GRE Argument Topic 80

NOTE: The above topic has wording similar to Argument Task 78 of this Website. However, if you read carefully you will notice that the topic and the task instructions are different. Hence, it is very important to read the topic as well as its instructions completely before you start to write your response.

Sample 1:

The power of the survey must be used judicially. Without knowing what a survey is designed to measure, the results can be misinterpreted or manipulated. The surveys cited in this argument appear to reveal information about the reading habits of Waymarsh citizens, and, on the surface, appear to contradict each other. Closer analysis of the assumptions that led to the conclusion in the argument may bring alternative explanations to light.

The reader may assume that the surveys were conducted over a short period of time. However, given enough time between the two, it would be reasonable to expect that reading habits have changed. Even though the same group conducted the survey, they may have done the two projects four years apart. The respondents may have been the same, but, in a four-year span, they may have read all of the classics they wanted to and moved on to mystery novels.

The survey may not have provided a clear definition of the term, classic. Assuming that everyone has the same understanding of that term may have led to some faulty responses to the questions. Respondents to the survey may have had various understandings of the classic. The Maltese Falcon, for example, is often described as a classic detective novel; The Great Gatsby is a classic portrayal of the Roaring Twenties; The Grapes of Wrath is a classic depiction of the dispossessed. The creators of the survey may have had novels from the nineteenth century in mind. There is too little information in the argument to determine their intentions. On the other hand, it may have been clear to the respondents what constitutes a classic. The libraries in Waymarsh may have a limited number of classics on their shelves, so even those who prefer reading classics check out other types of novels when a classic that they have not read is unavailable.

Surveys must be free of bias to obtain accurate results. The wording of each question on the survey must avoid leading the respondents to select one answer over another. Qualifiers like better or worse can cause a respondent to select an answer that he thinks will please the creators of a survey. This invalidates the results.

Even though the same group conducted both surveys, assuming that each was designed for the same purpose, creates an unsustainable conclusion. The first survey may have been designed to determine the reading preferences of the respondents. It appears to have done that. The second survey may have sought to determine what genres are most frequently checked out of the local libraries. If so, it accomplished that goal. To presume that the respondents to the first survey misled the researchers fails if the surveys did not have the same goal.

The second survey discovered that mysteries were checked out of the public libraries more frequently than books of other genres. The readers of the survey may assume that respondents to the survey only use public libraries to obtain reading material. The argument does not mention if there are other libraries in Waymarsh. Churches frequently have libraries. The city may have a literary society that provides copies of the classics to its patrons. The university itself must have a library. Any of these may provide copies of classics to the readers in Waymarsh. In fact, the readers of classics may not borrow the books from any source. They may choose to relax in the reading rooms of the various libraries. The public libraries may have the classics on CDs which borrowers may check out and listen to in their homes or cars.

Overall, too little information is present in the argument to support the conclusion reached by the researchers from Waymarsh University. It does not even reveal if the surveys were written or administered orally. One might assume that the researchers are from the English department from the university and use the information in the surveys to inform their curriculum or instruction. However, the researchers may be from the psychology or sociology department of the university, and they conduct the surveys to measure emotional responses to the questions. The argument cannot stand because of the missing information.

Sample 2:

The given argument concludes that the respondents in a study related to the reading habits of Leeville citizens had misrepresented their actual reading habits. This conclusion is supported by the results of a second study conducted by the same team who had conducted the first study. These results show that mystery novels are borrowed the most from the public libraries in Leeville. However, the argument is plagued by numerous fallacies that make the conclusion sound highly unconvincing.

The arguer has not explicitly stated the cross-section of people who participated in the first study and those who borrow books from the public libraries. Unless the arguer provides data related to the respondents, it is difficult to be convinced that the results of the first study are an indication of the reading habits of all the citizens of Leeville. Moreover, there is a need to provide information related to the age and the professions of the respondents of the first survey. If the respondents were teachers and writers, then they would have an inclination to read literary classics and this would explain the results which were in favor of literary classics being preferred as the reading material. On the other hand, it is likely that the public libraries are frequented by college going students and young people who are more interested in reading mystery novels. The second study takes into account the trend being followed by the general Leeville population which borrows books from the public libraries. It is likely that the people who borrow books from the libraries are not the same ones who had participated in the first survey. Moreover, it is likely that the respondents of the first survey do not go to public libraries regularly and are avid collectors of literary classics who prefer to buy the books that they read.

The arguer should have ideally provided statistical data pertaining to the literary classics being borrowed from the public libraries. Although, mystery novels are borrowed the most, it is likely that the number of literary classics that are borrowed comes to a close second. Moreover, the argument makes no mention of the number of literary classics that are available in the libraries and are not being borrowed. It is likely that the libraries do not hold many copies of literary classics and so even if all of them have been borrowed, they will not qualify as the type of books that are borrowed the most. Therefore, the reader needs to know if the libraries are facing a shortage of literary classics in order to be convinced that people actually prefer mystery novels over literary classics.

There is no mention of the time lag that has occurred between the conduct of both the studies. It is likely that the gap between the studies is such that there has been a major change in the demographic make up of Leeville leading to an increase in the number of people who prefer to read mystery novels.

Therefore, unless the arguer clearly establishes a link between the respondents of the first survey and the people who borrow books from the public libraries, it would be difficult to assume that the respondents of the first survey misrepresented their reading habits. Moreover, there is a need to provide statistical data related to the books held by the public libraries that have been included in the second study. Hence, the arguer provides scant evidence in support of the conclusion made by him, thereby rendering the argument indefensible.