求拍拍定位：Argument117，考试的时候论证到这个深度能多少分的样子？

aloner001UID: 2935554

题目：ARGUMENT117 - The following is a memo from the business manager of Valu-Mart stores.

"Over 70 percent of the respondents to a recent survey reported that they are required to take more work home with them from the workplace than they were in the past. Since Valu-Mart has not seen impressive sales in its office-supply departments in the past, we should take advantage of this work-at-home trend by increasing at all Valu-Mart stores the stock of home office machines such as printers, small copy machines, paper shredders, and fax machines. We will also increase stock of office supplies such as paper, pens, and staplers. With these changes, our office-supply departments will become the most profitable component of our stores."

字数：329
用时：00:40:33
日期：2011/2/16 13:40:33

In this argument, the author points out that a recent survey reported a work home tendency among some respondents, and by increasing the office machines and office supplies, the author draws a conclusion that office-supply departments will become the most profitable component of Valu-Mart store (VM). However, this argument contains several facets that are unwarranted.

First of all, the author fails to take into account whether the number of people who attend this survey is large enough, if the respondents are only a small part of people, this survey might not be able to reflect the real situation. Besides, the author provides no information about the respondents' age, jobs and gender, if the survey only focus on a certain group of people who have the same jobs, the conclusion might be questionable.

Additionally, Even if the number of people who work home is more than before, there is no evidence to prove that they will purchase office machines and office supplies, What if they have already own some supplies in their home or their works at home might not need these machines at all? Or what if the price of these machines is unbelievable expensive that many people cannot afford them? Without such information, the conclusion seems unfounded.

Furthermore, there exists many factors can influence the profits of these office machines and supplies, such as their quality, price, brand and the forth, but the author does not provide any information about it. What's more, the author also fails to take into consideration that whether there have other companies which sells the similar machines and supplies. What if these competitors' products are better than VM'? What if their prices are even cheaper?

To put the conclusion in a nutshell, the argument is unconvincing as it stands. To make more credible, the author should provide more detail information about the respondents, such as their age and work as well as more information about the profit of the products itself and competitors.