New to GMAT - please rate my AWA . This is my first Essay
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27 Aug 2014, 00:49
The following appeared in the editorial section of a lifestyle and travel magazine:
Davidson County is primed for a resurgence as the culinary capital of our state. This year alone, 20 new restaurants have opened in Davidson County and the county college system has announced an expansion to its culinary arts program. Moreover, the chamber of commerce for neighboring Roth County has said that nearly one-third of that county's restaurants have gone out of business in the last year, so its residents will have to eat somewhere. Why not Davidson County, culinary capital?
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
In the argument, the author concludes that Davidson County is primed for a resurgence as the culinary capital of the state. This is based on the premise that about 20 new restaurants have opened and culinary college has announced to expand the culinary arts program.However, on deeper analysis, it becomes apparent that certain relevant aspects such as ratio of new restaurants versus ratio of old restaurants, details about culinary art school and the reason of shut down of certain businesses in neighboring county have not been taken into account, leading to a number of mistaken assumptions and logical flaws.
Firstly, it is mentioned that there are 20 new restaurants that are opened alone in this year but this does not provide any useful information about whether it is showing an increase in the percentage of new restaurants or decrease in the percentage of new restaurants.So , we need more statistical data to confirm this change. Also, there is no indication that whether these restaurants are making any profit or loosing money which will be a prime decision factor for any new restaurant.
Secondly, no details are provided regarding the culinary art program .It might be possible that earlier program offered by the county college was teaching only basic stuff and now they are expanding to teach more advance skills.Also, how many number of students are enrolling in and after passing out how many continue to stay and start working as Chef in Davidson county is not shared.
Thirdly, certain restaurants has been shutdown in the neighboring Roth county .But what caused those restaurants to be out of business is unknown. Is it because of loosing money or there were no good chefs or they were simply not able to attract customer is not known.
I think if we get more details on all the above mentioned points then Davidson county will definitely become the culinary capital.