Sample Argument Assay - Please Rate it

[Mekhla_Singhania]

Please rate this sample Argument essay for me!!

 

The following appeared in a memo from the marketing director of Top Dog Pet Stores.  

"Five years ago Fish Emporium started advertising in the magazine Exotic Pets Monthly. Their stores saw sales increase by 15 percent after their ads began appearing in the magazine. The three Fish Emporium stores in Gulf City saw an even greater increase than that. Because Top Dog Pet Stores is based in Gulf City, it seems clear that we should start placing our own ads in Exotic Pets Monthly. If we do so, we will be sure to reverse the recent trend of declining sales and start making a profit again."

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.

 

The argument seeks to compare the increase in sales of Fish emporium to the sales of Top Dog Pet Stores, particularly in Gulf City.  However, the assumptions based on which it seeks to compare these are seriously flawed. There are several differences in the market value and demands for the two pets. A comparison of the two would require some substantial data which is lacking in the argument.

The increase in sales of Fish emporium was seen five years ago, by advertising in the then popular Exotic Pets Monthly. Since then, several new, updated and more informative magazines may have become popular in the Gulf City, to which most residents must be referring to. Thus, advertising in the Exotic Pets Monthly now, cannot guarantee an increase in sales. In order to ensure increase in sales, it is important that comparison is made with another pet store that advertised in the magazines that are popular currently among the citizens of Gulf City. Such information can strengthen the argument of the author.

The biggest flaw in the comparison provided by the author is the difference in the items that the two pet stores sell. Even if we are convinced that the Exotic Pets monthly magazine is the most popular in the Gulf City till date, we cannot guarantee for the preference of pets by citizens of Gulf City. It may be possible that the majority of citizens are fond of fishes as compared to dogs. If this assumption were true, then a comparison between sales of Fish Emporium and Top Dog Pet stores cannot be possible and can severely weaken the argument stated by the author. In order to strengthen his argument, the author must compare sales of anther pet dog that advertised in the Exotic pets monthly. Such information if provided can strengthen the argument of the author.

The author states that as observed in the sales of Fish emporium a similar increase in sales for Top Dog Pet store can improve the losses faced by this company. But he fails to state whether an increase in 15 percent sales would be enough for Top Dog pet Stores to overcome the losses and make a profit as well. He also fails to state the reasons for decline in sales of the Top Dog Pet Stores. If the store itself had been suffering losses due to dissatisfied customers from Gulf City, an advertisement alone cannot improve their sales. They must ensure that they take into account the reasons for dissatisfaction by customers. Thus, detailed information for the losses and analysis of this could seek to strengthen the argument of the author.

Hence in conclusion, the argument fails to provide enough information for an adequate comparison of increase in sales between two stores. There are several assumptions made by the author that are seriously flawed and need to be backed with sufficient data.