argument140 （from kito组）,欢迎来拍～互拍

gaojiehahaUID: 2149729

Argument140（484 words）
------题目------
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.'
------提纲------
1、Thomas的教室人最多，并不能说明她最受学生欢迎
――可能她上的课是必修课，学生必须得上
――可能她的课好过，学分高
2、Thomas只是近两年研究经费多，可能以前不多
3、Thomas可能对加工资和提升不敢兴趣，找到她的真正兴趣她才不会离开Elm City University.
――可能Thomas喜欢呆在这因为她受学生欢迎
――她的兴趣可能在于自由活跃的学术氛围
------正文------
In this argument, the arguer advises that Elm University should give Professor Thomas a $10,000 raise and a promotion to Department Chairperson. To assure this conclusion, the arguer assumes that if do not provide a raise and a promotion, the Professor Thomas will leave for another college. In addition, the arguer reasons that she is popular among students; the arguer also points that her research finances has exceeded her salary in the last two years. This argument seems reasonable at first glance, but chews exactly, there are some places not well supported by the evidence.

Firstly, the arguer assumes that the Professor Thomas is popular among the students because her classes are the largest at the university. This conclusion is hasty. The arguer overlooks many other possible causes for her classes to be the largest. For example, perhaps the curriculums the Professor Thomas teaches are the required courses that students have to have. Or perhaps the courses the Professor Thomas teaches are easy to pass. Or perhaps the credits of the courses are higher then other course. For that matter, perhaps other teacher given the curriculum the Professor Thomas teaches will have the largest classes as Professor Thomas does. Any of these scenarios, if true, would undermine the conclusion that Professor Thomas is popular.

Secondly, the arguer indicates that the research grants Professor Thomas has brought to the university is exceeded her salary. However, the arguer mentioned that Professor Thomas has been engaged in teaching for seventeen years, and last two years her research grants has exceeds her salary, maybe fifteen years before her research grants are lower than or equal to her salary. Also, her achievement comes from the cultivation of Elm City University. She should contribute for the Elm City University.

Finally, the arguer assumes that if Elm City University does not give Professor Thomas a raise of salary and a promotion of career, the Professor Thomas will leave Elm City University. It is possible, for instance, that Professor Thomas likes to stay in Elm City University for the popularity of her among students. If so, a raise and a promotion will not attract her. On the other hand, if Professor Thomas is a researcher who devotes her to the researching field, a promotion and a raise mean nothing to her. And she maybe interested in a free and active academic atmosphere. If the Elm University will create or keep a free and activate academic atmosphere, Professor Thomas will not leave Elm City University for another college. If the Elm City University really want to keep Professor Thomas, it is necessary to know what Professor Thomas interested in?

In sum up, the arguer's argument is unpersuasive as it stands. To strengthen it, the arguer must provide better evidence that the Professor Thomas is popular and she has many contributions to the Elm City University. To better evaluate the recommendation; we need more information about what really attracts Professor Thomas.

[ Last edited by gaojiehaha on 2005-12-19 at 22:30 ]

[ 本帖最后由 gaojiehaha 于 2006-1-5 18:17 编辑 ]