KrishnaKrishnan

Hi, It would be great in case you could provide me an input on these analysis. Thanks Sample 1 Over the past few years, baseball officials have come to the realization that it is impossible to entirely eradicate performance-enhancing drugs. Despite stringent testing measures, many players continue to use amphetamines, steroids, and other banned substances to improve their performance on the diamond. In light of this failure, some players have demanded that the commissioner of baseball simply allow all players to make use of these substances under medical supervision. According to these players, allowing performance-enhancing drugs will eliminate cheating and ensure that training regimens are safe. Analysis This writer in this argument states the demand by the baseball players to legalise the use of performance-enhancing drugs on the premise that this would eliminate cheating and ensure that training regimens are safe. This argument fails to take a stand. Firstly, the drugs like amphetamines, steroids and others have been banned owing to the negative impact of these substances on an individual’s health. Often sportsmen carelessly avoid the permissible intakes of such drugs which can lead to disastrous health conditions. Also, many a times, these drugs could be addictive and thus, could cripple an individual’s metabolism. Allowing these drugs would be a spreading a negative message to the public. Secondly, the public that often idolizes these sportsmen might be influenced by their performance and partake these drugs. Legalizing these banned drugs would encourage such behavior. Thirdly, since time immemorial sports have been a means to test the actual performance and endurance of an individual or a group and to enhance these levels by partaking drugs works against this basic idea. Legalizing these drugs would mean testing test subjects, in this case sportsmen on drugs, for individual drug’s efficacy and potency. Fourthly, the argument stating that the intake of these drugs would make training regimens safer is not true. This argument is not stated with any evidence or experiments. A better way to convince the readers could have been to site evidence in favor of the writer’s argument and to furnish statistical studies, if any, in favor of the same. Sample #2 When drivers visit a state office to renew their licensure, they are not tested on the road or on the basic signs and procedures of driving. A new safety commission has declared that in order to reduce accidents on the road, drivers should be required to pass a comprehensive driving test every time they seek to renew their driver’s license. They also argue that individuals over the age of 60 should be forced to provide permission from a doctor in order to maintain their licensure. Analysis The article suggests that the new safety commission has declared that all drivers should be made to pass a comprehensive driving test every time they renew their driving license. It is also argued that individuals above the age of sixty should provide doctor’s permission in order to maintain their license. This argument takes a stand. Firstly, after an individual obtains a driver’s license, often the individual fails to keep up with various traffic regulations. Also, often drivers get into a careless attitude of ignoring traffic rules. Testing these drivers, again while extending the same, would ensure that the drivers keep traffic regulations at the forefront of their mind after they receive their license the first time. Secondly, individuals above sixty tend to have certain diseases like cardiomyopathy which increase the chances of accidents while at wheel. Obtaining permissions from their doctors decreases the chance of such people being reissued licenses thus decreasing the chances of accidents. Thirdly, as rules and regulations for issuing license have become stringent over time, rivers who have received license twenty to forty years ago need to be retested to confirm that they can adhere to the present standards and regulations of driving. Hence, this practice, if adopted, might help in standardizing the driving abilities of a larger population and hence reduce chances of accidents. Fourthly, often an individual might have obtained a license while having a 20/20 vision but over time might have lost the same due to external or genetic factors. Ensuring such retests while reissuing the licenses ensures that such drivers are not provided licenses again. This argument has a few negative points too. It does not elucidate any events/ accidents which might support the claim. Also the writer does not include any study/statistics comparing the accidents caused by drivers whose licenses are reissued with testing against drivers whose licenses are issues after testing. Sample #3 According to the author of a recent editorial, most of the problems in the United States are a consequence of the national dependence on oil. Oil consumption is expensive, damaging to the environment, and requires the United States to do business with some unsavory regimes. The United States should therefore impose strict gas-mileage requirements on automobiles, effective immediately. Although this would pose some temporary problems for the economy, in the long run it would be the best solution to American oil addiction. Analysis The above argument states that United States should impose strict gas mileage curb on automobiles. The reasons stated for this are that oil is expensive, damaging the environment and requires the United States to do some business with some unsavory regimes. The argument does not take a stand. Firstly, reducing oil consumption by curbing mileage on automobiles would pose paralyzing restraint on the public that depends on four wheelers for everyday travelling purposes. Secondly, there are alternatives to the Oil consumption problem especially when it comes to oil driven cars which can be dealt with by using electric cars or solar powered cars. Instead of investigating these methods, the author directly concentrates on posing restrain on the amount of Oil used by automobiles. Investigating such methods and adopting the same would take time, resources and investment in order to make a smooth transition. Thirdly, slashing the oil import from other countries would in turn immediately affect the foreign policy with these regimes, torpedoing States towards a cold war with these nations. This would go against the reason for which these curbs are to be introduced. Also, the problems of controlling pollution etc can be controlled presently by using certain emitters which could reduce the expulsion of the same. These methods have not been explored in this article. Also usage of statistics considering the gross capita expenditure on Oil etc would make this article more convincing and provide an outlook into the gravity of the situation.

