Mandatory Helmets while Skiing - Case Study Example

Project EXERCISE 1) red light cameras at certain intersections: for or against? I’m in favour of this. We need to take a harder line against people who break traffic laws. This will keep us safer. People shouldn’t get away with breaking the law. 2) BLM roundup of horses on public land: for or against? I’m against this. Horses should be free not captive. Horses were here first. The BLM should have better things to do. 3) Pit Bull Terriers as service dogs in Denver I’m against this. Pit bulls are dangerous. There are many safer animals. There is nothing special about pit bulls. EXERCISE 2 1) Define: What is a logical fallacy? A logical fallacy is a type of argument that does not logically follow. It doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t persuade. This kind of argument is ineffective. The premises do not lead to the conclusion. One example might be an ad hominem attack. If you say Jim’s opinion is wrong because he is ugly—that is fallacious. The fact that Jim is ugly may be negative, but it is unrelated to the quality of the opinion. 2) Explain: Why is it best to avoid these in your academic arguments? These kinds of arguments are ineffective and are a sign of someone who does not have a real argument to make. They are the sign of a fool. Logical arguments are much more effective and substantial. 3) Provide an example. I already did. The idea that Jim’s opinion is wrong because he is ugly—that is fallacious. The fact that Jim is ugly may be negative, but it is unrelated to the quality of the opinion. EXERCISE 3 "This video will likely give you a firm perspective on writing a good argument essay for college. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAmgEa1B1vI&feature=related Watch then briefly summarize here" This useful video provides an excellent summary of how to write an effective essay. The director takes the viewer through the five major steps of writing a clear piece of persuasive writing. Logic is one of the key elements which guarantees that the ideas flow effectively throughout the piece, and that the reader is convinced in the end by the author’s point of view. The video describes the introduction of an essay and the body and, finally, the conclusion. Each part plays an important role in moving the attention of the reader along and finally convincing him or her of the author’s perspective. EXERCISE 4 Mandatory helmets while skiing Many people enjoy skiing. It makes you feel alive, rushing downhill in the snow at great speed. It is a great family activity and is an excellent source of exercise. Families gather together for a hot chocolate after a vigorous work-out on the hill. However, skiing is also quite dangerous. Hundreds of people die every year on ski hills. That is the reason why we must ensure that helmets are mandatory on ski hills everywhere. It is a small costs to ensure the safety of our children. Mandatory helmets on ski-hills are an excellent way of reducing injury and death. The truth is that skiing is often a very dangerous activity. Skiers are often forced to make sudden and last minute choices. Obstacles appear around every bend of the run, and the wrong choice can often lead to devastating consequences. For safety reasons alone, helmets should be required. There are many costly ideas to improve safety on hills. Hills could be less steep. People should have to wear full body armour. These are expensive and foolish ideas. Wearing a helmet is not. It is a very easy and inexpensive plan which would have excellent results in helping people to be safer on dangerous hills. Man was not made to strap skis on his feet and ski down a mountain. But we do it anyway. It is not too much to ask that extra precautions are taken to ensure we are safe. A head injury can have a terrible effect, much worse than a broken arm or leg. Some may dispute that idea such as Boris Johnston, the mayor of London, who recently stirred up trouble by saying that a woolly hat was enough protection. The author of a newspaper article reporting this fact wisely responded with the following points of advice about skiing. Anyone would do well to listen and follow each of them: 1) Always wear a helmet, regardless of your skiing ability (and of what Boris Johnson advises). It can significantly minimise the extent of damage caused by a head injury. If you do have an accident and your helmet takes a knock, replace it immediately. 2) Always check your own ski equipment. I failed to check my rental skis and didnt realise they were on a setting that resulted in my being thrown out of both of them. 3) Seek medical attention immediately after any incident involving your head and neck. (Le Breton) Others are less convinced by these arguments. Some people feel it is more important to feel the wind blowing through their locks than to protect their skull with a helmet that will ensure their safety. For many people fashion will always trump security. These are the people who, unfortunately, will always be “selected” by natural selection. There are others who also have a cynical counter-argument against ski helmet wearing. For example, a Canadian newspaper has editorialized thus: Some experts also question whether helmet use prevents the most severe types of head injuries while skiing and snowboarding. Dr. Jasper Shealy, an American researcher who’s among the world’s foremost experts on the subject, supports helmet use but points out the rate of skiing fatalities hasn’t dropped despite much greater helmet use on the slopes. In other words, helmets just cannot prevent catastrophic injuries in some ski hill accidents. (Herald) Who can say exactly where and how such accidents occur. There is certainly grounds for debate. But in the end the question comes down to a simply proposition—will wearing a helmet make you safer or more at risk? That question is not so hard to answer. A helmet might not protect a skier from every possible type of harm that they face when they are skiing downhill at high speeds. Nevertheless, it will remove a significant risk of head injury. No one is suggesting that helmets are a cure-all. That is a logical fallacy. However, there is evidence that helmet can significantly reduce the risk. That alone is enough for the various state legislature s to create la which mandate their use. This shift toward new levels of protection may have taken helmet manufacturers off guard to some extent (Weeks). The sudden urge to require everyone to wear helmets may also create a false sense of protection. Not all helmets are created equal and no helmet is a substitute for skiing in safe and secure manner. This is an important fact for everyone involved in this delightful sport to remember. Children are our most precious resource. There can be no doubt that we need to do everything in our power to help and protect them. Part of that must surely involve putting in place law which can improve their safety and require them to wear helmets on the ski hill. These policies and laws are for the good of everyone. We need to make sure that we move forward on this ground over the next few years. Works consulted Le Breton, Gabriella. “Ski helmet debate: a woolly hat wouldnt have saved me .” Daily Telegraph. February 26, 2010. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/snowandski/7322853/Ski-helmet-debate-a-woolly-hat-wouldnt-have-saved-me.html Editorial. “Mandatory ski helmets: No need for legislation. Chronicle Herald. December 8, 2011. http://thechronicleherald.ca/editorials/40609-mandatory-ski-helmets-no-need-legislation Weeks, Carly. “Regulation gap means ski and snowboard helmets may offer no protection.” Globe and Mail. February 8, 2012. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/the-hot-button/regulation-gap-means-ski-and-snowboard-helmets-may-offer-no-protection/article544472/ Read More