Position
Xu concludes that the arctic squirrel’s blood has a substance that prevents it from freezing at the freezing temperature of water. This is based on the claim that the squirrel’s blood temperature falls below the freezing temperature of water when the squirrel is hibernating, but the blood never freezes during hibernation.
Yerky concludes that the squirrel’s blood doesn’t have a substance that keeps it from freezing at water temperature. This is based on the claim that lab experiments show the squirrel’s blood freezes at the same temperature that water freezes.
Describe Method of Reasoning
Yerky presents evidence that suggests Xu’s conclusion is wrong.
7.
Ms. Yerky's response proceeds by
a
presenting evidence that ████████ █ ██████████ ████████████ ████ ███ ████ ██████████
Yerky presents evidence (the lab experiment results) that supports a conclusion that contradicts Xu’s conclusion. Yerky concludes squirrel blood doesn’t have a substance that keeps it from freezing at water temperature. This contradicts Xu’s conclusion.
b
showing that the ████████ ███████ ██ ███ ██ ███ █████████ ██ █████ ██ ██████████ ███████
Yerky doesn’t comment on the way in which Yerky’s evidence was gathered. We don’t know why Xu thinks that a squirrel’s blood doesn’t freeze during hibernation, or that a squirrel’s blood gets colder than the freezing temperature of water during hibernation.
c
offering an alternative ███████████ ███ ███ ███ ██████████ █████ █████ ██ ██████ ██ ███ ███████████ ██ █████ █████ ███████
Yerky probably doesn’t agree that a squirrel’s blood fails to freeze at the freezing temperature of water. The lab tests show that it does freeze at that temperature. So there’s no way that Yerky provides an explanation for a phenomenon that she doesn’t even think happens.
d
showing that a ███ ████ ████ ██ ███ ██ ██ █████████
None of the terms in Xu’s argument is used ambiguously. “Hibernation” means the same thing throughout Xu’s argument. Same with “blood” and “freezing” and “temperature” and every other word.
e
showing that the ████████ ████████ ██ ███ ██ ███ ██ ███████ ██ ███ █████ ██ █████
Yerky brings up lab results that suggest Yerk’s conclusion is wrong. But this doesn’t mean Xu’s evidence has no bearing (i.e. is irrelevant.) Evidence can be relevant, even if its ultimately not persuasive.