-
conquistador
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 266
- Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2014 4:00 am
- Thanked: 4 times
- Followed by:1 members
The following appeared in the opinion section of a national newsmagazine:
"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."
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 conclusion. (used with permission from mba.com)
Argument:
The author of news magazine opines that postal service deterioration can be reversed by raising the price of postal stamps. He assumes that this solution will give two benefits namely it increases revenues and decreases mail volume thereby eliminating the strain on the existing system and contributing to improved morale. The writer immaturely makes this argument based on following assumptions which are not completely valid.
Primarily, the author did not mentioned why he felt that the postal service is deteriorating and what are the causes that made him think so. Also he fail to mention the need why felt that increasing the price of stamps will reverse the deterioration. It is possible that there are other reasons that are responsible for deterioration of postal service other than prices. Also it is possible that people do prefer or use postal service is because of its low cost benefits. In that case increase in prices may result in more deterioration instead of improving it.
Secondarily he improperly assumes that the increase in prices will generate larger revenues and will also reduce the volume of mail.This assumption includes one more assumption that there will not be any major impact on sales due to this solution. In reality this solution may discourage customers who use it mainly for low costs and this in turn may result in lower revenues along with reduction in mail volume. The author did provide any additional documents to support his argument why he felt so.
Finally based on above assumptions author's argument as it is seems invalid for above reasons unless it is supported by any other additional supporting evidences. To reverse the deterioration of the postal service, the government should find all the possible reasons for its deterioration address the concerns. Supporting information must ensure that the increase in price be minimal so that it will not negatively impact the revenues and improved morale.
"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."
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 conclusion. (used with permission from mba.com)
Argument:
The author of news magazine opines that postal service deterioration can be reversed by raising the price of postal stamps. He assumes that this solution will give two benefits namely it increases revenues and decreases mail volume thereby eliminating the strain on the existing system and contributing to improved morale. The writer immaturely makes this argument based on following assumptions which are not completely valid.
Primarily, the author did not mentioned why he felt that the postal service is deteriorating and what are the causes that made him think so. Also he fail to mention the need why felt that increasing the price of stamps will reverse the deterioration. It is possible that there are other reasons that are responsible for deterioration of postal service other than prices. Also it is possible that people do prefer or use postal service is because of its low cost benefits. In that case increase in prices may result in more deterioration instead of improving it.
Secondarily he improperly assumes that the increase in prices will generate larger revenues and will also reduce the volume of mail.This assumption includes one more assumption that there will not be any major impact on sales due to this solution. In reality this solution may discourage customers who use it mainly for low costs and this in turn may result in lower revenues along with reduction in mail volume. The author did provide any additional documents to support his argument why he felt so.
Finally based on above assumptions author's argument as it is seems invalid for above reasons unless it is supported by any other additional supporting evidences. To reverse the deterioration of the postal service, the government should find all the possible reasons for its deterioration address the concerns. Supporting information must ensure that the increase in price be minimal so that it will not negatively impact the revenues and improved morale.