Hi, here is one of my analysis and it would be great in case someone could give me their views on this. These are my first few attempts on these type of questions. Thanks a lot :) Analysis of an Argument Question 1 The following appeared as part of an annual report sent to stockholders by Olympic Foods, a processor of frozen foods. "Over time, the costs of processing go down because as organizations learn how to do things better, they become more efficient. In color film processing, for example, the cost of a 3-by-5-inch print fell from 50 cents for five-day service in 1970 to 20 cents for oneday service in 1984. The same principle applies to the processing of food. And since Olympic Foods will soon celebrate its twenty-fifth birthday, we can expect that our long experience will enable us to minimize costs and thus maximize profits." Analysis The annual report concludes that owing to its twenty five years of experience in food processing arena, Olympic Foods expects reduced processing costs and increased profits in future. However, this evaluation is incomplete due to the below mentioned reasons. Firstly, the report uses experience as the only criterion for reduction in processing cost. It does not take into account other factors such as reduced price of raw materials, reduced labour cost or increased mechanization as factors that could contribute to reduced cost. Some other factors that could also contribute to reduced processing costs are reduction in fuel price, new technology developed etc. All factors that could possibly affect the production costs should be taken into account. Secondly, the report draws similarity between film processing industry and food processing industry. However, no reasons, which might have helped in drawing this similarity, are provided. Logic determines that there must be evidence for two industries to be called similar and these must be provided. Thirdly, the company’s production cost cannot suddenly plummet down after the twnetyfifth year. The report should also include the statistical trend of the processing costs in the past years. This trend if seen to show processing costs reducing over the past few years could logically help this conclusion. Only if the above mentioned points are included will the argument hold. Analysis of an Argument Question 2 The following appeared as part of the business plan of an investment and financial consulting firm. "Studies suggest that an average coffee drinker's consumption of coffee increases with age, from age 10 through age 60. Even after age 60, coffee consumption remains high. The average cola drinker's consumption of cola, however, declines with increasing age. Both of these trends have remained stable for the past 40 years. Given that the number of older adults will significantly increase as the population ages over the next 20 years, it follows that the demand for coffee will increase and the demand for cola will decrease during this period. We should, therefore, consider transferring our investments from Cola Loca to Early Bird Coffee." 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. Analysis This business plan suggests that the firm should move its investments from Cola Loca to Early Bord coffee on the premise that the demand for coffee will increase in the next 20 years while the demand for cola will decrease. The writer draws this conclusion on the fact that with increasing age from 10 through 60, average coffee drinkers consumption of coffee increases and remains high even after 60 while average cola drinkers consumption declines with age. This argument is flawed in the below mentioned ways. Firstly, the argument does not mention the proportion of population that drinks coffee against the population that drinks cola. In case the percentage of population that drinks cola is significantly higher than that of coffee, this argument might not hold. Secondly, the writer does not provide statistical trend of the percentage increase in consumption of coffee and the percentage decrease in consumption of cola over the past few years throughout the general population. A statistical analysis of this kind might help the writer confirm whether there has been an actual reduction in coffee consumption in the past few years. Thirdly, the above argument does not take into account the population growth and the birth rate of newborns over time though it takes into account the aging population when considering the consumption of beverages in future. In the next twenty years, the below twenty years population will constitute a great part of Cola drinking population and thus, drawing their investments away from Cola might prove to be a loss. Fourthly, the author does not take the financial standpoint into account. With increasing coffee prices, the number of people buying coffee might reduce in future. The market price of cola, as we see presently, is low and thus can be afforded by all and sundry. In conclusion, the writers argument in flawed and might be improvised by including statistical data, the targeted markets and the population demographics of these markets etc. Analysis of an Argument Question 3 The following appeared in an article in a photography magazine. "When choosing whether to work in color or in black-and-white, the photographer who wishes to be successful should keep in mind that because color photographs are more true-to-life, magazines use more color photographs than black-and-white ones, and many newspapers are also starting to use color photographs. The realism of color also accounts for the fact that most portrait studios use more color film than black-and-white film. Furthermore, there are more types of color film than black-and-white film available today. Clearly, photographers who work in color have an advantage over those who work in black-and-white." 