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10 Aug 2014, 12:57
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Hello, today I'm writing my first argument essay. Could you please have a look at it and tell me what you think of it? It is 580 words long.
Thanks in advance.
Argument
Collectors prize the ancient life-size clay statues of human figures made on Kali Island but have long wondered how Kalinese artists were able to depict bodies with such realistic precision. Since archaeologists have recently discovered molds of human heads and hands on Kali, we can now conclude that the ancient Kalinese artists used molds of actual bodies, not sculpting tools and techniques, to create these statues. This discovery explains why Kalinese miniature statues were abstract and entirely different in style: molds could be used only for life-size sculptures. It also explains why few ancient Kalinese sculpting tools have been found. In light of this discovery, collectors predict that the life-size sculptures will decrease in value while the miniatures increase in value.
Directions
Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the prediction and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the prediction.
My essay
The argument is flawed for numerous reasons, since it makes several unjustified assumptions. Should these assumptions be proven to be erroneous, the argument would fall apart. Chiefly, the argument is based on the assumption that the value of the life-size Kalinese sculptures will see their value decrease because they were created by means of molds instead of by using sculpting tools.
There is not enough basis provided to make such an assertion. For example, the life-size sculptures probably resemble much more closely the figure they intended to represent than the abstract miniatures, due to the technique used to craft each of them. This is valuable quality for those collectors fond of realism, whilst it might cause those that are in search of a rather different style to lose all interest in the statues. Thus, the artistic preferences of each collector are an important factor that should be taken into account when assessing the possible value a Kalinese craft would have. More significantly, the crafting technique could be a major point to be considered by the collectors too. Some might think that using molds is such as ingenious technique the piece should multiply its value. On the other hand, another sector of the archaeological community could argue that said technique should actually lead to a decrease in the value of the statue, since it does not imply any actual crafting by the artist (besides the creation of the original mold). The argument would have been stronger if it gave some evidence that the miniatures are rarer than the life-size sculptures. It is not unreasonable to make such a guess, since a mold can be easily reused to create many similar statues, while the hand-crafted miniatures likely required a much more accurate and complex work, and each piece should be individually fabricated, thus making them more valuable to the eyes of collectors, which usually treasure uncommon pieces over their more prevalent counterparts.
Another unstated assumption the argument makes is that the molds found on Kali were actually used by the artists who created the human figures. We are led to believe this must be true because it perfectly explains the fact almost no ancient sculpting tools have been found on Kali. Nonetheless, this does not provide definitive evidence for the assumption to be confirmed, since there are other plausible explanations. For instance, another ancient tribe might have invaded Kali Island and plundered it, taking with them all the goods of the Kalinese people, including their crafting utensils. Many kinds of geological events, such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, could be responsible for the lack of sculpting tools in the Kalinese archeological record too. Similarly, the molds that were found on the island could have been used for other purposes, not necessarily of artistic nature. As a case in point, they could be part of an ancient holy ritual of the Kalinese people. It is not uncommon amongst primitive cultures to use masks as a part of their rites, so it is not preposterous to consider this possibility as an alternative. If this was the case, the fact that life-size statues were hand-crafted couldn’t be ruled out.
Because of the several unwarranted assumptions on which the argument and the consequent prediction are based, it is still too early to draw the conclusions that the Kalinese life-size figures were crafter by means of molds, and even if this proved to be true, that it would lead to a decrease in the value of these pieces.
Thanks in advance.
Argument
Collectors prize the ancient life-size clay statues of human figures made on Kali Island but have long wondered how Kalinese artists were able to depict bodies with such realistic precision. Since archaeologists have recently discovered molds of human heads and hands on Kali, we can now conclude that the ancient Kalinese artists used molds of actual bodies, not sculpting tools and techniques, to create these statues. This discovery explains why Kalinese miniature statues were abstract and entirely different in style: molds could be used only for life-size sculptures. It also explains why few ancient Kalinese sculpting tools have been found. In light of this discovery, collectors predict that the life-size sculptures will decrease in value while the miniatures increase in value.
Directions
Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the prediction and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the prediction.
My essay
The argument is flawed for numerous reasons, since it makes several unjustified assumptions. Should these assumptions be proven to be erroneous, the argument would fall apart. Chiefly, the argument is based on the assumption that the value of the life-size Kalinese sculptures will see their value decrease because they were created by means of molds instead of by using sculpting tools.
There is not enough basis provided to make such an assertion. For example, the life-size sculptures probably resemble much more closely the figure they intended to represent than the abstract miniatures, due to the technique used to craft each of them. This is valuable quality for those collectors fond of realism, whilst it might cause those that are in search of a rather different style to lose all interest in the statues. Thus, the artistic preferences of each collector are an important factor that should be taken into account when assessing the possible value a Kalinese craft would have. More significantly, the crafting technique could be a major point to be considered by the collectors too. Some might think that using molds is such as ingenious technique the piece should multiply its value. On the other hand, another sector of the archaeological community could argue that said technique should actually lead to a decrease in the value of the statue, since it does not imply any actual crafting by the artist (besides the creation of the original mold). The argument would have been stronger if it gave some evidence that the miniatures are rarer than the life-size sculptures. It is not unreasonable to make such a guess, since a mold can be easily reused to create many similar statues, while the hand-crafted miniatures likely required a much more accurate and complex work, and each piece should be individually fabricated, thus making them more valuable to the eyes of collectors, which usually treasure uncommon pieces over their more prevalent counterparts.
Another unstated assumption the argument makes is that the molds found on Kali were actually used by the artists who created the human figures. We are led to believe this must be true because it perfectly explains the fact almost no ancient sculpting tools have been found on Kali. Nonetheless, this does not provide definitive evidence for the assumption to be confirmed, since there are other plausible explanations. For instance, another ancient tribe might have invaded Kali Island and plundered it, taking with them all the goods of the Kalinese people, including their crafting utensils. Many kinds of geological events, such as earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, could be responsible for the lack of sculpting tools in the Kalinese archeological record too. Similarly, the molds that were found on the island could have been used for other purposes, not necessarily of artistic nature. As a case in point, they could be part of an ancient holy ritual of the Kalinese people. It is not uncommon amongst primitive cultures to use masks as a part of their rites, so it is not preposterous to consider this possibility as an alternative. If this was the case, the fact that life-size statues were hand-crafted couldn’t be ruled out.
Because of the several unwarranted assumptions on which the argument and the consequent prediction are based, it is still too early to draw the conclusions that the Kalinese life-size figures were crafter by means of molds, and even if this proved to be true, that it would lead to a decrease in the value of these pieces.
Updated on: 10 Feb 2021, 07:24
Originally posted by jamesshaffer on 30 Sep 2014, 05:35.
Last edited by jamesshaffer on 10 Feb 2021, 07:24, edited 1 time in total.
Last edited by jamesshaffer on 10 Feb 2021, 07:24, edited 1 time in total.
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Wow, I must admit you're doing it pretty good. Solid argumentation and good analysis. To be honest, I had serious difficulties with my first argument essay. I had no idea how to start it and my friend told me about youressayhelper.com I hired a professional writer and received a great sample. Now I always use it to write my other essays. Of course, I don't plagiarize - but in terms of format and overall structure, it;s really helpful.
