Argument 49 提纲

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Argument 45/49
Arg 49 initiate and actively promote online degree programs -o

45) The following is part of a memorandum from the president of Humana University.

Last year the number of students who enrolled in online degree programs offered by nearby Omni University increased by 50 percent. During the same year, Omni showed a significant decrease from prior years in expenditures for dormitory and classroom space, most likely because instruction in the online programs takes place via the Internet. In contrast, over the past three years, enrollment at Humana University has failed to grow, and the cost of maintaining buildings has increased along with our budget deficit. To address these problems, Humana University will begin immediately to create and actively promote online degree programs like those at Omni. We predict that instituting these online degree programs will help Humana both increase its total enrollment and solve its budget problems.

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.

49) The following is part of a memorandum from the president of Humana University.

Last year the number of students who enrolled in online degree programs offered by nearby Omni University increased by 50 percent. During the same year, Omni showed a significant decrease from prior years in expenditures for dormitory and classroom space, most likely because online instruction takes place via the Internet. In contrast, over the past three years, enrollment at Humana University has failed to grow and the cost of maintaining buildings has increased. Thus, to increase enrollment and solve the problem of budget deficits at Humana University, we should initiate and actively promote online degree programs like those at Omni.

Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on these assumptions and what the implications are for the argument if the assumptions prove unwarranted.




G1: Last year the number of students who enrolled in online degree programs offered by nearby Omni University increased by 50 percent.
G2: During the same year, Omni showed a significant decrease from prior years in expenditures for dormitory and classroom space, most likely because online instruction takes place via the Internet.
G3: In contrast, over the past three years, enrollment at Humana University has failed to grow and the cost of maintaining buildings has increased.
C1: Thus, to increase enrollment and solve the problem of budget deficits at Humana University, we should initiate and actively promote online degree programs like those at Omni.


A1 (G1, G2): The decrease in expenditures resulted from the increase in online student enrolment.

A2 (G3, C1): The problems that caused the stagnant enrolment and increasing cost would be solved through the online program.

A3 (C1): It is feasible for Humana to introduce online programs and doing so would not worsen the budget deficits.


conclusion
if Humana develops and promotes online degree programs, the enrollment will increase and the problem of budget deficits will be solved.

relevant data or premises:
Omni university has 50% more students enrolled in online degree programs
Omni reduced the expenditure on dorm and classroom space
enrollment at Humana did not grow in the past 3 years
cost of maintaining buildings has increased
Humana has a budget deficit

now think about what to focus on in each middle paragraph in terms of assumptions


ENROLLMENT
- the impact of online program on the overall student enrollment (it is assumed that the impact would be significant; only if Omni has a large number of online students to begin with; otherwise, 50% increase may not increase the total student population)
- what are the reasons why the enrollment failed to grow and whether these reasons would affect the success of online program
assumed that the reasons would not affect the online programs


COST
- assume that the cost of building maintenance will necessarily decrease with the introduction of online programs; maybe some of the maintenance cost is fixed regardless of usage
- why Humana has a budget deficit and would the root problems be addressed through online programs
- would the reduction in physical space expenditure be offset by additional expense for online programs (development and maintenance of the online platform; development of materials; marketing costs)
assumption that the overall expense would be reduced

COMPARABILITY
- whether or not Onmi and Humana are comparable in terms of reputation, the students interest in online programs, whether the disciplines are suitable for teaching online





Argument范文与提纲目录(tesolchina)
https://bbs.gter.net/thread-2030117-1-1.html