Twenty years ago, only half of the students who graduated from Einstein high school went on to attend a college or university.

Argument: 

Twenty years ago, only half of the students who graduated from Einstein high school went on to attend a college or university.  Today, two-thirds of the students who graduated from Einstein high school do so.  Clearly, Einstein has improved its educational effectiveness over the past two decades.  This improvement has occurred despite the fact that the school’s funding, when adjusted for inflation, is about the same as it was 20 years ago.  Therefore, we do not need to make any substantial increase in the school’s funding at this time.  

Question:

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and use the evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refuse the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion. 

Answer: 

The statement argues that Einstein high school does not need to have bigger its funding because more students graduated from Einstein high school has been able to attend a college or university without funding raise.  This conclusion is made by a premise that quality of the education at Einstein high school has been improved.  However, some unreasonable assumptions lessen credibility of this statement.  

The first issue to be addressed is transition of the society.  Compared to this moment, there were more students who had to start working right after graduation from their high school twenty years ago.  That is, fewer students could enter a college or university after high school in the past.  On contrast, more students can afford their college now than two decades ago, by financial support from their family or various scholarship programs.   Therefore, increased number of students who attend a college is irrelevant to school funding.  

Also, the author's idea has lack of explanation about the number of students enrolled in Einstein high school.  That is a significant matter to this argument.  It is a big social problem that parents have fewer children than before.  In the past, many families had three or four children but, especially in developed countries, typical families have one or two children.  The more children a family has, the less affordability a family has for a college.  The author must account for social change in the number of children.  

Finally, requirement for college admission must be analyzed.  Since there are fewer children nowadays, a number of colleges and universities just might ease their requirement to enter.  For example, required GPA could be lower than before.  College is also business that has to generate profit from tuition fees so that consistent number of students must be enrolled.  

While it may seem true that Einstein high school does not need to raise the funding because of increased number of the students who went on to a college, some flaws in assumptions refuse it.  It is because there are other possible causes such as affordability of each student, fewer children in the society, and admission requirement.  This matter is not only with its school's funding.  Before any conclusion is made, the author must consider all aspects of the topic.

The government should lower the railroad company’s property taxes, since sending goods by rail is clearly a more appropriate mode of ground transportation than highway shipping.

This may not be good.... Poor work

Argument:

“While trucking companies that deliver good pay only a portion of highway maintenance costs and no property tax on the highways they use, railways spend billions per year maintaining and upgrading their facilities.  The government should lower the railroad company’s property taxes, since sending goods by rail is clearly a more appropriate mode of ground transportation than highway shipping.  For one thing, trains consume only a third of the fuel a truck would use to carry the same load, making them a more cost-effective and environmentally sound mode of transport.  Furthermore, since rail lines already exist, increase in rail traffic would not require building new line at the expense of taxpaying citizens."

Question:

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and use the evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refuse the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion. 

Answer:

The first issue to be addressed is that there is no data about fuel consumption of trucks and railroads while the author mentions that train would consume about thirty percent of fuel a truck would need to move the same amount of package.  As technology is developed nowadays, cars and trucks dramatically increase their cost effectiveness.  For example, Prius, an ecologic car manufactured by TOYOTA, can drive more than 35 kilometers per a litter.  However, there is no figure how far trains can transport for with the same amount of fuel. 

Also, the conclusion is based on an uncertain premise that no more rails needs to be built newly.  To be more convincing, the author must indicate how large of areas are covered with highways and railroads, and compare each other.  Generally speaking, highways cover more areas including countryside than trains do.  For example, the United States totally relies more on highways than rails because highways are extended to almost every area, including Warrensburg where I have stayed in, just ten thousand of people live.  The author must show how much railroad covers in the area to make transportation available. 

Moreover, the author does not consider any other type of transportation.  Although the statement compares trucks and trains, airplanes and shipment are also frequently applied to carry package.  Both ways of transportation are well developed enough to deliver goods to everywhere in the world.  Airplane is the fastest while shipment is usually most affordable.  Besides, the government usually protects transportation industry to maintain it.  Therefore, lowering taxes on railroad company would not develop train transportation.  The author should argue about more kinds of transportation other than only truck and trains. 

