▶ Your Answer :
In this argument, the author claims that the woven basket’s distinctive pattern was general for ancient Palean and Lithos people. The author cites that the pattern had been found only in Palea area, but new discover of the same pattern of that in Lithos give the possibility of the general pattern, not the unique. However, this argument depends on several unsubstantiated assumptions and is therefore unpersuasive as it stands. First of all, the author’s conclusion that the Palean people could not cross the Brim River depends on the assumption that no boats has been found in this area. Yet, the author does not present any evidence to substantiate this assumption. In order to support this conclusion, the author should present that the ancient boats could not be made by ancient Palean’s techniques. It is possible that the boats were made in the Palean, but because it’s composition were wood it had been rotted someday before. Unless the author offers sufficient evidence, this assumption is logically flawed. Similarly, the claim that the Brim River is difficult for the people to cross depends on the assumption that the depth and length of the Brim River in the past is same as the present. Nevertheless, the author offers no evidence to verify this assumption. To satisfy the claim, the author should point out that the geographic circumstance of the river have been maintained for long time. In addition, the author unfairly asserts that the pattern of the baskets are general because it was found in separated two regions. The author overlooked other aspects that other regions except for the two area had different pattern of the basket. Without showing that the pattern of the other regions had same characteristic factors, the author can not argue that this pattern is only way to make the basket. To sum, the author’s assumption that the pattern of the basket was not unique factor for the Palean is logically flawed based on the above mentioned reasons. To strengthen his or her argument, the author should closely examine all the conditions and possible factors affecting the pattern of the basket and other ancient materials. In conclusion, the author’s argument reflects unsupported claims that without clear reasons or evidence. |