Q. The following appeared as part of an article in the education section of a Waymarsh city newspaper:
“Throughout the last two decades, those who earned graduate degrees found it very difficult to get jobs teaching their academic specialties at the college level. Those with graduate degrees from Waymarsh University had an especially hard time finding such jobs. But better times are coming in the next decade for all academic job seekers, including those from Waymarsh. Demographic trends indicate that an increasing number of people will be reaching college age over the next ten years; consequently, we can expect that the job market will improve dramatically for people seeking college-level teaching positions in their fields.”
Discuss how well reasoned the above argument is. You will have to consider the assumptions that underlie the writer’s thinking. Describe alternative explanations or counterexamples that might weaken his or her conclusion. You must come up with evidence that would strengthen or refute the argument or identify what changes would make the argument more logically sound.
ANSWER:
The argument states that throughout the last two decades, those who earned graduate degrees found it arduous to get jobs teaching their academic specialties at the college level. On the other hand, those with graduate degrees from Waymarsh University had an especially difficult time finding such jobs. However, better times are coming in the next decade for all academic job seekers, including those from Waymarsh. Demographic trends state that an increasing number of people will be reaching college age over the next ten years; therefore it is expected that the job market will improve significantly for people seeking college-level teaching positions in their fields.
Firstly, I agree with this argument in general. It is clear that people who have earned graduate degrees as well as those with graduate degrees from Waymarsh University have experienced difficulty in finding jobs teaching their academic specialties at the college level. This is expected to change in the future as recent demographic trends indicate that there will be an increased number of people reaching college age over the next decade so the number of positions of teachers will increase dramatically. The job market will improve for people willing to seek college-level teaching positions in their fields. Hence, the unemployment rate will be stable over the next ten years.
Secondly, things will be more balanced and even as compared to the last two decades. There will be greater availability of leisure time, personal incomes will increase, greater number of candidates will enroll in the university as well as the literacy rate of the country will increase. More leisure time will be available as a result families will spend more time outdoors and will participate in recreational activities. Since greater number of students will be admitted to the university, there will be greater availability of vacancies for teachers as a result the literacy rate will rise suddenly. People will live a better standard of life due to an increase in personal incomes. All these factors will eventually balance out the unemployment rate.
In conclusion, in the next ten years graduates from Waymarsh University and those with graduate degrees will likely find jobs as a result the job market will improve for people seeking college-level teaching positions in their fields. In addition, personal incomes will rise, more leisure time will be available, and more students will be joining the university as a result the literacy rate will increase significantly. Furthermore, the unemployment rate will be stable and even in the future. The next ten years can be expected to be prosperous and beneficial for Waymarsh.