While it may seem true that the government should lower taxes on railroad companies to be developed, some flaws makes it weak.  The argument must contain data of fuel consumption on truck and rails, availability of railroad, and other types of transportation available.  Before any conclusion is made, all probable aspects must be well explained.

New York~~

New York trip is coming ahead in a few days. Since I had an immigration issue on myself, it is uncertain whether the trip would be safe.  Well, it is the first time to land my feet on America since I came back home from Warrensburg, Missouri.

View Larger Map


Anyway, just wish me luck on my trip.  I will visit New York and, hopefully, Boston.  

If our corporation began donating a significant portion of its profits to humanitarian causes, our employees’ motivations and productivity would increase substantially and our overall profits would increase as well.

Argument:

Studies have found that employees for not-for-profit organizations and charities are often more highly motivated than employees of for-profit corporations to perform well at work when their performance is not being monitored or evaluated. Interviews with employees of not-for-profit organizations suggest that the reason for their greater motivations is the belief that their work helps to improve society. Because they believe in the importance of their work, they have personal reasons to perform well, even when no financial reward is present. Thus, if our corporation began donating a significant portion of its profits to humanitarian causes, our employees’ motivations and productivity would increase substantially and our overall profits would increase as well.

Question:
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and use the evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refuse the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.


Answer:
The argument states that motivations and productivity of employees would be increased if for-profit corporations started donating some a part of its profit. This idea is based on premise that employees in non-profit organizations are more motivated than those in commercial companies because of recognition of importance of their work for the society. However, there are several flaws on assumptions that lessen credibility of the statement.

The first issue is insufficient research about being monitored and evaluated. The statement says that employees for not-for-profit organizations perform much better than those of for-profit corporations at work when they are not monitored or evaluated. Generally speaking, most employees are, however, monitored and evaluated their work and output by their bosses in most corporations. Therefore, the author needs to compare performance when employees are monitored with when not monitored.

Also, the conclusion is based on a false research that the author does not show how many organizations and corporations have been interviews and studied for. Every research must indicate its research condition, for example, how many organizations are subject to be studied and when the research is done. Since there is no specific explanation of research condition, this conclusion has been led by just research on a few organizations. Comparison among a small number of subjects makes the result not objective but more biased by characteristic factors that each organization and company has.

Finally, working environment and conditions are not defined in this statement. The length of operation hour, salary, and holidays are crucial factors to determine how well workers are motivated. According to the author, employees of non-profit organizations are highly motivated than those of business companies. Without definition of working condition, it could be suggested that difference of productivity and motivation is caused by difference of working condition. For example, for-not-profit organization offers larger salary than for-profit corporations. The author must mention under what condition each workers are working.

While it may seem true that employees for non-profit organizations are more motivated and productive than those for business corporations, some critical flaws on assumptions make it less convincing. The author must explain about performance under supervision, research condition, and working environment. Before any conclusion is made, every possible factor must be discussed.

Even though Saluda Natural Spring Water may seem expensive, drinking it instead tap water is a wise investment in good health.

Argument:

Laboratory studies show that Saluda Natural Spring Water contains several of the minerals necessary for good health and that it is completely free of bacteria.  Residents of Saluda, the small town where the water is bottled, are hospitalized less frequently than the national average.  Even though Saluda Natural Spring Water may seem expensive, drinking it instead tap water is a wise investment in good health. 

Question:

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and use the evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refuse the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion. 

Answer:

The argument states that Saluda Natural Spring Water is a wise investment in good health while it may cost more than other types of water.  This statement is based on three premises that are several minerals contained, no parasitic bacteria, and lower rate of hospitalized among residents of Saluda.  However, some flaws found in those assumptions lessen credibility of the statement.  

The first issue to be addressed is that Saluda Natural Spring Water contains minerals necessary for a healthy life.  To become convincing, it must be explained what kinds of minerals are contained, and comparison of ingredient between Saluda Natural Spring Water and other type of water, including tap water.  For example, there may be some minerals that do not have any effect for good health in the water.  Or, people could find other bottled water that contains only one kind of mineral that is very effective.  There is no scientific objective proof showing why the water is good for health.  

