Prompt: "Motorcycle X has been manufactured in the United States for over 70 years. Although one foreign company has copied the motorcycle and is selling it for less, the company has failed to attract motorcycle X customers-some say because its product lacks the exceptionally loud noise made by motorcycle X. But there must be some other explanation. After all, foreign cars tend to be quieter than similar American-made cars, but they sell at least as well.
Also, television advertisements for motorcycle X highlight its durability and sleek lines, not its noisiness, and the ads typically have voice-overs or rock music rather than engine-roar on the sound track."
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.
Essay:
This excerpt from an article argues why the sound that motocycle X makes is not the sole reason for it's ability to attract customers. While two justifications for this argument are presented, they both fail to provide an absolute conclusion.
The first justification draws a comparison to the car industry and states the market dynamics prevalent there. However, it does not take into consideration several other factors impacting the relative success of foreign cars. For example, cars may be purchased by customers for a variety of commercial and personal uses. Hence the sound made by the car may not be a top factor in the purchase decision, in fact it might not be a consideration at all. The assumption that foreign cars sell at least as well as those made in the US because they tend to be quieter is hence flawed. Additionally, this justification, via its comparison, does not offer any explanation for the failure of the foreign company in its copy of motorcycle X.
The second justification, while it is more relevant, focuses on the lack of focus on the sound made by motorcycle X in its advertisements. Here, customer preference is not explored i.e., the sound of motorcycle X may be an expectation for its customers while they may need convincing of it's durability, design and persona. Again, this justification fails to examine several more pertinent causes and factors to support the argument.
There are several other justifications and evidence that would make this argument stronger. For instance, evaluating brand preference would be highly convincing. While brand loyalty may be an outcome of advertising, past experience or word of mouth, evidence around brand nationalism would provide a better justification. In conclusion, the article could be reasoned better by providing justifications that directly address the argument, providing examples to illustrate the arguement better and by providing backing evidence for the given justifications.
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