Argument140 3.1 小鸡快跑作文组

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TOPIC: ARGUMENT140 - The following appearedin a report of the Committee on Faculty Promotions and Salaries at Elm City University.

"During her seventeen years as aprofessor of botany, Professor Thomas has proved herself to be well worth herannual salary of $50,000. Her classes are among the largest at the university,demonstrating her popularity among students. Moreover, the money she hasbrought to the university in research grants has exceeded her salary in each ofthe 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 raiseand promotion, we fear that Professor Thomas will leave Elm City University for another college."

Based on the evidence that Professor Thomasis popular because of the largest classes at the university, and that the moneyshe has brought to university is more than her salary, the argument draws theconclusion that the university should give her a raise and promotion in orderto keep Professor Thomas stay in Elm City University.

First of all, the argument unfairly assumesthat the classes which are among the largest at the university can support theassumption that she is marvelously popular at the university. It is entirelypossible that his class is the basic subject in this school, and there are manystudents who have to attend the class in order to graduate. It is also possiblethat Professor Thomas gives high grades to her students in the last few terms,a lot of students, thus, choose her class just for the high grades not forother assumed reasons.

Next point, the assumption that the moneyProfessor Thomas has brought to the university is more than her salary in eachof the last two years and the school should give her a raise and promotionseems logical but still cannot be interpreted. In that Professor Thomas hasworked in the school for 17 years, perhaps the money she has brought to theuniversity was all at the first few years. Besides, the author does not provideany evidence that can demonstrate she is eligible to be the DepartmentChairperson. Consequently, without persuasive evidence that her contribution isgreat enough to give her a raise and promotion, we cannot accept the author’s assumption.

Last but not least, the argument fails totake into consideration other possible alternatives about whether ProfessorThomas will leave the university without such a raise and promotion. Given thatthe argument fails to supply any information about the individual life ofProfessor Thomas. It is very likely that the condition in this university isgood for her life and career, and she will not leave the university even thoughshe cannot get a raise or promotion. Thus, if the argument cannot rule out thepossibility above, we are not able to accept the conclusion of the argument.

To sum up, the argument is indeed logicalunsound with the existing evidence about popular classes of Professor Thomas andgreat contributions at the university. Before any final conclusion, the arguershould provide more information to us about the experience of Professor Thomasat the university and the detailed factual situation about her classes.