Running Head: REFUTATIONS AND COUNTER-ARGUMENTS 1
REFUTATIONS AND COUNTER-ARGUMENTS 4
Critically Reading Refutations and Counter-Arguments
Gabriel Rosario
Baker College
Critically Reading Refutations and Counter-Arguments In her paper, ?Why Lawrence Summers was Wrong: Culture Rather Than Biology Explains the Underrepresentation of Women in Science and Mathematics? (Ramage, Bean, & Johnson, 1998) Julee Chistianson begins with the inspiration of her paper, i.e., Lawrence Summers? speech. She follows with her thesis suggesting culture is more responsible than biology, thus setting the stage for her paper beginning with the counter-argument. In her counter-argument, Chistianson identifies the science supporting Lawrence?s …show more content…
She begins by restating the opposing view and acknowledging on what points the two sides agree. In this case, Christianson recognizes that biology is a factor, specifically that gender can affect aptitude, spatial awareness, and the obvious differences in hormone levels, effectively acknowledging the validity of the counter-argument. She disputes, however, that these differences are significant enough to support Lawrence?s claim (Ramage et al., 1998).
She goes on to identify specifically why the counter-argument wrong, using her own expert evidence contradicting the work supporting Lawrence. She provides references to peer-reviewed research, quotes from the researchers, verifiable statistics to support her refutation, and a summarized explanation of the findings. She ends her presentation of evidence with anecdotal examples from professionals acknowledging circumstances supporting her assertion of discrimination and cultural influences (Ramage et al., 1998). In doing so Christianson demonstrates the validity and significance of the evidence supporting her thesis, specifically that Lawrence?s argument is wrong.
In her closing, Christianson challenges the reader to reconcile the evidence: if the evidence shows that Lawrence (nature over nurture) is wrong (Ramage et al., 1998), what other explanation is there? Only hers: nurture over
REFUTATIONS AND COUNTER-ARGUMENTS 4
Critically Reading Refutations and Counter-Arguments
Gabriel Rosario
Baker College
Critically Reading Refutations and Counter-Arguments In her paper, ?Why Lawrence Summers was Wrong: Culture Rather Than Biology Explains the Underrepresentation of Women in Science and Mathematics? (Ramage, Bean, & Johnson, 1998) Julee Chistianson begins with the inspiration of her paper, i.e., Lawrence Summers? speech. She follows with her thesis suggesting culture is more responsible than biology, thus setting the stage for her paper beginning with the counter-argument. In her counter-argument, Chistianson identifies the science supporting Lawrence?s …show more content…
She begins by restating the opposing view and acknowledging on what points the two sides agree. In this case, Christianson recognizes that biology is a factor, specifically that gender can affect aptitude, spatial awareness, and the obvious differences in hormone levels, effectively acknowledging the validity of the counter-argument. She disputes, however, that these differences are significant enough to support Lawrence?s claim (Ramage et al., 1998).
She goes on to identify specifically why the counter-argument wrong, using her own expert evidence contradicting the work supporting Lawrence. She provides references to peer-reviewed research, quotes from the researchers, verifiable statistics to support her refutation, and a summarized explanation of the findings. She ends her presentation of evidence with anecdotal examples from professionals acknowledging circumstances supporting her assertion of discrimination and cultural influences (Ramage et al., 1998). In doing so Christianson demonstrates the validity and significance of the evidence supporting her thesis, specifically that Lawrence?s argument is wrong.
In her closing, Christianson challenges the reader to reconcile the evidence: if the evidence shows that Lawrence (nature over nurture) is wrong (Ramage et al., 1998), what other explanation is there? Only hers: nurture over