PROMPT (From Free Kaplan Practice Test):
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)
RESPONSE (From Free Kaplan Practice Test):
This argument states that the postal service should raise the price of postage stamps. By doing so, the postal service will have larger revenues and a reduction in the volume of mail. These changes will then eliminate the current strain on the system and improve the morale of the postal service. The author concludes then that this solution will reverse the deterioration of the organization. While this argument contains some merit, there is an obvious and glaring flaw. The price increase may cause several unwanted consequences that the argument does not address; this weakens and renders his or her conclusion unacceptable.
First of all, the reduction of the volume of mail due to the price increase may not generate the larger revenues that the author anticipates. Basic economic theory suggests that consumers have a price ceiling, which is the highest price a consumer will be willing to pay for a product. If the postage stamp surpasses that level for most consumers, they will choose other methods for their needs instead of increasing their expenses with the more expensive postage stamp. Consumers may increase their reliance on e-mail and social networks, rather than using the postal service as their broker to send and receive information. This will actually decrease the amount of revenues that the postal service will generate, because with fewer consumers, the organization will have much difficulty staying in business.
Secondly, the author makes the assumption that a reduction of the volume of mail will improve morale and eliminate the strain on the existing system. However, a reduction of the volume of mail may cause several closures of postal offices, and a discontinuation of certain services that the organization offers. These consequences may force the postal service to lay off some of their workers and create larger strains for the remaining employees because they will have to do more work with fewer resources. Also, because of the layoffs, the overall morale of the postal service may deteriorate instead of improve because of the major changes that have occurred in their workplace.
In conclusion, the author's argument for a postage stamp price increase unveils several red flags that invalidate his or her conclusion. In order to strengthen his or her argument, the author should address the unintended consequences that this essay has pointed out. The author should provide evidence that the postal service will still be able to reverse its deterioration, even with the negative consequences that arise from the solution presented in his or her original argument.
Word count: 418
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)
RESPONSE (From Free Kaplan Practice Test):
This argument states that the postal service should raise the price of postage stamps. By doing so, the postal service will have larger revenues and a reduction in the volume of mail. These changes will then eliminate the current strain on the system and improve the morale of the postal service. The author concludes then that this solution will reverse the deterioration of the organization. While this argument contains some merit, there is an obvious and glaring flaw. The price increase may cause several unwanted consequences that the argument does not address; this weakens and renders his or her conclusion unacceptable.
First of all, the reduction of the volume of mail due to the price increase may not generate the larger revenues that the author anticipates. Basic economic theory suggests that consumers have a price ceiling, which is the highest price a consumer will be willing to pay for a product. If the postage stamp surpasses that level for most consumers, they will choose other methods for their needs instead of increasing their expenses with the more expensive postage stamp. Consumers may increase their reliance on e-mail and social networks, rather than using the postal service as their broker to send and receive information. This will actually decrease the amount of revenues that the postal service will generate, because with fewer consumers, the organization will have much difficulty staying in business.
Secondly, the author makes the assumption that a reduction of the volume of mail will improve morale and eliminate the strain on the existing system. However, a reduction of the volume of mail may cause several closures of postal offices, and a discontinuation of certain services that the organization offers. These consequences may force the postal service to lay off some of their workers and create larger strains for the remaining employees because they will have to do more work with fewer resources. Also, because of the layoffs, the overall morale of the postal service may deteriorate instead of improve because of the major changes that have occurred in their workplace.
In conclusion, the author's argument for a postage stamp price increase unveils several red flags that invalidate his or her conclusion. In order to strengthen his or her argument, the author should address the unintended consequences that this essay has pointed out. The author should provide evidence that the postal service will still be able to reverse its deterioration, even with the negative consequences that arise from the solution presented in his or her original argument.
Word count: 418
