Argument:
"To reverse the deterioration of the postal service, the government should raise the price of postage stamps. This solution will no doubt prove effective, since the price increase will generate larger revenues and will also reduce the volume of mail, thereby eliminating the strain on the existing system and contributing to improved morale."
Essay:
The argument is about deterioration of the postal service and its remedy. First statement of the argument is an opinion and also the conclusion of the argument that "To reverse the deterioration of the postal service, the government should raise the price of postage stamps". The first statement is supported by the premise presented in the second statement which suggests that "...the price increase will generate larger revenues and will also reduce the volume of mail, thereby eliminating the strain on the existing system and contributing to improved morale."
The argument does not provide enough information/data to support the conclusion of the argument. The statement is flawed and has following weaknesses:
Flaw 1: The statement does not provide information to indicate the reason of deterioration of the postal service. It may or may not be due to lower revenue. For example the deterioration of postal service might have been caused due to lack or sufficient employees.
Flaw 2: The premise assumes that the increasing the price of postage stamps will generate larger revenue is flawed as increasing the price may reduce the volume and may in fact lead to smaller revenue.
Flaw 3: Further, the premise assumes that the increase in price of postage stamps will lead to reduced volumes of mail, and thereby eliminating the strain on the existing system and contributing to improved morale. However, we do not have enough information to conclude that the employees or the system is in strain. Hence, reduced volume may not contribute to improved morale.
Based on the flaws mentioned above and absence of vital information, this argument is weak. More information regarding the reason of deterioration of the postal service, current revenue and profits, and amount of strain on the system may strengthen the argument.
"To reverse the deterioration of the postal service, the government should raise the price of postage stamps. This solution will no doubt prove effective, since the price increase will generate larger revenues and will also reduce the volume of mail, thereby eliminating the strain on the existing system and contributing to improved morale."
Essay:
The argument is about deterioration of the postal service and its remedy. First statement of the argument is an opinion and also the conclusion of the argument that "To reverse the deterioration of the postal service, the government should raise the price of postage stamps". The first statement is supported by the premise presented in the second statement which suggests that "...the price increase will generate larger revenues and will also reduce the volume of mail, thereby eliminating the strain on the existing system and contributing to improved morale."
The argument does not provide enough information/data to support the conclusion of the argument. The statement is flawed and has following weaknesses:
Flaw 1: The statement does not provide information to indicate the reason of deterioration of the postal service. It may or may not be due to lower revenue. For example the deterioration of postal service might have been caused due to lack or sufficient employees.
Flaw 2: The premise assumes that the increasing the price of postage stamps will generate larger revenue is flawed as increasing the price may reduce the volume and may in fact lead to smaller revenue.
Flaw 3: Further, the premise assumes that the increase in price of postage stamps will lead to reduced volumes of mail, and thereby eliminating the strain on the existing system and contributing to improved morale. However, we do not have enough information to conclude that the employees or the system is in strain. Hence, reduced volume may not contribute to improved morale.
Based on the flaws mentioned above and absence of vital information, this argument is weak. More information regarding the reason of deterioration of the postal service, current revenue and profits, and amount of strain on the system may strengthen the argument.
