GRE Argument Essay #2 Critique

[jujubee202]

Hi GradCafe,

I wrote this essay in preparation for the GRE and would appreciate any comments! Thanks! 

Nature's Way, a chain of stores selling health food and other health-related products, is opening its next franchise in the town of Plainsville. The store should prove to be very successful: Nature's Way franchises tend to be most profitable in areas where residents lead healthy lives, and clearly Plainsville is such an area. Plainsville merchants report that sales of running shoes and exercise clothing are at all-time highs. The local health club has more members than ever, and the weight training and aerobics classes are always full. Finally, Plainsville's schoolchildren represent a new generation of potential customers: these schoolchildren are required to participate in a fitness-for-life program, which emphasizes the benefits of regular exercise at an early age.

Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on these assumptions and what the implications are for the argument if the assumptions prove unwarranted.

There are many stated and unstated assumptions in this passage that would render the argument invalid if they prove unwarranted. I will go over each of these assumptions in turn.

Firstly, this passage assumes that since residents are more likely to buy health food in general, they will also buy more Nature’s Way products. It’s possible that because Plainsville is known for its healthy eating choices, many other health food brands can saturate the area and entice Plainsville residents to buy their products instead of Nature’s Way products. A related assumption is that Nature’s Way health products are seen as healthy by the general public. They may be marketing their food as health products, but residents may not perceive their food in that way for various reasons. It’s possible that their marketing failed to convey their food as health products, or that Plainsville residents are keen in reading the nutrition facts and have discovered that Nature’s Way products are not healthy at all. Thus, even if Plainsville residents are more likely to eat healthier and purchase more health food products, it does not necessarily mean that they will purchase Nature’s Way products. Thus, the argument that Plainsville residents will buy more Nature’s Way products because they lead healthy lives and eat healthier is invalid.

Another assumption is that Nature’s Way franchises are most profitable in areas where residents lead healthy lives. It’s possible that the profitability of Nature’s Way is not related to the healthy lifestyles of the residents at all. Perhaps Nature’s Way franchises are most profitable in wealthy areas, where residents are more prone to buying food items that are healthier than the cheaper fast food options. In this case, it could mean that even if residents “lead healthy lives” by exercising a lot or eating healthier, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will benefit the profitability of Nature’s Way.  

This passage also assumes that because running shoes and exercise clothing are selling at all time highs, and the local health club has more members than ever, it means that exercise clothing have become the latest trend and people are wearing these clothes for fashion purposes. Thus, just because people are purchasing exercise clothes does not mean they are exercising more. Along the same lines, it could have become trendy to join the local health club and become a member, but it doesn’t mean that people are frequenting the local health club more often and exercising more. It’s possible that the local health club had a good deal going on that attracted a lot of people, or it became trendy for people join together in large groups, but they never bothered to continue with the exercising. It’s possible that people joined the local health club for other reasons, such as for companionship or educational purposes. Thus, the argument that Plainsville residents lead healthier lifestyles because they are purchasing exercise clothing and gym memberships to the local health club is invalid. Because this argument is invalid, this means that residents may not necessarily lead healthier lifestyles and therefore not be more inclined to buy Nature’s Way health products.

Another assumption is that because the local aerobics and weight training classes are always full, residents of Plainsville are attending the gym more often.  It’s possible that these classes have become very popular and other residents have traveled from neighboring towns to take these classes. Perhaps these are the only classes offered in a large vicinity, and they are always full because many people must come from far away to take them. Thus just because the local aerobics and weight training classes are always full does not mean residents of Plainsvilles are attending the gym more often, which means they don’t necessarily lead healthier lives and may not be more inclined to buy healthy food products such as Nature’s Way products.

Even if the residents exercise a lot, it does not mean they will purchase more health food. It’s possible that the exercise makes them hungrier and crave more unhealthy food. It’s possible that their fitness programs only emphasize exercise, and not health food. Thus, just because residents exercise a lot does not mean they are buying more health food. The argument that because residents are exercising more, they will buy more health food and thus more Nature’s Way products is invalid.

In conclusion, this passage includes many stated and unstated assumptions that would render the argument invalid if rendered untrue.

[MaybelleGraham]

Great post. Actually you mentioned some really valid and good points. After reading your post I came to know that it's true that after doing lots of exercise people may feel more hungry and they may eat more unhealthy. But I think that if a person does a daily exercise and long walks and always eats healthy, then it will not affect his health. I mean, if someone eats fruits, salads, all nutritive supplements and exercises daily 25 days in a month and remaining 5 to 6 days if he eats pizzas or burgers then it will not affect him at all. But at the same time if someone is planning to reduce weight should avoid eating unhealthy food. They can also take some nutritive and natural products like nuez dela India wikipedia suggested from one of my closest friends. she used to take these nuts for reducing weight. It is also used for reducing body fat and cellulite, controlling anxiety, lowering cholesterol, decreasing hemorrhoids. So I hope it will help them those who wants instant change in themselves within a short period of time.