Argument140 【METTLE小组】第三次作业 by Benjamin9

Benjamin9UID: 2306677

140The 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."


It seems acceptable that Professor Thomas who as a senior professor ought to be rewarded for her contribution to the Elm City University. Nevertheless, there are some flaws in the arguer’s claim that undermined the validity.

As the arguer claims, Professor Thomas is popular among students, because her classes are among the largest at the university. I can be rigorous, does every her student chooses her class because of her, or her major botany? If botany is popular among students at the university, her classes can be large deservedly. Furthermore, if there are few professors of botany at the university, she is naturally seemed “popular”. So that cannot conclude she is good at teaching.

In the report, Professor Thomas has brought to the university in research grants has exceeded her salary in each of the last two years. She has worked at botany for seventeen years, and if that is happened in only two years, I don’t think it is outstanding, even it is ecumenic if she has consumed much money of the university in several past years. If my assumption is true, I don’t think the arguer’s recommendation that Professor Thomas receive a $10000 raise and a promotion to Department Chairperson should be accepted.

I have just argued the Professor Thomas’ teaching and research abilities hereinbefore, now I assume the arguer’s claim that Professor Thomas is good at teaching and research is true. So it is time to consider whether she costs a $10000 raise, whether she is competent at Department Chairperson, and whether she will leave if she were not rewarded by the university. It is her duty that she brings her university more research grants, therefore she should not ask for more salary. And the Department Chairperson position asks for more other abilities except major knowledge, does she do? I don’t know. If Elm City University is the most suitable university to her, she may not leave even if she is not rewarded by the university.

In conclusion, Professor Thomas should be rewarded if she really brings much contribution to Elm City University. And if she ought to be rewarded, they must  think over the prize circumspectly, it is related to many aspects.