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.

This argument is about the decline in listeners of radio channel.

According to the author, despite population growth in their listening
area there is a decline in the number of listeners. Furthermore, author
also states that the growth of population has resulted mainly from
people moving in there after their retirement. Furthermore, author also
says that there has been a continuing decline in local sales of recorded
music which suggest limited interest in music. Hence, author is
suggesting that WWAC should change to a news and talk from its
current rock-music format. However, in order to fully critique this
editorial, we need to have a significant amount of additional evidence.

The first piece of evidence that author provide is the increase in the
population growth which mainly consists of retired people. However,
the author has not given any evidence about those people's choice and
interest. A detailed survey should have been organized asking them
about what they like music or news and talks ? If majority of the people
support for music then obviously author stand is not convincing.
Another piece of evidence from the premise is that a continuing
decline in local sales of recorded music suggests limited interest in
music. There is no proof of why this decline in sales is happening. It
might be because of non availabilty of new music in the stores, no
more good music, popular one like before, no hit songs. Clearly then
the author conclusion to switch from rock-music to news and talk is
not valid.

One more problem with this editorial is that there is no certaintity that
the switch from rock-music to news and talk format will increase in
the number of listeners. It may be that the residents don't like news
and talk either. Moreover it may be the case that large number of
listeners to rock-music included teenagers who are now busy in their
examinations. That is why there is a decrease in rock-music listeners.

The author has not offered convincing evidence to support his views.
He should have strenghtened his agrument by providing a concrete
details on why to switch from rock-music to news and talk format. To
conclude whether the owners should change from its current rock-
music format to news and talk format, different questions relating the
relevant evidence is required. The author has to work towards making
his assumption logically more correct.