Example of analysis of an argument essay: score 4
Last updated: 13 Oct 2008
The following is part of a business plan of an investment firm:
"Studies indicate that the average person exercises less as he gets older. At the same time, the number of hours a person spends watching television tends to increase as he ages. Since the percentage of senior citizens in the population will increase over the next two decades, we ought to, therefore, consider selling our shares in Runrite shoes in order to increase our investment in the Worldwide Television Co."
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusions.
In the process of investing in the shares of a company, the experts usually evaluate the company based on its technical and fundamental analysis. This is done in relation to the macro and micro economic factors that may influence the decision of buying or selling the shares.
The reasoning given in the text for selling the shares of ‘Runrite shoes' in order to increase investment in the Worldwide Television Co. does not seem convincing as it seems to make some questionable assumptions.
It may be understandable that the percentage of the senior citizens is expected to increase in the next few years. However, we do not know the present populations of senior citizens in the country. As an example, there may be only about 10% population in the age bracket of senior citizens in the country. This may increase to about 15% in the next few years. The question is whether this increase of 5% will be significant to lead to a noticeable increase in the sales of televisions in the country.
Taking another example, assuming that there is a significant population of senior citizens, say about 30%, in the country and that the increase in the older population is also significant in 1 year. Assuming that this leads to an increase in the sales of televisions due to an increase in interest of the older people in watching television. However, the argument stated above still does not convince someone to invest in the shares of Worldwide Television Co. because one does not know how this company would perform vis-à-vis competitors. Moreover, the shoes industry may be growing at a faster rate than television industry and Runrite shoes might be performing better than its competitors.
The argument stated in the text may be strengthened by analyzing the issue more comprehensively. For example, the author could have provided adequate reasoning for investing in Worldwide television Co. by stating that the television industry is expected to grow at more than normal growth rate and that Worldwide television Co. is expected to do much better than competitors.
The argument should also have given adequate reasoning for selling the shares of Runrite shoes as this company may actually be doing better than competitors in a fast growing industry.
The argument could also be strengthened by giving the size and growth of other market segments which includes youngsters, housewives, children etc. which may
Comments
This essay receives a 4.
This is a thoughtful and well-constructed essay. The critique is cogent and actually quite entertaining.
The main criticism is that at times the English is somewhat unidiomatic, and this detracts from the essay, and to a degree, interferes with meaning. For example, "Leave alone the adults" should be "let alone the adults". This may seem like quiblling, but remember, your audience will be American, and you have to write in a fashion they will immediately find comprehensible.
Our advice: read American journals and magazines, and study our idiomatic expressions tutorial.
