Argumentation

1
Argumentation Evaluation Guide
Name Michelle Nixon Class ______________________
____ Date 1/27/09_______________________________
Topic_Effect of Diet on Autism____________________
_______ Title_Science Disputes Autisms Diet
Link____________ Source Internet_________________
_________________
What is the Claim, including any Qualifiers? Are
there qualifiers? Yes. (If yes, underline
them.) 1. Some research suggests that up to 40
of children with autism Spectrum disorders could
benefit from dietary changes, including the
removal of gluten or casein. OR when I go off
the title I come up with- 2. Most mainstream
scientists remain skeptical of the gut-grain
connection in autism and say there is no
scientific proof that the diet works.
What chain of reasoning (warrant) connects the
evidence to the claim? In column 6, identify
type of reasoning with the letter(s) for
AUTHORITY (A), THEORY (T), or type of LOGIC
Analogy (AN), Correlation (C), Cause-Effect (CE),
Generalization (G) Lonnie Zwaigenbaum,
associate professor at the Univ. of Alberta And
director of autism research at Edmontons
Glenrose. . . Dr. Cutler part
of DAN!holds annual conferences and instructional
Sessions for docotrs recommends biomedical
treatments Pediatrician Wendy Edwards son
improved so dramatically the diet is the first
thing she recommends for autistic parents.
Supporters say gluten and casein are not well
digested by autistic kids, who often exhibit
digestive problems and food allergies Some
research suggests that up to 40 of children with
autism Spectrum disorders could benefit from
dietary changes, including the removal of gluten
or casein
What Evidence is presented? In column 3, identify
the type of evidence with the letter Data (D),
Fact (F), Opinion (O), Theory (T). Many parents
have reported that their autistic children have
improved on the diet. A single, double blind
clinical trial showed autistic children on the
diet had no significant improvement. However, it
was a small sample size. Supporters say
gluten and casein are not well digested by
autistic kids, who often exhibit digestive
problems and food allergies. Not sure how it
works leaky gut Mainstream scientists remain
skeptical and say theres no scientific proof the
diet works. Treatments such as the GFCF diet
are gaining ground. Parents may falsely
believe their child has improved- Placebo Effect
O D T O F O
A A AN T C
Evaluate the quality of the evidence as poor,
average or good. Explain your evaluation.
Evaluate the quality of the chain of reasoning as
poor, average or good. Explain your evaluation.
Reliable Poor because the reported results are so
varied.
Strength of Authority Poor only one scientific
study cited another one was referred to, but
was not cited. The rest was opinion doctors and
parents on both sides of the
issue. Application of Theory Poor there are
some but no correct applications Type of Logic
Poor-Average There are correlations and an
analogy but both are weaker types of logic.
Valid- Good All the data addresses the claim.
Objective (no bias) Poor even though there is
an attempt to present both sides of the issue all
the testimonials and authority used lead one to
believe that the parents are right and just
waiting for the doctors to catch up. Even the
double blind study was dismissed because it had a
small sample size. Controlled experiment Poor-
the double blind study is the gold standard
however the rest were just referenced as studies
or research suggests and none were repeated. . .

What are your concerns about the believability of
the claim? (your counterarguments, rebuttals or
new questions)? 1. Where is the research that
suggests a benefit due to dietary changes? Why
isnt it cited in this article? 2. Can parents
observations of their children and some doctors
treatments be dismissed as being due to a
placebo effect?
Accept, reject, or withhold judgment about the
claim. Explain your judgment. Withhold
judgment. Id like to see a citation of the
research that indicated that 40 of autistic
children could benefit from dietary changes. And
Id like to see the numerous parental
testimonials and statements from non mainstream
doctors quantified some way, so we can compare
pre diet and post diet behaviors.
C Bulgren revised 10/1//2008