Argument140 【Persistence小组】第14次作业

小驴子UID: 2222683

140.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."

The argument concludes that members of the committee on Faculty Promotions and Salaries of Elm City University will give Professor Thomas a $10,000 raise and a promotion to Department Chairperson, because they are fear that Professor Thomas might leave Elm City University for another college. They believe that Professor Thomas has the quality to receive such a raise in both salary and status for the following reasons: (1) her classes are the largest at the university which can show her popularity among students. (2) The money she brought the university in research grants was more than her salary in the past two years. (3) Both the above parts can show her teaching and research abilities. Close scrutiny of each of these facts, however, reveals that none of them lend credible support to the final conclusion.

The prerequisite of the argument is that Professor Thomas would go to another college. However, no clear evidence could demonstrate she has such will to work for a different university. She might have a deep love to the present university because she has already worked here for several years. She is familiar with the environment in Elm City University and she has her research groups here which could help her work a lot. If this is the truth, a $10,000 raise in salary and a promotion to Department Chairperson is a waste.

In addition, the argument shows that Professor Thomas is a popular teacher in the university because her classes are among the largest at the university. It is entirely possible that her class is compressed class which means each student must finish her class then they could graduate. The size of the classes might have no direct relationship to the popularity of a teacher. She might not be popular among the students, and they might only choose her class and not go to take it or listen to her on class.

The argument also shows that the money she has brought to the university has exceeded her salary over the last two years, which could demonstrate her research ability. This point is also questionable. Firstly, she might only bring in money this two years and she has worked here for over 10 years or more. Secondly, the money brought by her might only exceeded her salary a little. If so, the money cannot demonstrate her research ability and the research ability might be shown in some other parts. For example, the number of paper she published each year and on which publication do her paper published. The number of her research outcome also can show her research ability.

Even if she is popular among students and have the research ability, whether she is proper for being a chairperson of the department and worth the $10,000 raise in salary is not known. A good teacher might not be a good chairperson. Being a good chairperson also requires that she has the ability of leading and cooperating with other person. She might only have the ability to be a good teacher or she might not want to be a chairperson. Another point is the$10,000 raise in salary. Whether the money is too much for such a professor in the university and the opinion of other faculty is not known.

In sum, the report relies on certain doubtful assumptions that render it unconvincing as it stands. To bolster it, the committee must provide clear evidence which could prove her popularity in the university and her research ability. To better assess the report, I would also need to know whether she has the willing to leave Elm City University and whether she is worth the raise in salary and the promotion.
完全计时 415 除了结尾

欣馨之火UID: 2183210

The argument concludes that members of the committee on Faculty Promotions and Salaries of Elm City University will give Professor Thomas a $10,000 raise and a promotion to Department Chairperson, because they are fear that Professor Thomas might leave ElmCityUniversity for another college. （这么写本身没有什么错，只是读起来有些别扭，没记错的话，原题好像是委员会的一个报告，是委员会在建议做什么事情。你这么来转述，好像成了另外的人下了结论说委员会做了什么事情了。）They believe that Professor Thomas has the quality to receive such a raise in both salary and status for the following reasons: (1) her classes are the largest at the university which can show her popularity among students. (2) The money she brought the university in research grants was more than her salary in the past two years. (3) Both the above parts can show her teaching and research abilities. Close scrutiny of each of these facts, however, reveals that none of them lend credible support to the final conclusion.

The prerequisite of the argument is that Professor Thomas would go to another college. However, no clear evidence could demonstrate she has such will to work for a different university. She might have a deep love to the present university because she has already worked here for several years. She is familiar with the environment in ElmCityUniversity and she has her research groups here which could help her work a lot. If this is the truth, a $10,000 raise in salary and a promotion to Department Chairperson is a waste.

In addition, the argument shows that Professor Thomas is a popular teacher in the university because her classes are among the largest at the university. It is entirely possible that her class is compressed （这个表达地道不地道可以斟酌一下，对于必修课我看到过用compulsory或者用required，不过也许你用的这个也是不错的。）class which means each student must finish her class then they could graduate. The size of the classes might have no direct relationship to the popularity of a teacher. She might not be popular among the students, and they might only choose her class and not go to take it or listen to her on class. （后面说没有直接关系倒是没错，只是最后一句的解释有点问题，我知道中国确实存在这样的问题，选了课而不去上，不过，这不是正常现象。老美比较直，不会思考“隐情”，而且，从逻辑上讲，也讲不通，既然不喜欢她，干嘛还选她的课呢？）

The argument also shows that the money she has brought to the university has exceeded her salary over the last two years, which could demonstrate her research ability. This point is also questionable. Firstly, she might only bring in money this two years and she has worked here for over 10 years or more. Secondly, the money brought by her might only exceeded her salary a little. If so, the money cannot demonstrate her research ability and the research ability might be shown in some other parts. For example, the number of paper she published each year and on which publication do her paper published. The number of her research outcome also can show her research ability.

Even if she is popular among students and have the research ability, whether she is proper for being a chairperson of the department and worth the $10,000 raise in salary is not known. A good teacher might not be a good chairperson. Being a good chairperson also requires that she has the ability of leading and cooperating with other person. She might only have the ability to be a good teacher or she might not want to be a chairperson. Another point is the$10,000 raise in salary. Whether the money is too much for such a professor in the university and the opinion of other faculty is not known.

In sum, the report relies on certain doubtful assumptions that render it unconvincing as it stands. To bolster it, the committee must provide clear evidence which could prove her popularity in the university and her research ability. To better assess the report, I would also need to know whether she has the willing to leave ElmCityUniversity and whether she is worth the raise in salary and the promotion. 完全计时 415 除了结尾

1.       思想性上，没问题。思路清晰，论证合理。
2.       结构上，A好像已经成了定式了，也没大问题。小问题在文中已经标出。
3.       语言也没什么说的，跟模板没啥两样了。
4.       计时415！恭喜恭喜，你做得很好！

[ 本帖最后由 欣馨之火 于 2007-2-21 18:02 编辑 ]