In class lab: Analyzing an Argument

Sarah's Paper:

1. The writer is trying to make the point that designer babies are a good thing for society. The thesis is that "Designer babies are a good thing for our society."
2. The writer then goes on to explain how designer babies are good because they can prevent children from having birth defects, and cause a smarter generation. She backs the first claim with a quote, and pathos. She backs up the second with another quote by an author. One thing that could have supported the writers claims is credibility to her sources, instead of just giving random quotes.
3. The writer mentions that we take vitamins during pregnancy to prevent our child from having birth defects, so why not ensure that our child does not get any birth defects through the designer baby process. She responded to the counter arguments very appropriately and respectfully. She avoids generalization because she makes the point that we all don't want our baby to have birth defects.
4. The writer also gives outside information when she explains how doctors are replacing children's mitochondria with healthy new ones. She makes sure that this claim is credible by explaining how the person who made the claim (Mark Sauer) is a member of a scientific team working at Columbia university. The writer did not note how current this claim was, which makes a difference in the credibility of it, because if this was an interview from long ago it would be clear that this technology went no where.
5. The writer starts out by appealing to peoples emotional side by asking people to imagine if they had the chance to have traits they don't have, and maybe want. She doesn't assume that the reader knows much about the topic because she explains the process, what it could do, and how people would benefit from it. "it is possible to have a healthier child that can provide blood or healthy bone marrow top help their sibling." I agree that the process of designer babies should be used to and certain extent. Not to change the color of of our babies hair, eyes, or skin, but to save our children from contracting a life long malfunction, or deformity.

Bethany's Paper:

1. The main point the author is trying to make is that we should brush our teeth to maintain healthy teeth. Her thesis was "Your tooth brush choice affects the overall health of your teeth.
2. The authors explains how the tooth brush you choose can actually be detrimental to your health. She then backs up this evidence by saying that many people use hard bristled tooth brushes, when in fact soft bristled tooth brushes are better. And then she backs up this claim by telling the readers that this was a fact confirmed by the Dental Care of Austin, making her reason plausible and efficient.
3. The writer also uses the same evidence as a counterargument saying that some may think that a harder bristled tooth brush is better, disagrees with this, and then utilizes the say of a Dentist named Caitlin Bachelor from Virginia. Caitlin says that brushing with a hard bristled tooth brush "bites, and chews away enamel." She doesn't slam on the other side of the argument by saying something like, "some idiots may think that using a hard bristled tooth brush is better, but i'm here to tell you that they are totally wrong." She instead acknowledges that people may think this but then respectfully explains why and how its not good for the health of your teeth.
4. The writer uses sources such as dentists, facts from books, and websites, all to back up claims and to support evidence she uses. All of these sources are credible because dentist know about teeth, the website was a government website. She did not say if any of the sources were current.
5. The writer draws us in with questions like, "what i you didn't have teeth?" We all instantly draw our attention to what she is saying because most of us enjoy having teeth. She uses the word you, and we quite often which makes an instant connection between what the writer is saying and the reader. I agree that the author and i share the same beliefs because i care a lot about the health of my teeth and its nice to know what I can do o improve the Health, and end bad habits of my own.