The following appeared as part of a letter to the editor of a scientific journal.
"A recent study of eighteen rhesus monkeys provides clues as to the effects of birth order on an individual's levels of stimulation. The study showed that in stimulating situations (such as an encounter with an unfamiliar monkey), firstborn infant monkeys produce up to twice as much of the hormone cortisol, which primes the body for increased activity levels, as do their younger siblings. Firstborn humans also produce relatively high levels of cortisol in stimulating situations (such as the return of a parent after an absence). The study also found that during pregnancy, first-time mother monkeys had higher levels of cortisol than did those who had had several offspring."
Write a response in which you discuss one or more alternative explanations that could rival the proposed explanation and explain how your explanation(s) can plausibly account for the facts presented in the argument.
Author of the argument assumes that, the birth order of an individual is responsible for the production of cortisol hormone, during the excitation or simulation. The author provides a study of 18 rhesus monkeys to bolster his argument. He then further give examples of firstborn infant monkey and firstborn humans for comparison. Also, he had given an example of first-time mother monkeys. Here, the author has provided the study of only 18 monkeys, that very insufficient data to reach the conclusion. Further, when we analyze this argument, it is flawed.https://wordcounter.net/track/subbanner
Firstly, the author assumes that due to the birth order, the level of cortisol doubles, in firstborn infant monkeys, in simulating situations. But there can be other factors responsible for the production of cortisol other than the birth control. It is possible that the age is the main factor for the production of cortisol. So the study should be conducted in such a way that, the tested firstborn infant monkeys, should be of the same ages. For example, when the firstborn infant monkey is of 5 weeks the study should conducted for him, similarly to the second infant of the family, when is of 5 weeks and so on. This study will give a more clear idea, that is whether birth order is responsible or not for the production of cortisol.
Further, the author has provided the example of the firstborn human. But the author has given poor comparison here because the two stated instances are for different populations. Still, the alternatively suggested study should be applied to test the production of cortisol in firstborn humans too. Also, the study should be conducted on a large number of the human population to find a valid conclusion.
Additionally, the author has given the example of a first-time mother. The author assumes that the first time the mother has a higher level of cortisol than the mother having several offspring. Here the assumption is flawed because the level of cortisol is indirectly indicated to the firstborn infant of a mother. But other than these factors might be responsible for the level of cortisol, might be age again. Therefore, the study should be conducted with the same age first-time mothers and with the same age mothers having several offsprings to find the differences.
In conclusion, the argument is flawed because not sufficient data is provided, and the poor comparison of the different populations. The alternative explanation provided might reach a conclusion in a more cogent way. Also, the study should be conducted with a sufficiently large amount of monkeys and humans to reach the proper conclusion. A well researched and tested study will confirm the argument.
Grammar and spelling errors:
Line 9, column 338, Rule ID: LARGE_NUMBER_OF[1]
Message: Specify a number, remove phrase, or simply use 'many' or 'numerous'
Suggestion: many; numerous
... Also, the study should be conducted on a large number of the human population to find a valid co...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Transition Words or Phrases used:
also, but, first, firstly, if, second, similarly, so, still, then, therefore, well, for example, in conclusion, in fact
Attributes: Values AverageValues Percentages(Values/AverageValues)% => Comments
Performance on Part of Speech:
To be verbs : 22.0 19.5258426966 113% => OK
Auxiliary verbs: 13.0 12.4196629213 105% => OK
Conjunction : 11.0 14.8657303371 74% => OK
Relative clauses : 10.0 11.3162921348 88% => OK
Pronoun: 17.0 33.0505617978 51% => OK
Preposition: 46.0 58.6224719101 78% => OK
Nominalization: 15.0 12.9106741573 116% => OK
Performance on vocabulary words:
No of characters: 2292.0 2235.4752809 103% => OK
No of words: 443.0 442.535393258 100% => OK
Chars per words: 5.17381489842 5.05705443957 102% => OK
Fourth root words length: 4.58776254615 4.55969084622 101% => OK
Word Length SD: 3.41509699045 2.79657885939 122% => OK
Unique words: 169.0 215.323595506 78% => More unique words wanted.
Unique words percentage: 0.381489841986 0.4932671777 77% => More unique words wanted or less content wanted.
syllable_count: 700.2 704.065955056 99% => OK
avg_syllables_per_word: 1.6 1.59117977528 101% => OK
A sentence (or a clause, phrase) starts by:
Pronoun: 7.0 6.24550561798 112% => OK
Article: 16.0 4.99550561798 320% => Less articles wanted as sentence beginning.
Subordination: 3.0 3.10617977528 97% => OK
Conjunction: 4.0 1.77640449438 225% => Less conjunction wanted as sentence beginning.
Preposition: 4.0 4.38483146067 91% => OK
Performance on sentences:
How many sentences: 24.0 20.2370786517 119% => OK
Sentence length: 18.0 23.0359550562 78% => The Avg. Sentence Length is relatively short.
Sentence length SD: 40.089136794 60.3974514979 66% => OK
Chars per sentence: 95.5 118.986275619 80% => OK
Words per sentence: 18.4583333333 23.4991977007 79% => OK
Discourse Markers: 4.95833333333 5.21951772744 95% => OK
Paragraphs: 5.0 4.97078651685 101% => OK
Language errors: 1.0 7.80617977528 13% => OK
Sentences with positive sentiment : 8.0 10.2758426966 78% => OK
Sentences with negative sentiment : 5.0 5.13820224719 97% => OK
Sentences with neutral sentiment: 11.0 4.83258426966 228% => Less facts, knowledge or examples wanted.
What are sentences with positive/Negative/neutral sentiment?
Coherence and Cohesion:
Essay topic to essay body coherence: 0.139403180183 0.243740707755 57% => OK
Sentence topic coherence: 0.0506629074357 0.0831039109588 61% => OK
Sentence topic coherence SD: 0.0433977317777 0.0758088955206 57% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence: 0.0905373378148 0.150359130593 60% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence SD: 0.0373134395635 0.0667264976115 56% => OK
Essay readability:
automated_readability_index: 12.2 14.1392134831 86% => Automated_readability_index is low.
flesch_reading_ease: 53.21 48.8420337079 109% => OK
smog_index: 8.8 7.92365168539 111% => OK
flesch_kincaid_grade: 10.3 12.1743820225 85% => OK
coleman_liau_index: 12.71 12.1639044944 104% => OK
dale_chall_readability_score: 7.56 8.38706741573 90% => OK
difficult_words: 85.0 100.480337079 85% => More difficult words wanted.
linsear_write_formula: 8.5 11.8971910112 71% => OK
gunning_fog: 9.2 11.2143820225 82% => OK
text_standard: 9.0 11.7820224719 76% => OK
What are above readability scores?
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Rates: 54.17 out of 100
Scores by essay e-grader: 3.25 Out of 6
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Note: the e-grader does NOT examine the meaning of words and ideas. VIP users will receive further evaluations by advanced module of e-grader and human graders.