TOPIC: ARGUMENT140 - The following appeared in a report of the Committee on Faculty Promotions and Salaries at Elm City University.
"During her seventeen years as a professor of botany, Professor Thomas has proved herself to be well worth her annual salary of $50,000. Her classes are among the largest at the university, demonstrating her popularity among students. Moreover, the money she has brought to the university in research grants has exceeded her salary in each of the last two years. Therefore, in consideration of Professor Thomas' demonstrated teaching and research abilities, we recommend that she receive a $10,000 raise and a promotion to Department Chairperson; without such a raise and promotion, we fear that Professor Thomas will leave Elm City University for another college."
WORDS: 390 TIME: 0:35:00 DATE: 2007-3-27
The argument comes to the conclusion that because of Professor Thomas' demonstrated teaching and research abilities, Elm City University should give her a $10,000 raise and a promotion to Department Chairperson and without that, she may leave the university. The author primarily cites that Professor Thomas' classes are among the largest at the university and then points out that the money she has brought to the university in research grants has exceeded her salary in each of the last two years. This argument seems to be logical.
However, the author makes a fallacy of that demonstrate Professor Thomas' teaching abilities only by the explanation that her classes are among the largest at the university. It is possible that there are other alternatives to explain why Thomas' classes are very large. First, maybe Thomas' examinations are easy to pass, so many students select her classes. In addition, many students are interested in the subject of the class not the teacher of the class. Or perhaps the time of the classes is convenient for students to study. In sum, unless the author provides other substantial evidence to rule out other possible alternatives, he or she will not convince me.
Another problem with the argument is that the author also does not provide enough providence to demonstrate Professor Thomas' research abilities. The author only cites that the money she has brought to the university in research grants has exceeded her salary in each of the last two years. This evidence is not sufficient. The author provides nothing about the detail of how she brings money to the university. Maybe she gets the money in some illegal method. On the other hand, the author does not compare Professor Thomas with other professors. So, the mere fact that the money Thomas has brought to the university in research grants has exceeded her salary in each of the last two years suggest nothing to demonstrating Thomas' research abilities.
Finally, the author says nothing about why Thomas will leave Elm City University without a raise and promotion. To strength the argument the author must provide more evidence about the reason.
To sum up, the argument is not convincing as it stands. The author should provide evidence to rule out other possible alternatives and demonstrate Professor Thomas’ teaching and research abilities. Or the author will not persuade me. 作者: songxjtu 时间: 2007-3-28 18:40:24
The argument comes to the conclusion that because of Professor Thomas' demonstrated teaching and research abilities, Elm City University should give her a $10,000 raise and a promotion to Department Chairperson and without that, she may leave the university. The author primarily cites that Professor Thomas' classes are among the largest at the university and then points out that the money she has brought to the university in research grants has exceeded her salary in each of the last two years. This argument seems to be logical.
However, the author makes a fallacy of that demonstrate Professor Thomas' teaching abilities only by the explanation that her classes are among the largest at the university. It is possible that there are other alternatives to explain why Thomas' classes are very large. First, maybe Thomas' examinations are easy to pass, so many students select her classes. In addition, many students are interested in the subject of the class not the teacher of the class. Or perhaps the time of the classes is convenient for students to study. In sum, unless the author provides other substantial evidence to rule out other possible alternatives, he or she will not convince me.
Another problem with the argument is that the author also does not provide enough providence to demonstrate Professor Thomas' research abilities. The author only cites that the money she has brought to the university in research grants has exceeded her salary in each of the last two years. This evidence is not sufficient. （衔接的不够紧密 加上连接词之类的）The author provides nothing about the detail of how she brings money to the university. Maybe she gets the money in some illegal method. On the other hand, the author does not compare Professor Thomas with other professors. So, the mere fact that the money Thomas has brought to the university in research grants has exceeded her salary in each of the last two years suggest(suggests) nothing to demonstrating Thomas' research abilities.
Finally, the author says nothing about why Thomas will leave Elm City University without a raise and promotion. To strength the argument the author must provide more evidence about the reason.(最好给出几种可能，比如她喜欢这所学校所以不会离开 或者因为其他原因 ，无论是否加薪或提升职位他都会离开)
To sum up, the argument is not convincing as it stands. The author should provide evidence to rule out other possible alternatives and demonstrate Professor Thomas’ teaching and research abilities. Or the author will not persuade me.