GRE Argument Topic 9

NOTE: The above topic has wording similar to Argument Tasks 81 and 83 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 writer of the passage has listed facts about the lifestyle of Plainsville residents that support the likely success of a Nature’s Way franchise that is opening in that town. On the surface, this litany of healthy behaviors appears to be sufficient to bolster the position in the argument. Any good salesman would use a similar pitch to promote his product. However, several questions arise that could undermine the assumptions in this passage.

The first questions surround the reported increases in gym memberships and sales of sneakers and exercise clothing. It is no mystery that gym memberships increase at the beginning of each year. Adults make New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, eat healthier food, and exercise more, resulting in upticks in the purchases of gym memberships, increased traffic at healthy food stores, and increased purchases of fitness clothing. After-holiday sales might also account for the increase in sales of sneakers and exercise clothing. After all, those new gym members need something to wear.

The argument also posits that future sales at Nature’s Way are guaranteed as the children become healthier in Plainsville. They are required to participate in a program that emphasized the benefits of regular exercise at an early age. However, it is unclear whether this program requires them to exercise or eat healthy food, or how this might be enforced. Participation in the program does not guarantee participation in healthy activities. Their parents’ food and exercise habits are more likely than a school program to influence the children’s behavior. How many of those children will remain in Plainsville as adults? Merchants in other parts of the state or country are apt to benefit from the buying habits of these children when they become productive adults.

The assumption that any new business will be successful in any town is risky. Even Wal-Mart locations have failed in areas where the residents have no need to shop there. What is the median income in Plainsville? Are the residents college-educated? Specialty health-food stores cater to a relatively high socioeconomic group. Is there already a health-food store in Plainsville? What does Nature’s Way have that will set it apart from businesses that already exist? Are the prices at Nature’s Way low enough to attract a large customer base? Unless the store provides superior product or service, or a lower price point, it will not stand out in any appreciable way.

Finally, the author’s use of the word tend should lead the reader to question the soundness of the assumptions in the passage. What happens to Nature’s Way when it turns out that Plainsville residents don’t stick to their resolutions to become healthier? They will find good excuses to skip going to the gym this week, and they’ll rationalize their way through a pan of brownies. When all is said and done, the author’s statement that Nature’s Way should be successful may be correct. If the people of Plainsville are serious about leading healthy lives, they should shop at Nature’s Way. That doesn’t mean that they will.

Sample 2:

The argument is based on a memo written by the vice president of a chain of stores selling health food and other health-related products named Nature’s Way. The vice president of Nature’s Way recommends that the company should build a new store in Plainsville because this place has residents who are highly concerned with leading healthy lifestyles. He has supported his argument by citing information about sale of sports products, the situation of local health club and a program called “fitness for life” in schools. However, none of these evidence lends credible support to the recommendation.

In the first place, the sale of running shoes and exercise apparel makes no sense to the conclusion that the residents would be interested in buying Nature’s Way products. People of Plainsville might pay more attention to exercise rather than health diet. It is highly possible that exercise apparel happens to be fashionable at the moment. Even if the sales of these products can represent the residents’ enthusiastic attitude towards keeping themselves healthy, there is no information that shows that their passion towards exercise would continue or increase. Hence, this evidence is not strong enough to conclude the argument. On the contrary, there is a chance of their believing that as a result of regular exercise they are sufficiently fit and healthy and do not need a health diet.

Secondly, the popularity of the local health club is little indication that Nature’s Way will earn a profit from a store on Plainsville. There is no evidence that shows that the poor business of local health club five years ago was due to little concern of residents towards health. In the past the club might have had a high membership fee or poor quality of equipment or untrained instructors and therefore, people did not go to it to exercise any more. Moreover, now the success of one health club cannot represent other clubs also. May be the local club is doing well now due to change in its management and improvement in the whole quality of the club. The author has not given convincing arguments in the support of his recommendation.

The third point is the fact that a certain fitness program is mandatory for Plainsville’s schoolchildren. This fact accomplishes nothing towards bolstering the recommendation. The author has not thought about the other side of this point that students who participate in a “fitness for life” program might not buy food from Nature’s Way. Moreover, they exercise a lot by playing football, baseball etc to keep themselves healthy. Hence, they are not the customers of the health diet.

Hence, the author’s recommendation is based entirely on some assumptions and the author has failed to support his assumptions with concrete evidence. The author should have analyzed the market and understood the attitude of residents in Plainsville. He should have talked to people who are the health club’s members, exercise regularly, buy exercise clothes etc. In addition, other information, such as the detailed situation of club, taste of children and average income of people in Plainsville would have helped to take a decision.