The argument presented in Theresa's paper, stating "Children who eat chocolate may as well be eating rat poison," is false due to her use of a false analogy.
Explanation:
1. False analogy occurs when there is an inaccurate comparison made between two things that are not truly alike in relevant aspects. In this case, Theresa is equating eating chocolate with consuming rat poison, which are vastly different in terms of their effects on health.
2. Chocolate, when consumed in moderation, can have some health benefits such as improving mood and providing antioxidants. On the other hand, rat poison is extremely harmful and toxic to the body, leading to serious health consequences and even death if ingested.
3. By comparing chocolate to rat poison, Theresa is creating an inaccurate and exaggerated analogy that does not hold true when considering the actual effects of these substances on the body. This misleading analogy weakens her argument about the importance of eating right and can mislead readers.
Therefore, the reason why Theresa's argument is false is that she is using a false analogy by drawing an inappropriate comparison between eating chocolate and consuming rat poison, which are not equivalent in terms of their health impacts.
