AWA ESSAYS: Analyze Argument
ESSAY QUESTION:
The following memo was circulated by the management team of a retail company:
“We are very pleased to announce that the relocation of our inventory, which had been located in four different warehouses throughout the country, to a single new warehouse near Company headquarters in Boston. This consolidated location will cut the company’s expenses for warehouse rent in half. As a result we expect our monthly profitability to go up by this amount.”
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. Point out flaws in the argument's logic and analyze the argument's underlying assumptions. In addition, evaluate how supporting evidence is used and what evidence might counter the argument's conclusion. You may also discuss what additional evidence could be used to strengthen the argument or what changes would make the argument more logically sound.
My response:
In this argument the author says that consolidated location will cut company's expenses for warehouse rent in half. In support pf this assessment the author points out that as a result of consolidated location they expect thier monthly profitability to go up by this amount.
In the first place, the management team's argument is based on the assumption that the relocation of their inventory to a single new warehouse near Company headquarters is a good idea. While location is an important contributing factor to a business' success, it is not the only such factor. Many other reasons like poor business practices, poor customer service, could just as likely account for thie lack of success.
In the second place, while conslolidated location may have been a factor which contributed to the failure of their bussinesse, the reason may not have ben the location itself but rather the suitability of the business to the location. This assumption, however, is not supported in the argument. For example, its success may be due to the fact the product or service it provides is unique, or because it has an exceptionally skilled management team.
In conclusion, this argument is unconvincing. To strenghten the conclusion, addtional examples of consolidated location are required. Additionally, the author would have to show that the reason for the consolidate location was the fact that they were privately owned.
ESSAY QUESTION:
The following memo was circulated by the management team of a retail company:
“We are very pleased to announce that the relocation of our inventory, which had been located in four different warehouses throughout the country, to a single new warehouse near Company headquarters in Boston. This consolidated location will cut the company’s expenses for warehouse rent in half. As a result we expect our monthly profitability to go up by this amount.”
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. Point out flaws in the argument's logic and analyze the argument's underlying assumptions. In addition, evaluate how supporting evidence is used and what evidence might counter the argument's conclusion. You may also discuss what additional evidence could be used to strengthen the argument or what changes would make the argument more logically sound.
My response:
In this argument the author says that consolidated location will cut company's expenses for warehouse rent in half. In support pf this assessment the author points out that as a result of consolidated location they expect thier monthly profitability to go up by this amount.
In the first place, the management team's argument is based on the assumption that the relocation of their inventory to a single new warehouse near Company headquarters is a good idea. While location is an important contributing factor to a business' success, it is not the only such factor. Many other reasons like poor business practices, poor customer service, could just as likely account for thie lack of success.
In the second place, while conslolidated location may have been a factor which contributed to the failure of their bussinesse, the reason may not have ben the location itself but rather the suitability of the business to the location. This assumption, however, is not supported in the argument. For example, its success may be due to the fact the product or service it provides is unique, or because it has an exceptionally skilled management team.
In conclusion, this argument is unconvincing. To strenghten the conclusion, addtional examples of consolidated location are required. Additionally, the author would have to show that the reason for the consolidate location was the fact that they were privately owned.
