Question

Advertisement: Anyone who exercises knows from firsthand experience that exercise leads to better performance of such physical organs as the heart and the lungs, as well as to improvement in muscle tone. And since your brain is a physical organ, your actions can improve its performance, too. Act now. Subscribe to Stimulus: read the magazine that exercises your brain. The advertisement employs which one of the following argumentative strategies? (A) It cites experimental evidence that subscribing to the product being advertised has desirable consequences. (B) It ridicules people who do not subscribe to Stimulus by suggesting that they do not believe that exercise will improve brain capacity. (C) It explains the process by which the product being advertised brings about the result claimed for its use. (D) It supports its recommendation by a careful analysis of the concept of exercise. (E) It implies that brains and muscle are similar in one respect because they are similar in another respect.

Short answer

The advertisement uses analogy: Option (E).

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Argument

The argument claims that exercise improves the performance of physical organs like the heart and lungs, and similarly implies that since the brain is also a physical organ, exercising it would improve its performance too.

Identify the Strategy

Examine the advertisement for any comparisons or analogies used. It draws a parallel between the improvement of physical organs through exercise and the brain, suggesting that it too can be improved by 'exercising' it through reading the magazine.

Analyze Each Option

Review each multiple-choice option to determine which best represents how the argument is structured. - (A) mentions experimental evidence, which is not present in the advertisement. - (B) talks about ridiculing non-subscribers, which the ad doesn't do. - (C) suggests a process description, but no detailed process is explained. - (D) implies a detailed concept analysis, which is not provided. - (E) suggests an analogy between brain and muscle improvement, fitting the strategy used.

Select the Best Option

Based on the analysis, option (E) fits best as it highlights the analogy strategy by comparing the brain to muscles, claiming similarity due to both being physical organs.

Key concepts

Argument Analysis

In the world of logic and reasoning, analyzing an argument is crucial to understanding its structure and validity. The exercise presented an advertisement claiming that exercising the brain through reading a magazine improves its performance, similar to physical exercise improving other organs. To analyze this argument, we start by identifying its components: the premise and the conclusion.
The premise is that exercise enhances physical organs like the heart and lungs. The conclusion is that because the brain is a physical organ, it too will benefit from exercise, specifically through reading. This argument uses a method of reasoning that draws a conclusion based on the analogy between bodily organs and the brain.

• Look for keywords that signal an inference, like "since" or "because".
• Identify the supporting evidence for the conclusion.
• Distinguish between stated and implied reasoning.

By engaging in argument analysis, we can better understand if the reasoning presented in the advertisement is logically sound or if it leaves room for questioning its conclusion.

Analogical Reasoning

Analogical reasoning is a type of thinking where one infers that if two or more things agree with one another in some respects, they will probably agree in others. In our advertisement example, the brain is being compared to physical muscles. The analogy suggests that because both the brain and muscles are physical organs, they improve through a similar type of stimulation or exercise.
To evaluate analogical reasoning, here's what you need to consider:

• Similarity: Ensure that the items being compared share significant characteristics.
• Relevance: Check if the similarities directly relate to the conclusion drawn.
• Differences: Consider notable differences that might affect the conclusion.

The strength of analogical reasoning relies heavily on the relevance and extent of similarities. In the case of our advertisement, the argument depends on the analogy that exercising leads to performance improvement in physical organs, including the brain.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the disciplined process of actively and skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing arguments or statements that you encounter. It involves being open-minded and skeptical, questioning the validity of assertions made, especially as seen in persuasive advertisements.
Using critical thinking with the given exercise, one would ask:

• Is there scientific evidence supporting the claim that mental exercise is analogous to physical exercise?
• Are there alternative explanations for the claimed improvement in brain function?
• What assumptions are being made about the nature of exercise and its effects on different organs?

Critical thinking helps peel back the layers of persuasion to evaluate whether the advertisement's claim stands up to scrutiny, encouraging skepticism and inquiry rather than blind acceptance.

Advertisement Strategies

In the competitive realm of advertisements, crafting persuasive messages is key. The exercise uses several strategic approaches to influence potential customers. One such strategy is analogical reasoning, as discussed earlier, to draw a connection between physical exercise and reading to improve the brain's function. This comparison is compelling because it taps into familiar experiences and perceived truths.
Effective advertisement strategies also include:

• Emotional Appeal: Engaging the audience's feelings, like fear of missing out or desire for self-improvement.
• Testimonial Use: Presenting customer reviews or endorsements to build credibility.
• Urgency Creation: Promoting immediate action with call-to-action phrases like "Act now."

By employing these strategies, the advertisement aims to persuade the audience efficiently and effectively, leveraging logic, emotion, and urgency to drive action.