Example of analysis of an argument essay: score 5
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.
The are several flaw in the case arguing that the speaker should sell his shares in a company that manufactures running shoes and invest instead in a television company. The argument makes too many assumptions and provides no investigation into the companies involved.
The speaker assumes that because the genaral population is aging, less people will exercise therefore sales of running shoes will decrease. This assumption has two fundamental flaws. The first is that while the population is aging, the total number of people excercisng will not necessarily decrease, since a higher proportion of younger people may be excerising in the future.
The second flawed assumption in the argument is that because people exercise less, they will be less likely to purchase running shoes. There is a lot of evidence supporting that fact that most running shoes are not bought with the intention of being used for running. In fact a counterargument could be put that because running shoes are some of the most comfortable shoes availalable their sales will increase. More people will be leaving the workforce, and not be subjected to dress codes therefore will decide to wear running shoes more often.
The argument would be stronger if the speaker provided more inforation about the two companies mentioned. For instance, if evidence was provided that the Worldwide Television Co. was specifically targeting an older audience, or that the evidence that the Runrite\'s sales were predominately to people who exercise regularly, then the argument for the share transactions would be more justified.
In summary, the argument is based on three general assumptions, with little evidence to support the case. It would be a foolish investor who based his decision to trade shares on the basis of the arguments given!
Comments
This essay receives a 5.
This is a cogent and thoughtful critique of the original argument.
It would probably be given a 6 if it were just a little bit longer, perhaps by identifying one more assumption in the original argument.
