Scandals are useful because they focus our attention on problems in ways that no speaker or reformer ever could.
Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim. In developing and supporting your position, be sure to address the most compelling reasons and/or examples that could be used to challenge your position.
Are scandals useful for our society owing to the fact that they are able to concentrate public attention on grave problems which otherwise will be neglected? As far as I am concerned no simple answer on this question exists; however, I strongly believe that they have rather negative effect than positive one due to the nature of the attention which they invoke in us.
First of all, scandals' power is its ability to summon emotional response on unfair situation. From this viewpoint, it is a fact that scandals focus our attention on the issue in a specific way. However, this scandals' characteristic leads to negative aftermaths such us riots, confrontations with officials and chaos. For instance, a recent scandal when a white police officer shot to death unarmed black teenager leads to people's protest. They were outraged because of officer's deeds which were not punished properly. Public attention was focused on this race issue which many politicians try to avoid in their speeches. It might have led to a positive change in officials attitude to the problem and thus it perhaps could have been solved but unfortunately, people who clustered in crowds to demonstrate their disagreement with police officials actions were guided by emotions and thus the protests turned into riots when these people, who tried to demonstrate that government is mistaken in its position toward black Americans, started looting and plundering and thus buttressed officials’ position. In other words, despite the possibility that scandals may be seen by public as useful tool, it has rather deteriorating effect on the problematic issue.
Of course, someone may assert that scandals sometimes may be extremely useful in particular in controlling government's actions. For instance, the Congress of the USA allowed state's security service surreptitiously collect personal data via internet services. The scandal which was initiated by WikiLeaks made this fact well-known by public and these unlawful actions were ceased. However, will this scandal have this positive effect in case some politicians would not support this claim? I do not think so. In other words, a scandal itself has rather destructive nature which should be guided by elected officials. From this point of view, scandals are useful.
In conclusion, many of us tend to believe that scandals are unquestionably useful for our society but I highly cast doubt on this belief. Due to the nature of the reaction which scandals invoke in people's hearts, they lead to chaos and disorder. However, if the public emotions are led by a leader such as Martin Luther King, the scandals may bring benefits for our society.
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Comments
Hello, my Reader.
Hello, my Reader.
I have a question about a structure of an argument:
1) How this argument should be disassambled for analysis?
The following appeared in a memorandum from the owner of Movies Galore, a chain of video rental stores.
Argument Topic :“In order to reverse the recent decline in our profits, we must reduce operating expenses at Movies Galore’s ten video rental stores. Since we are famous for our special bargains, raising our rental prices is not a viable way to improve profits. Last month our store in downtown Marston significantly decreased its operating expenses by closing at 6:00 P.M. rather than 9:00 P.M. and by reducing its stock by eliminating all movies released more than five years ago. Therefore, in order to increase profits without jeopardizing our reputation for offering great movies at low prices, we recommend implementing similar changes in our other nine Movies Galore stores.”
I know that an argument should have at least two points which may be argued.
In this case I can see.
I) Last month our store in downtown Marston significantly decreased its operating expenses by closing at 6:00 P.M. rather than 9:00 P.M. and by reducing its stock by eliminating all movies released more than five years ago. // perhaps other reasons may lead to cutting the store's expenditures.
II) Therefore, in order to increase profits without jeopardizing our reputation for offering great movies at low prices, // probably, great movies may be old ones which were removed from the store thus store’s reputation may be tarnished.
conclusion) we recommend implementing similar changes in our other nine Movies Galore stores.”
perhaps even, it is not reasonable to extrapolate the success on stores which are located in other parts of town. Other characteristics of neighborhoods etc.
2) Is my dissection of argument structure correct?
3) Are explanations reasonable?
4) the last question but perhaps the gravest one. I have found this essay (the link is situated below)and I am perplexed by reader’s analysis of the argument structure.
http://www.testbig.com/gmatgre-argument-task-essays/following-appeared-…
On one hand I am told to accept the given data and thus I unquestionably accept that I cite: “ In order to reverse the recent decline in our profits, we must reduce operating expenses at Movies Galore’s ten video rental stores. Since we are famous for our special bargains, raising our rental prices is not a viable way to improve profits”; but the reader suggests casting doubt on this info. (condition 1 and 2)
Afterword, thank you for your time, I indeed hope that answering on these questions will allow me to get a decent score. Thank you for your patience with me.
1)2)
1)2)
When we look at the argument structure, look at the punctuation mark: period '.' first.
In order to reverse the recent decline in our profits, we must reduce operating expenses at Movies Galore’s ten video rental stores.
Since we are famous for our special bargains, raising our rental prices is not a viable way to improve profits.
Last month our store in downtown Marston significantly decreased its operating expenses by closing at 6:00 P.M. rather than 9:00 P.M. and by reducing its stock by eliminating all movies released more than five years ago.
Therefore, in order to increase profits without jeopardizing our reputation for offering great movies at low prices, we recommend implementing similar changes in our other nine Movies Galore stores.
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3) this may have issues:
II) Therefore, in order to increase profits without jeopardizing our reputation for offering great movies at low prices, // probably, great movies may be old ones which were removed from the store thus store’s reputation may be tarnished.
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4) we need to argue. it is like a survey or study or report:
Maybe the operating expenses are not the reason for the decline. for example, there are big competitors opening stores too.
The style of your arguments is good.
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Attribute Value Ideal
Score: 4.5 out of 6
Category: Good Excellent
No. of Grammatical Errors: 0 2
No. of Spelling Errors: 0 2
No. of Sentences: 20 15
No. of Words: 430 350
No. of Characters: 2193 1500
No. of Different Words: 227 200
Fourth Root of Number of Words: 4.554 4.7
Average Word Length: 5.1 4.6
Word Length SD: 2.707 2.4
No. of Words greater than 5 chars: 174 100
No. of Words greater than 6 chars: 125 80
No. of Words greater than 7 chars: 91 40
No. of Words greater than 8 chars: 46 20
Use of Passive Voice (%): 0 0
Avg. Sentence Length: 21.5 21.0
Sentence Length SD: 13.771 7.5
Use of Discourse Markers (%): 0.65 0.12
Sentence-Text Coherence: 0.294 0.35
Sentence-Para Coherence: 0.448 0.50
Sentence-Sentence Coherence: 0.078 0.07
Number of Paragraphs: 4 5