The following appeared in a memorandum from the manager of WWAC radio station.
"To reverse a decline in listener numbers, our owners have decided that WWAC must change from its current rock-music format. The decline has occurred despite population growth in our listening area, but that growth has resulted mainly from people moving here after their retirement. We must make listeners of these new residents. We could switch to a music format tailored to their tastes, but a continuing decline in local sales of recorded music suggests limited interest in music. Instead we should change to a news and talk format, a form of radio that is increasingly popular in our area."
Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.
In the passage author has informed about the decline in number of listener of WWAC radio station . Author try to conclude that the decrease is due to the age group of the local residents. So change in program format like news or talk shows instead current rock music may prevent the decrease in number of listener . Though his claim may well have merit, the author presents a poorly reasoned argument, based on several questionable premises and assumptions, and based solely on the evidence the author offers, we cannot accept his argument as valid.
Primary issue with the author’s reasoning lies in his unsubstantiated premises. The arguer provides no evidence about the age group of the broadcasting area. Author did not provide any evidence that supports the fact . Is it any specific reason why the people moved there after their retirement ? Secondly ,the author also not provide any information whether the WWAC radio station broadcast only a local area or something else. In that case the reason behind the declining of listener with the age group provides little support to the argument.
In the third place, author's conclusion about broadcast news and talk show to regain the number of listener might have some merit. However it may possible that they will not like those programs either .The author provides no evidence to support this assumption. The author’s premises, the basis for his argument, lack any legitimate evidentiary support and render his conclusion unacceptable.
Finally, changing the broadcasting pattern does not guarantee in the increase of listener number. It may possible that author may overlook some other facts, like the broadcasting quality of that radio station degrading day by day , so does the sound quality . So it may one of the major cause of decreasing the number .
In conclusion, this argument is unconvincing. To strengthen the argument, the author must provide evidence that there are no other reason other than the assumption. However concentrating on few program only for a specialized age group may seems little improvement in the number of listener . A balanced program format may be a good option for WWAC radio station to deal with the problem.
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Sentence: Author try to conclude that the decrease is due to the age group of the local residents.
Description: The fragment Author try to is rare
Suggestion: Possible agreement error: Replace try with verb, past tense
Sentence: However it may possible that they will not like those programs either .The author provides no evidence to support this assumption.
Description: A modal auxillary is not usually followed by an adjective
Suggestion: Refer to may and possible
Sentence: It may possible that author may overlook some other facts, like the broadcasting quality of that radio station degrading day by day , so does the sound quality .
Description: A modal auxillary is not usually followed by an adjective
Suggestion: Refer to may and possible
Sentence: To strengthen the argument, the author must provide evidence that there are no other reason other than the assumption.
Description: The fragment no other reason is not usually preceded by are
Suggestion: Possible agreement error: Replace are with is
Sentence: However concentrating on few program only for a specialized age group may seems little improvement in the number of listener .
Description: A modal auxillary is not usually followed by a verb, present tense, 3rd person singular
Suggestion: Refer to may and seems
flaws:
No. of Grammatical Errors: 5 2 (Need to improve your grammar)
No. of Different Words: 172 200
Avg. Sentence Length: 17.9 21.0
Sentence Length SD: 6.564 7.5
Attribute Value Ideal
Score: 3.5 - 4.0 out of 6
Category: Satisfactory Excellent
No. of Grammatical Errors: 5 2
No. of Spelling Errors: 0 2
No. of Sentences: 20 15
No. of Words: 358 350
No. of Characters: 1797 1500
No. of Different Words: 172 200
Fourth Root of Number of Words: 4.35 4.7
Average Word Length: 5.02 4.6
Word Length SD: 2.599 2.4
No. of Words greater than 5 chars: 136 100
No. of Words greater than 6 chars: 100 80
No. of Words greater than 7 chars: 72 40
No. of Words greater than 8 chars: 30 20
Use of Passive Voice (%): 0 0
Avg. Sentence Length: 17.9 21.0
Sentence Length SD: 6.564 7.5
Use of Discourse Markers (%): 0.55 0.12
Sentence-Text Coherence: 0.337 0.35
Sentence-Para Coherence: 0.535 0.50
Sentence-Sentence Coherence: 0.078 0.07
Number of Paragraphs: 5 5