Argument110【超越自我小组】第2次作业

apjackUID: 2381599

110. The following appeared in a memo from the Principal of Sherwood Junior High School.
"It appears that the lighting in Sherwood High's classrooms, which have large windows but minimal overhead light sources, is impairing student academic performance and teacher morale. Records show that during December and January, the two months with the fewest hours of daylight, attendance rates fall, average daily class participation drops, and grades decline. Teacher resignations are also highest during these months. According to a study of Tundra Vocational School, which experiences entire seasons with little daylight, students' grade point averages increased when Day Glow light bulbs, which mimic sunlight, were installed in classrooms. This study suggests that Sherwood can improve students' academic performance and teachers' morale by using Day Glow light bulbs in winter."



To draw a conclusion that Sherwood should use Day Glow light bulb in winter, as a purpose to improve student’s academic performance and teachers’ morale, the author substantiates by several critical reasons which are skeptical.

First, as a result of the hasty correction of decreasing daylight period during December and January with the declining of students’ academic performances, the author’s assertion seems to be ostensible and unpersuasive. Perhaps students easily oversleep because of an extremely frigid weather happening in December and January. Or perhaps students can not but go to school on time or even absent all the classes, as a result of frequent and fierce blizzard during winter season. More perhaps the learning attitudes of students are sapped by an abundant of holidays such as Christmas, New Year and winter holiday, therefore they get poor grades in an examination.

Furthermore, the author asserts that a minimal daylight period is the mere reason for the withering of teachers’ morale and high resignation rates. However, this needs not to be the case. It is entirely possible many teachers resigned at the end of semester as a result of the fact that the conduct or behavior of Sherwood’s student is exceptionally mischievous. It is also possible that teachers are likely to alter their work position as many job vacancies are available in that period. It is further possible that the phenomenon of high teacher resignation is found in other high schools including Tundra. In short, without consider these and other possibly explanations for the impairing of students’ academic performances, the author cannot not reasonably assume that diminishing of daylight period in December and January impairs the students’ performances and teachers’ morale at Sherwood.

Another problem with the argument is that the author claims that the increasing of students’ grades at Tundra is attributed to the presence of Day Glow light bulbs, which mimic sunlight in classrooms, is not well supported by empirical evidence. There are many possible reasons that could lead to the improvement of students’ grades rather than the installation of Day Glow light bulbs. First, the author in fact fails to conceive the possibility that Tundra may install several new facilities including more computers, multi-media CD programs, and laboratory equipments, which facilitate student to learn better. Second, the author also ignores the quality of instruction at Tundra might improve by revising an out-dated curriculum or hiring a conscientious and informed teacher. Without ruling out these scenarios, the author cannot reasonably conclude that the increment of students’ grades at Tundra is the result of the existence of Day Glow light bulbs.

Finally, it is unfairly to assume that using of Day Glow light bulbs at Sherwood in winter could ultimately ameliorate students’ academic performances when the author straightforwardly emulates Tundra practice. The author neglects the circumstances of the two schools and it may lead to a counterproductive consequence or even worst a negative impact towards students and teachers. It is possible that students and teachers cannot adapt the intensity or other properties of light bulbs when it uses only in winter.

To sum up, the argument is unconvincing as it stands. To strengthen the argument, the author must show that a fewer daylight during December and January is a crucial factor affecting students’ performances and teachers’ morale, and that the increasing of student performance at Tundra is because of the light bulbs. Finally, the author provides no evidence on his recommendation for tackling teacher morale by using light bulb lighting; to justify the author must provide concrete evidence.

[ 本帖最后由 apjack 于 2008-8-14 15:37 编辑 ]