The author also argues that Saluda Natural Spring Water is free of bacteria.  While bacteria seems harmful to human body, some of them are essential to maintain healthy body.  Bowel usually has hundreds kinds of bacteria that work for digestion.  Foods or drink must bring inside some bacteria that cannot be produced without them.  Water without bacteria cannot always be mentioned as benefit for good health.  

Finally, there is not enough explanation about lower rate of hospitalization.  To get less hospitalized, not only drinking mineralized water is effective but also some other factors contribute.  For example, residents of Saluda may have custom of regular exercise such as walking or jogging.  Another possible cause could be diet.  If people in Saluda are vegetarians, hospital should not be as busy as those in other areas where people often eat stakes.  

While it may seem true that Saluda Natural Spring Water is good for health, several flaws among inappropriate assumptions make it less convincing.  The author must show clearer explanation about minerals contained in Saluda Natural Spring Water, effects of bacteria, and other factors contributing to less hospitalization rate.  Before any conclusion is made, every possible factor must be considered.

Two years ago Nova High School began to use interactive computer instruction in three academic subjects.

Argument:

Two years ago Nova High School began to use interactive computer instruction in three academic subjects.  The school dropout rate declined immediately, and last year's graduates have reported some impressive achievements in college.  In future budgets the school board should use a greater portion of the available funds to buy more computers, and all schools in the district should adopt interactive computer instruction throughout the curriculum.  

Question:

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and use the evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refuse the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion. 

Answer:

This arguments states that since interactive computer instruction contributed to decrease dropout rate at Nova High School, more budgets should be allocated to interactive computer instruction, and other schools should also have it.  This conclusion is based on the premise that interactive computer instruction has a most part of role to decline the dropout rate.  However, there are several assumptions that may not necessarily apply to this argument.  For example, dropout rate at Nova High School gained less number because of interactive computer instruction.  Also, the author does not explain how much of dropout rate was decreased and how many students were enrolled to interactive computer instructions.  Without clarifying those assumptions, the statement is not convincing. 

The first issue to be addressed is whether only interactive computer instructions had a function in which dropout rate was declined.  Generally speaking, students leave their schools in various reasons; for example, they cannot afford tuition anymore or find other dreams that they pursue.  The author considers only the computers as a factor of declined rate of dropout. 

The argument also relies on the idea that dropout rate at Nova High School was declined without any specific number.  The author must states how many more students were not to leave Nova High School than those of before the computer instruction had been introduced.  For instance, the author might point dropout rate declined 0.1% from 1.1% of all students thus there is 1.0% of students who drop out.  Such small decrease can be fluctuated by casual factors such as depressed economy.  The author must argue how many or how much more percentage of students was to stay at the school after interactive computer instructions started.  

Finally, the author must show how many computers were attended in interactive computer instructions.  Most students must be enrolled in this computer class if the author assumes the instruction has a major role of declined number of dropout rate.  Only a small number of students involved in interactive computer instructions cannot be an enough support to argue the instructions are effective to decrease dropout rate. 

In conclusion, while it seems reasonable that interactive computer instructions should have introduced to other schools and be allocated more budgets because of less dropout rate at Nova High School compared to before the computer is started, the statement is not convincing enough.  The author must consider whether there is any other factor declining dropout rate, specific dropout rate, and how many students were enrolled in interactive computer instructions thus the argument would be sounder.

The First Post

Hi, my name is Taka, from Japan!


Thank you for visiting my blog.  Actually the main reason I start this blog for is that I want to get a comment on my writing in English that I need to brush up for THE WAY TO MBA (the title!).  I will put up my essay tasks on GMAT and TOEFL as well as my personal ideas and thoughts.  


Any comment is welcomed.  It would be great if this place can be where everyone can discuss about social problems, business, language, and ME!!haha


Hope every reader here enjoys and provide advice on me and my english. 




DISCLAIMER:
-Excuse me for some inappropriate expression in English, if just any.  I am NOT intended to offend or discriminate anyone.