Critical Thinking Skills - Developing Effective Analysis and Argument(2)

More flaws
Just as you did for p. 115, check whether you can
identify the flaws in the following passages. There
may be more than one flaw in each passage,
including flaws covered in previous sections. The
answers will be on the following pages.
sums of money should be spent on courses to make
people aware of personal health issues. People don't
always know what they can do to take care of their
health so further investment is needed in training on
health matters.
Nature or nurture
Those who argue that intelligence is not in-born do a
disservice to the truly bright individual and hinder
attempts to discover excellence. Many of us had
intensive training on an instrument such as the piano
when we were children, but we obviously did not all
turn out to be a Beethoven or Mozart. We are all able
to recognise brilliance when we see it. Proponents of
the view that intelligence can be nurtured are too
ready to blame society or the education system for
not turning out more geniuses. They want us to
believe that any of our children could be a genius,
which is unfair on parents and teachers alike.
Curfews
Juvenile crime has risen sharply in cities. Young people
are out of control. There are only two options in a
situation like this. Either we agree to put up with
savage assaults on our persons and property, or we
place a curfew on all young people after 10 o'clock.
Einstein
Einstein was not very good at maths when he was at
school. Many school-children today could solve maths
problems that he used to struggle with. The accolade
of 'great scientist' shouldn't be ascribed to someone
who struggled with basic numerical problems.
Health training
The public's knowledge of health is poor and more
money is needed for education in this area. Increased
Advantages of maths
More people should be informed of the value of
studying maths to a higher level at school or
university. A mathematical education can be very
advantageous. Therefore, the guidance given to
young people should emphasise the benefits of
choosing maths.
Selling assets
The opposition party is wrong to condemn the leader
of the council for selling off public assets at a low
price to its own
supporters. When
the opposition had a
majority in the
council, they sold off
cemeteries and
houses below the
commercial price,
benefiting their own
supporters. If they
can do it, then the
current council can
do it too.
Stealing at work
Mr Malcolm's employers pay their stylists much lower
wages and expect them to work much longer hours
than owners of other salons. Mr Malcolm
supplemented his income by taking equipment and
styling products from the workplace and selling these
in his own area. He was justified in stealing from his
employer because his employer was exploiting him.
1 18 Critical Thinking Skills
O Stella Cottrell (2005), Cn'ticnl Thinking Skills,
Palgrave Macmillan Ltd
I