Assignment NO:1

Here are the two arguments for which you are going to write responses. Make sure that you read very carefully and understand each argument. Remember how we analyzed arguments in class:

• Find the assumption
• Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the assumption. Remember, there is no right or wrong answers here. You can trust the assumption or not depending on your own interpretation.
• Discuss what happens if the assumption is wrong
• Find the warranted and unwarranted claims.
• Discuss what happens if unwarranted claims are incorrect and whether you have enough reason to be suspicious.
• Discuss what evidence you need to evaluate the argument, what evidence would prove this argument useless / wrong and what evidence would support the argument.
• Conclude with a general assessment of the argument.

TOPIC 1

According to the Worldbank statistics (Statistics yearbook, 2010) 50 wealthiest countries in the world are also among the most democratic. Apart from oil rich Arab countries all rich countries also tend to be democratic, respectful of human rights and freedom of speech. On the other hand, most of the poorer countries in the world, the so called third world, are also among the most authoritarian regimes including some dictatorships. In democratic countries some key indicators of human development such as life expectancy, education levels, violence against women are also better than non-democratic countries. These observations led some researchers to argue that there is a direct relationship between democracy and development. Therefore, the Worldbank and the United Nations should devote more resources promoting democracy in order to facilitate economic development in the world.

TOPIC 2

 "Several recent surveys indicate that home owners are increasingly eager to conserve energy. At the same time, manufacturers are now marketing many home appliances, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, that are almost twice as energy efficient as those sold a decade ago. Also, new technologies for better home insulation and passive solar heating are readily available to reduce the energy needed for home heating. Therefore, the total demand for electricity in our area will not increase—and may decline slightly. Since our three electric generating plants in operation for the past twenty years have always met our needs, construction of new generating plants will not be necessary."