Analysis of an Argument
The following appeared in a memo from the president of Classy Steakhouse, a chain of restaurants.
"We should proceed with our plan to open a new Classy Steakhouse restaurant in the busy Downtown Centre mail in the central business district of Hopeville. Although two restaurants in that location have closed in the past year (one a burger joint, the other a Chinese restaurant), their failure does not mean that Downtown Centre is an unsuitable location for our restaurant. After all, The Centre Cade has been in business at that location for twenty-five years. Furthermore, national reports from the restaurant industry show that business executives are eating out more frequently than ever. It is therefore likely that we will be very successful at that location"
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 strength 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 conclusion
The president of Classy Steakhouse concludes that the plans to construct a new Classy Steakhouse restaurant in the central business district of Hopeville should not be disregarded due to the failure of two other restaurants in that area in the past year. I do not feel that the president makes a strong enough argument, and based on the information given the establishment of this restaurant should be questioned and perhaps abandoned.
The fact that a hamburger restaurant and a Chinese restaurant have shut down in the past year does not sway the president's decision to open one of his steakhouses because a Café has been in business for 25 years. This logic should immediately be questioned. Without further knowledge of the business district of Hopeville, it seems to me that local patrons are not looking for a place to sit down and have a meal. Instead, they seem to be interested in a quick snack and/or coffee, as shown by the success of a café and the failure of the other restaurants. A steakhouse would be unable to find its niche and would likely fail in this setting. It is questionable to assume that the other restaurants failed due to any other problem than lack of public interest. This argument would be more convincing if there was evidence that the burger joint and Chinese restaurant only failed because of internal problems.
The president also points out that national reports from the restaurant industry show that business executives are eating out more frequently than ever. While this is useful, it should not be the sole reason to open up a restaurant. Even if more businessmen than usual become frequenters of the Classy Steakhouse, it would be difficult to attract other demographics if it was located in a business district. It is very questionable to assume that the businessman demographic will be strong enough to greatly support this restaurant. If more information was as to the exact proportions expected of businessmen patrons versus nonbusinessmen patrons, and exactly how more frequent businessmen are eating out according to these national reports, the evidence would be much stronger.
I do not think that a steakhouse should be erected in this area based on the given information. More information should be ascertained about the reason for the previous restaurants downfalls. Also, more information about the national reports should be researched, specifically how frequent is "more frequent".
The following appeared in a memo from the president of Classy Steakhouse, a chain of restaurants.
"We should proceed with our plan to open a new Classy Steakhouse restaurant in the busy Downtown Centre mail in the central business district of Hopeville. Although two restaurants in that location have closed in the past year (one a burger joint, the other a Chinese restaurant), their failure does not mean that Downtown Centre is an unsuitable location for our restaurant. After all, The Centre Cade has been in business at that location for twenty-five years. Furthermore, national reports from the restaurant industry show that business executives are eating out more frequently than ever. It is therefore likely that we will be very successful at that location"
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 strength 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 conclusion
The president of Classy Steakhouse concludes that the plans to construct a new Classy Steakhouse restaurant in the central business district of Hopeville should not be disregarded due to the failure of two other restaurants in that area in the past year. I do not feel that the president makes a strong enough argument, and based on the information given the establishment of this restaurant should be questioned and perhaps abandoned.
The fact that a hamburger restaurant and a Chinese restaurant have shut down in the past year does not sway the president's decision to open one of his steakhouses because a Café has been in business for 25 years. This logic should immediately be questioned. Without further knowledge of the business district of Hopeville, it seems to me that local patrons are not looking for a place to sit down and have a meal. Instead, they seem to be interested in a quick snack and/or coffee, as shown by the success of a café and the failure of the other restaurants. A steakhouse would be unable to find its niche and would likely fail in this setting. It is questionable to assume that the other restaurants failed due to any other problem than lack of public interest. This argument would be more convincing if there was evidence that the burger joint and Chinese restaurant only failed because of internal problems.
The president also points out that national reports from the restaurant industry show that business executives are eating out more frequently than ever. While this is useful, it should not be the sole reason to open up a restaurant. Even if more businessmen than usual become frequenters of the Classy Steakhouse, it would be difficult to attract other demographics if it was located in a business district. It is very questionable to assume that the businessman demographic will be strong enough to greatly support this restaurant. If more information was as to the exact proportions expected of businessmen patrons versus nonbusinessmen patrons, and exactly how more frequent businessmen are eating out according to these national reports, the evidence would be much stronger.
I do not think that a steakhouse should be erected in this area based on the given information. More information should be ascertained about the reason for the previous restaurants downfalls. Also, more information about the national reports should be researched, specifically how frequent is "more frequent".
