Your comments on my GRE aregument, plz ^_^

[Jacqueline]

Is there anyone who can give some comments on my argument? Thank you very much!!!!

Question: 

The following appeared in a memorandum from the manager of WWAC radio station.

"To reverse a decline in listener numbers, our owners have decided that WWAC must change from its current rock-music format. The decline has occurred despite population growth in our listening area, but that growth has resulted mainly from people moving here after their retirement. We must make listeners of these new residents. We could switch to a music format tailored to their tastes, but a continuing decline in local sales of recorded music suggests limited interest in music. Instead we should change to a news and talk format, a form of radio that is increasingly popular in our area."

Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.    

Response:

In this memo the manager of WWAC radio station recommends that in order to reverse a decline in listener numbers, the radio station owners will change from the current rock-music format to a news and talk format. To support this claim the manager points that the decline in listener numbers, given the increased population, indicates people losing interest on rock music. The author also cites that any kind of music should not be considered because music radio is not welcome among local people any more with the decline in sales of recorded music. Careful examination of this argument, however, reveals it lends little support to this suggestion.

 

 First of all, the decline in listener numbers do not necessarily indicates that people are not happy about the format of rock music. It is entirely possible that listeners still love rock music, but they are not satisfied with DJ or tastes of radio station in selecting songs. Without ruling out such possible alternative explanations for the decline in listener numbers, the manager may not make a sound decision to recover the radio station.

 

The manager taking efforts to satisfy the new comers might help to make them fans of the radio station. However, this does not necessarily lead to an increase in the listener numbers in the whole population. Perhaps the current listeners, who are still fascinated by rock music, may dislike the radio program which the senior people enjoy. For that matter, the popularity may be even worse than before.

 

Nor do the fact that the sales of recorded music decreased lends significant support to cut down the rock music program. The sales are determined not only by the demand of consumers, but also by the supply of the producers. Even assuming it is the demand that decreased significant, the limited interest music is not the only explanation, perhaps people turned to listen music through TV or Internet. This would go a long way toward explaining the declined listener numbers.

 

 Finally, the manage provides no credible evidence that a news and talk format radio program is gaining more and more focus in that area, which makes the claim to switch from rock-music format to a news and talk format untenable.

 

 In conclusion, this argument is not persuasive. To bolster it the manager must provide clear evidence that the declined in listener numbers is because of that people dislike rock music and even lose interest on general music. We would also need evidence that there is no contradict on tastes of radio program between local people and new comers. In addition, a survey of the most welcome form of program could help to make a more convincing suggestion.

 

Edited September 17, 2015 by Jacqueline

[Vince Kotchian GRE Prep]

hey Jacqueline,

I think this is a 4. It could use a little more depth. Also, refrain from judging the argument, " Finally, the manage provides no credible evidence that a news and talk format radio program is gaining more and more focus in that area, which makes the claim to switch from rock-music format to a news and talk format untenable."

Your job is to talk about what evidence is needed and the implications of that evidence (which you mostly do throughout).