The following appeared in a memo to the board of directors of a company that specializes in the delivery of heating oil.

The following appeared in a memo to the board of directors of a company that specializes in the delivery of heating oil.

“Most homes in the northeastern United States, where winters are typically cold, have traditionally used oil as their major fuel for heating. Last heating season, that region experienced 90 days with below-normal temperatures, and climate forecasters predict that this weather pattern will continue for several more years. Furthermore, many new homes are being built in the region in response to recent population growth. Because of these trends, we can safely predict that this region will experience an increased demand for heating oil during the next five years.”

Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the prediction and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the prediction.

The author suggests the company deliver heating oil to northeastern United States, because it will lead to an increased demand for heating oil during the next five years. However, some questions need answering to evaluate the claim.

The memo states the residents traditionally used oil as their major fuel. Nevertheless, could people find another alternative source to replace heating oil? As technology developing rapidly nowadays, people have already invented some applications that will warm up the room by only needing electricity. For example, the air conditioner is usually equipped with a function that can quickly change the temperature from minus to a normal one. In addition, some clothing brands such as the NorthFace, selling some jackets that help people to stay warm too.

The author claims that climate forecasters predict that this weather pattern will continue for several more years. Still, how professional are these forecasters? They could possibly be a group of college students who are lacking experience and without proper facilities. Even if they were professional forecasters, when did they release their forecast? If the forecast was published decades ago, it might not apply to the condition right now. Because the factors to a climate change will be affected by many reasons, and it requires constantly updating the latest information.

Many new homes are being built in the region in response to recent population growth, the memo says. One question must be answered is whether people actually move into the houses, or they just take it as their vacation villa. For example, some other regions of rich people will just buy the house for their holiday uses, instead of moving all the way to the north. Plus, the house might be built, but due to economic reasons, nobody will actually buy the house.

The author needs to answer the above questions to strengthen his or her argument.