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. Analysis The above argument concludes that photographers who work in color have a certain advantage over the photographers who work in black and white. The advantages mentioned include the preference of color photographs over those in black and white by magazines, the realism of color photographs and the diversity in types of color film available in market over those of black and white. However, the argument is flawed. Firstly, the argument encourages photographers who wish to be successful to prefer color photographs over black and white without taking into account other factors which might contribute to this decision. Some factors like personal preference based on the quality of the outcome, perception of the photographer etc are not considered. Secondly, the color photographs are mentioned as being more real when compared to black and white. However, it’s a clear difference in perception. Presently many black and white photographs are well acclaimed for being soul stirring or very natural. Photography involves both science and art and thus, the appeal of art is varying forms cannot be ignored. Thirdly, the argument does not hold any statistical data mentioning the preference of color photographs by people or magazines over black and white. Magazines use color photograph in pages as color appeals to people but they also use black and white photograph. It might also be a case wherein magazines do not receive quality black and white photographs due to which they might be hesitant to use them on a wider basis. Fourthly and most importantly, the writer suggests that in order to be successful, photographers need to take color pictures and not black and white. This argument does not hold. The number of photographers using color are more than those who use black and white and hence the conclusion. Photographers who use black and white films are fewer but considered masters of this art. Considering these points might help this argument hold. Analysis of an Argument Question 4 The following appeared as part of a business plan recommended by the new manager of a musical rock group called Zapped. "To succeed financially, Zapped needs greater name recognition. It should therefore diversify its commercial enterprises. The rock group Zonked plays the same type of music that Zapped plays, but it is much better known than Zapped because in addition to its concert tours and four albums, Zonked has a series of posters, a line of clothing and accessories, and a contract with a major advertising agency to endorse a number of different products." 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. Analysis The manager has concluded that to succeed financially, Zapped needs name recognition. This is done by comparing Zapped to another group Zonked which is more recognized owing to its series of posters, line of clothing accessories and contact with major advertising agency to endorse quite a few products. This argument, though sound, is flawed as it does not take into account a few points. Firstly, the manager considers that better advertising and name recognition is all that it takes to succeed but common sense and experience suggests otherwise. There are also some other factors like the quality of music, genre of music, the group of people that the music is directed at and the language and country from which the band originates that determine the success of a band. Secondly, there is also a direct comparison drawn between Zapped and Zonked without suggesting the similarities that let the manager draw this comparison. Zapped could be a language specific band playing country music while Zonked could be an English band playing reggae and thus appealing to a wider audience. The manager should list these similarities to make this argument convincing. Also there is no information regarding the experience of the band or the individual band members. It also does not mention whether the band performs only stage gigs or establishes itself through mediums like CDs etc. Thirdly, the manager, though comparing Zapped and Zonked, does not mentioned about financial success of Zonked. If Zonked being more popular does not gain financially more than Zapped, then the comparison is flawed and looses its foothold. Conclusively the manager’s argument does not hold. He can render his argument more compelling by drawing a statistical relation between increase in popularity and advertising etc and financial gain for other bands who stood at par with Zapped in terms of experience and genre of music etc. Also, by stressing more on “Financial success” and stating case studies where band have benefited economically through endorsing products and advertising he could strengthen his argument further. Analysis of an Argument Question 5 The following appeared in the editorial section of a daily newspaper. "Although forecasts of presidential elections based on opinion polls measure current voter preference, many voters keep changing their minds about whom they prefer until the last few days before the balloting. Some do not even make a final decision until they enter the voting booth. Forecasts based on opinion polls are therefore little better at predicting election outcomes than a random guess would be." 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. Analysis The article concludes that forecasts based on opinion polls are little beneficial over a random guess in predicting election outcomes. The author draws this conclusion on the premise of voters changing their minds even in the last few days of balloting and sometimes till they enter the voting booth. However, this argument is flawed. Firstly, the argument does not consider the fact that the same indecisiveness of voters would play a role while taking the opinion poll with voters deciding who they think would win at the last moment and therefore, this unpredictability would account for the one in the actual voting. Also, this unpredictability might be considered higher than actual. Most of the people either through previous experience or all information sources decide on their choice earlier. This indecisiveness discussed about so expansively is owing to a meager population which would not disturb the opinion polls by much. Secondly, the argument also fails to consider that many voters might be influenced by the opinion polls and thus, might rethink their earlier decision and vote for the expected winning candidate. Thirdly, the article seems to consider that the only role of Opinion polls is predicting the electoral outcomes. In reality, the opinion poll also helps the voters get a complete picture of all the candidates and their stand, their background as well as their fundamental ideology and helps those who could not make a decision draw one using all the information provided about all the candidates in a sum. Fourthly, the article also suggests that some people do not make up their mind till the last moment.. This is an assumption on the part of the writer as there are many voters who are strictly faithful to their parties. Drawing a statistical analysis between the number of people who stick with their candidate every year and the ones who don’t might give a better picture. Hence conclusively, this argument is flawed. The article could be strengthened and made more compelling by including a statistical comparison wherein he could compare the years the electoral outcomes agreed with the opinion polls against those in which they did not.