argument140[AWER小组]第八次作业

JasonDoveUID: 2322013

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."

In this argument,the author draws the conclusion that Elm City University should provide a higher salary to Professor Thomas and promote his position to attract her.Otherwise, he would leave for another university.To substantiate his conclusion the author points out that the classes which are taught by Professor Thomas is one among the largest in the university.In addition,he also indicates that Professor Thomas has brought the school a multitude of subscription which exceeded his salary in the last two years.At first glance,this argument is somewhat convincing,however,it is not well-reasoned or well-organized indeed.From my own prospective this argument suffers from several critical logical flaws.

The threshold problem of this argument is that the author's recommendation depends on the assumption that no factors other than Professor Thomas's popularity among students cause the large number of students in classes which taught by her.However,common sense informs me that this assumption is a poor one.A myriad of other factors including the arrangment of school and the significance of the curriculum could as likely be the cause of the large number of students in her classes.To be specific,perhaps classes she taught is all related to students specific study,if so it would be unquestionable that she would get a multitude of students in her class,regardless of her lessons' effectiveness.In short,without ruling out possibilities such as these,I would not be swayed by the author's dubious evidence.

Another problem that weakens the logic of this argument is that the author falsely and unilaterally infers that Professor Thomas' reaserch ability is strong from the fact that she has attracted a lot of subscription which exceeded her salary during the latest two years for the university.Common sense informs us that it is the results of researches and studies that demonstrate one's ability in research.However,we cannot get any clear and credible information about this aspect in the author's statement.As it stands the argument leaves open possibilities that institutions appropriated a lot of money to Professor Thomas,yet,no theory or fact was worked out as a reward.So,unless the author rules out possible factors such as these he could not persuade me that Professor Thomas has a strong ability in researching.

Before I come to my conclusion there is another logical flaw in the argument that I should point out is that the author's analysis depend on a false assumption that Professor Thomas would leave Elm City University if she is refused in raising her salary and promoting in position. Many factors,such as working circumstance and emotion to the university would be taken into account when professors and teachers choose their schools.It is entirely possible that Elm City University is the Alma Mater of Professor Thomas,he would not leave even if he could not get a higher salary and the position of the dapartment chairperson.Scenarios such as this,if true,would cast considerably doubts to the author's conclusion.

To sum up,the author fails to substantiate his conclusion that Professor Thomas should get a higher salary and position.Because the evidence the author cites fails to lend strong support to what he maintains.To make it more convincing ,the author should provide me more persuasive evidence with regard to the teaching and researching ability of Professor Thomas.Moreover the author should demonstrate me that it is Professor Thomas' popularity among students makes her class the largest one in the university,as well.Therefore,only included such factors discussed above can this argument become more than an emotional appeal.