GMAT Essays (AWA)

Directions:

In this section, you will be asked to write a critique of the argument present. You are not being asked to present your own views on the subject.

Take a few minutes to evaluate the argument and plan a response before you begin typing your response on the next screen. Be sure to organize your ideas and develop them fully, but leave time to reread your response and make any revisions that you think are necessary.

Analysis of an Argument

The following appeared in an article in a health and fitness magazine:

"Scientific research has shown that Clear-One Bottled Water has many minerals needed for good health and that it is totally free of bacteria. Residents of the town where the water is bottled get sick less frequently than the national average. Even though Clear-One is higher-priced than the other bottled waters, it is a good long-term investment in your health."

Answer:

The argument that even though Clear-One is higher priced than the other bottled waters, it is a good long term investment in our health omits some important concerns that must be addressed to substantiate the argument. The statement that follows the claims of the scientific research simply states that residents of a town who use bottled water get sick less frequently than the national average. This alone does not constitute a logical argument in favor of using Clear-One bottled water and it certainly does not provide support or proof of the main argument.

Most conspicously, the argument does not address the reasons of increasing frequency of sickness among the residents of the town and how incorporating the use of Clear-one bottled water will eliminate or minimize the sickness among the residents. First, the argument assumes that the cause of sickness among the residents is the lack of minerals that will be provided by Clear-One bottled water. In a weak attempt to support its claim, the argument describes the scientific research that states that use of such bottled water is good for health. But if the cause of the sickness among the residents is air borne or due to unhygienic lifestyle, and not beacuse of bacteria, Clear-One bottled water would not be able minimize diseases among them. In addition, the argument never addresses why Clear-One bottled water is expensive as compared to other bottled waters and on what parameters does the scientific research decides 'good health' of a person. For instance, Ruby Hall Clinic, a well known trusted hospital chain in Maharashtra, India certifies a patient 100% fit even though he/she is suffering from common cold, which is a water borne disease. Further, the main cause of the frequent sickness issues among the town's residents should be identified. Based on such analysis, treatments should be suggested to the people. Regular health check ups and government certificatied treatments would rather be a better long-term investment in their health as compared to the suggested bottled water.

Because the argument leaves out several key issues, it is not sound or persuasive. If it included the items discussed above instead of solely explaining what the system supposedly does, the argument would been more thorough and convincing.