Write a complete essay that uses critical thinking and evidence-based skepticism to analyze and explain the pseudoscientific claims of the Power Balance hologram wristband. Your essay must explain how the Power Balance hologram wristband cannot improve your balance, strength and flexibility.
Put on your skeptic’s hat and critique the Power Balance test video:
In the video, the spokesperson had his partner perform three physical tests meant to demonstrate the wristband’s effectiveness in improving balance, strength and flexibility. The “tests” are actually simple tricks that don’t prove anything about the effectiveness of the wristband.
The spokesperson introduces the video with a sales pitch that makes meaningless, pseudoscientific claims about the Power Balance hologram wristband:
What I have to demonstrate for you today is a revolutionary new product. What we’ve been able to do is harness naturally occurring frequencies and program them into a mylar hologram to help improve your balance, your strength and your flexibility.
Your essay MUST do the following:
- Explain the simple tricks behind the three tests. Explain each test individually.
- Quote the sales pitch and explain how the pseudoscientific jargon is meaningless, yet contributes to the perceived effectiveness of the product.
- Explain how belief in pseudoscientific claims can be harmful. Explain why it is important for a person to develop solid critical thinking skills and employ skepticism when evaluating claims made by “performance enhancement” products and “alternative medicine” practices, such as cupping.
- Your essay must be complete and include an introduction, thesis statement, body, and conclusion. Underline your thesis statement.
- Your essay must quote only from the above passage. Do not quote from other sources. Use your own words to present the evidence-based explanation for why the Power Balance wristband could not possible work as advertised.
- Your essay must include a works cited page that cites the Power Balance Test Video.