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GRE写作Argument高分范文

题目：

The following appeared in a memorandum from the general manager of KNOW radio station:

\continuous news format. There are a number of reasons why: the number of older people in our listening area has increased dramatically, while the total number of our listeners has recently declined, music stores in our area report decreased sales of recorded music and continuous news stations in neighboring cities have been very successful. Furthermore, a survey taken just before the recent election shows that locals are interested in becoming better informed about politics.\

范文：

This memo recommends that KNOW radio station shift from rock-and-roll (R&R) music programming to all-news programming based on a number of reasons. As the manager indicates, the total number of KNOW listeners are decreasing in number while the number of older people in KNOW's listening area is increasing. The manager also points out that area sales of music recordings are in decline. Furthermore, the manager cites a recent survey that indicates local residents are interested in becoming better informed about politics. The manager also points out

that a radio station in a similar situation shifted their programming and met with great success. While the recommendation seems to be well supported, there are too many unproven assumptions here.

First, the manager assumes that the decline in the number of KNOW listeners is attributable to the station's current format. It is possible that decline is due to KNOW's specific mix of R&R music, or to transmission problems at the station. Without ruling out these and other possible reasons for the decline in total listener number, the manager should not offer a recommendation for change.

Secondly, in his argument, the manager assumes that older people favor all-news programming—this is an unsubstantiated view. Perhaps as KNOW's regular audience ages, it will prefer a mix of R&R and news programming rather than one format or the other. In short, the mere fact that the number of older people in KNOW's listening area is increasing suggests nothing about KNOW's best programming strategy.

Thirdly, a decrease in local music recording sales is scant evidence that KNOW should eschew music in favor of an all-news format. Although overall music sales are declining, perhaps sales of R&R recordings are actually increasing while sales of all other types of music recordings are decreasing. For that matter, perhaps people who buy music recordings are generally not the same people who listen to music on the radio. Either scenario, if true, would seriously undermine the manager's

recommendation.

Fourth, it is not sound reasoning to conclude from one survey suggesting that local residents are becoming better informed about politics that they are becoming less interested in listening to R&R music. Neither is it sensible to conclude that they are interested in news at all. After all, news embraces many topics in addition to politics. Besides that fact, there is no reason why people interested in politics cannot also be interested in listening to R&R music. Moreover, a single survey taken just prior to an election is insufficient evidence that the trend in interest would continue.

Finally, it is unwarranted to infer from the success of all-news stations in nearby areas that KNOW will also succeed by following the same format. Those stations might owe their success to their powerful transmitters, popular newscasters, or other factors. Besides, the very success of these stations suggests that the area's radio listeners might favor those well-established news providers over a fledgling like KNOW would be after the transition.

In sum, the manager's evidence accomplishes little toward supporting the argument. So, while a shift may be a good idea, the argument certainly requires substantial work. For example, the manager should provide better evidence, perhaps by way of a reliable survey, that people within KNOW's listening area are becoming more interested in

news and less interested in R&R music—or any other kind of music. The manager must also demonstrate that an all-news format would be more popular than a mixed format of music and news, and that a significant number of people would prefer KNOW's all-news programming over that of other stations in the listening area.