GRE Argument Topic 93

NOTE: The above topic has wording similar to Argument Tasks 23, 95 and 156 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:

A group of developers has made some assumptions about conditions in Monroe that seem to favor opening a jazz club there. Any lending institution will want to test those assumptions before laying out a considerable sum of money to renovate an existing structure or build a new one for the purpose of entertainment. The developers will need to show that their assumptions are based on verifiable facts.

These developers first assume that the attendance at last year's jazz festival in Monroe proves the popularity of the genre in this geographic location. The basis of this assumption holds true only if 100,000 attendees is a typical total. A number of factors may have contributed to what appears to be a high number. The performers at last year's festival may have larger fan bases than groups in previous years. Unless the festival organizers can continue to attract popular jazz acts, the attendance may revert to lower numbers. The organizers may have offered special ticket prices last year in an effort to attract a larger audience. They may have to do the same this year or subsequent years to obtain high numbers of attendees. Other jazz festivals may have been cancelled or may have seen reduced attendance due to poor weather, leaving jazz fans hungry for entertainment, which they found in Monroe. The popularity of jazz in Monroe can be supported by the festival attendance only if a large portion of Monroe's population attended the festival. It may be held in Monroe because the town has a superior venue.

Revealing that a number of well-known jazz musicians live in Monroe leads to the assumption that they will perform at the jazz club. Upon further scrutiny, lenders might discover that those jazz musicians are either retired or booked for most of the year in other locations. These musicians may consider Monroe as a place to get away from it all and have no desire to perform in their home town. Unless the developers can attract equally well-known and talented musicians to their club, they may find it difficult to be profitable.

Based on a survey revealing that the average jazz fan spends $1000 per year on jazz-related entertainment, the developers assume that jazz fans that live in or come to Monroe will also spend that amount every year. The truth about an average is that some fans spend more than $1000 per year and some spend less. The survey does not say that those fans spent that amount of money at jazz clubs. If the fans travel to visit clubs, a considerable portion of their spending could be for lodging, food, gas, or air fare. They may spend all or some of that money on recordings or music lessons. The Monroe club owners may have to provide a selection of jazz- related retail items to supplement the income from admission to the club.

The developers disclose that the closest jazz club is over an hour away to support the assumption that making jazz entertainment more convenient for the people in and around Monroe is a recipe for success. Before accepting this at face value, the lenders will need to know how many people live in the area. Monroe may be a small town, requiring the jazz club to draw attendees from a wide area. If traveling over an hour is an obstacle, the club in Monroe may suffer from a lack of nearby population. Regardless of distance, the other club may be very popular because of the quality of entertainment it offers, and the club in Monroe may not be able to equal its draw.

The lenders need more detailed information to prove or refute the assumptions inherent in the developers’ argument. The risk inherent in any investment of this nature must be minimized before a bank or other investor opens its checkbook.

Sample 2:

In this argument, the author claims that the new jazz club, C Note will do great business in Monroe, as there is no jazz club within an area of 65 miles and people of Monroe are fond of jazz music. He has cited a lot of evidence in his support. To support his point of view, the arguer has pointed out that the highest-rated radio program in Monroe is “Jazz Nightly”. He has also talked about a nationwide survey to show that a typical jazz fan spends nearly $1000 per year on jazz entertainment. The reasons given by the author seem sound and reasonable at first glance, however, there are several logical flaws in the argument that undermine the arguer’s conclusion.

Firstly, the author assumes that because the nearest jazz club is 65 miles away, his proposed club, the C Note, would have the local market all to itself. However, he has not thought about the reason why there is not any other jazz club in that area. There are chances that someone might have opened a jazz club before, but closed because it had few customers and he could not earn money. He also failed to establish the relationship between the nearest jazz club being 65 miles away and C Note dominating the local market. The club 65 miles away might be having much better service and a low-ticket price. Moreover, that club might have a high reputation and fixed customers, who probably will drive at least 65 miles to enjoy the specific service he or she likes most. Hence, this evidence does not prove that C Note will necessarily dominate the local market.

Secondly, the author made a hasty generalization. He simply equated the fact that because over 100000 people attended Monroe’s jazz festival and the high-rated radio program is “Jazz Nightly”, C Note will automatically make lots of money. The author has nowhere mentioned the proportion of the native people who attended Monroe’s jazz festival last summer. There is a possibility that there were more tourists who attended the festival. There are chances that the people’s salary in Monroe is low, thus, people probably do not have money to spend in the jazz club. Even if they like jazz music, they prefer listening to the radio rather than going to a jazz club. Hence, these reasons do not guarantee the success of C Note in Monroe.

The reason that many well known jazz musicians live in Monroe also does not hold any ground. It does not establish any relationship with the success of C Note. They could be living in Monroe because of its good living conditions.

Finally, the author supported his argument with a nationwide study that indicates that the typical jazz fan spends close to $1,000 per years on jazz entertainment. However, if a jazz fan spends close to $1,000 per year on jazz entertainment it does not mean that he will spend money on going to a jazz club. He may buys jazz CD, DVD, and to see live jazz play.

Hence, the argument lacks thorough analysis and reliable statistic. The author should have investigated the actual number of people going to the jazz club. It would have strengthened his argument.