[Update: 6/11/2011]
Some either/or questions might end up becoming comparative questions, in which case, I would advise most students to avoid them. So before committing to an either/or question, consider whether you know how to reconcile your counter arguments – many students end up attempting to reconcile their counter-arguments by comparing the two ideas, which then turns it into a comparison question. When this happens, avoid these questions.
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6.
Either/or /
(false) dichotomy
[NOTE: "Either/or" questions may present false dichotomies. Where false dichotomies are presented, identifying them and stating that a false dichotomy (also known as an either-or fallacy) is presented is, potentially, an excellent approach. However, the important thing to note is that you must still have a stand, so if you're presenting the idea of a false dichotomy, you must state what your third option (your stand) is. See the first question below for an example.]
It is recommended that students who frequently fail their essays simply choose one of the “either/or” options in the question; those who are confident about expressing the “false dichotomy” idea may want to try the “false dichotomy” approach.
2002
- Does a study of history make you optimistic or pessimistic about the future of the human race? (2002)
Here, you might argue that “optimistic or pessimistic” is a false dichotomy. However, if you do, you must define your alternate option – perhaps you are neither optimistic nor pessimistic; instead, you are indifferent because you ultimately view history as an interesting discipline, but of little practical use. Thus, you are not optimistic about the potential of studying history to apply lessons learnt form the past to the future, but neither do you see it as a foreshadowing of future events because you feel that the current context is very different from the past, and thus we can’t “extrapolate the line” into the future.
2001
- ‘Computers and mobile phones have made us all worse at talking to one another, not better!’ What do you think? (2001) [Note: Also an absolute question]
2000
- A life of total luxury – dream or nightmare? (2000)
[...] recent consultation on an “either/or” question revealed that these questions sometimes end up becoming comparative questions. When [...]
Hi Adrienne,
Can i clarify what you mean by “you must still have a stand, so if you’re presenting the idea of a false dichotomy, you must state what your third option (your stand)”?
For example for the 2001 question, would it suffice if we simply state-we cannot lay the moral burden on computer and mobile phones since it is the users themselves who are responsible for? Or is that considered as sitting on the fence? If so what might be an acceptable stand? I digress but can i find out also if the term ‘talking’ has to be taken literally or can be interpreted as ‘communicating’?
Thanks for taking the time to address my questions
D
Cheers, Jace.
Hi Jace
For this question, I think it’s fair to interpret “talking” as communicating. However, depending on your argument, I could see the relevance of distinguishing between the two – e.g. technology might make communicating easier, but when it comes to face-to-face interaction and actual talking, we might have become worse at that. That being said, I would focus more on communication than talking.
As for your stand, I would make a clearer link to the question – what IS your stand? That we’re worse, but we can’t blame technology, because it’s our fault? That we’re better because most people know how to use it without having it affect their social, face-to-face interaction skills? That we’re neither better nor worse, just that we talk differently depending on how we use it?
Basically, note how in all those options above, I’ve used your idea but there’s still a clear stand that links back to the question.
Sent from my iPhone