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Using ratings of more than 15,000 undergraduate students for different introductory level courses, a recently published paper concludes that tenured professors don’t enhance student learning as much as non-tenured professors do. However, concluding that the tenure system (i.e. giving a professor a contractual right to keep the job for life) is counterproductive is clearly unwarranted since ___________________________________
Which of the following, if true, most logically completes the above argument?
  • a)
    the chief objective of the tenure system is to produce better quality teachers.
  • b)
    tenured professors produce a significant amount of good quality research every year.
  • c)
    even though tenured professors are generally paid more than non-tenured professors, tenured professors also work for more hours every week.
  • d)
    non-tenured professors put in their best efforts in teaching in order to get tenured.
  • e)
    not all tenured professors got a lower rating than their non-tenured counterparts.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
Using ratings of more than 15,000 undergraduate students for different...
Using ratings of more than 15,000 undergraduate students for different introductory level courses, a recently published paper concludes that tenured professors don’t enhance student learning as much as non-tenured professors do. However, concluding that the tenure system (i.e. giving a professor a contractual right to keep the job for life) is counterproductive is clearly unwarranted since ___________________________________
Which of the following, if true, most logically completes the above argument?
Argument Analysis
 
Pre-Thinking
Conclusion Clarification
The author concludes that TS is not counterproductive i.e. working against the objective it wants to achieve. We can be fairly certain that the objective is to enhance student learning as the published paper makes a conclusion in this aspect (comparison of enhancement of student learning by TPs and NTPs) and tries to capture it using the ratings given by students.
Pre-Thinking Approach
Let’s see how we can increase the belief in the conclusion.  To do so, we will look at the logical structure, focusing on linkage 1 and the conclusion.  Note that linkage is based on the reasoning that is omitted from the argument. Thus, the way to strengthen the conclusion will be to support this linkage based on the missing reasoning.
Linkage#1 – (missing reasoning)
  • Strengthener – TS is working toward enhancing student learning. Any statement which provides evidence in this regard would act as a strengthener.
With this pre-thinking in mind, let’s evaluate the answer choices.
Answer Choices
A
the chief objective of the tenure system is to produce better quality teachers.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
This option tells us that producing better quality teachers is the main aim of the TS. However, it doesn’t tell us whether TS is able to achieve its aim. If the TS is not able to achieve its aim, it may be counterproductive.
B
tenured professors produce a significant amount of good quality research every year.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
This statement talks about  TPs contribution in good quality research every year. However, there is no link in the argument between quality research and the enhancement in students’ learning.
C
even though tenured professors are generally paid more than non-tenured professors, tenured professors also work for more hours every week.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
This statement compares the salary and working hours of TPs and NTPs. But as we don’t know the impact of working hours on students’ learning, this option doesn’t strengthen the argument.
D
non-tenured professors put in their best efforts in teaching in order to get tenured.
Correct
This option is written along the lines of our pre-thinking linkage. The fact that TS is acting as a motivator and encouraging NTPs shows that the TS is achieving its objective of enhancing student learning.
E
not all tenured professors got a lower rating than their non-tenured counterparts.
Incorrect - Irrelevant
The fact that not everyone from TPs got equal or better rating than NTPs doesn’t help the author’s argument. Also, the author’s already factored in the ratings to raise his/her consideration. Hence, this fact about not all or atleast 1 TP doesn’t help the author draw the given conclusion.
 
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Most Upvoted Answer
Using ratings of more than 15,000 undergraduate students for different...
Argument: The conclusion that the tenure system is counterproductive based on the study that tenured professors don't enhance student learning as much as non-tenured professors do is unwarranted because __________.

Evidence: Ratings of more than 15,000 undergraduate students for different introductory level courses.

Assumption: The tenure system is primarily for enhancing student learning.

To complete the argument, we need to find an option that supports the assumption that the tenure system is not primarily for enhancing student learning.

Option D is the correct answer because it provides an alternative reason for why non-tenured professors might be better teachers than tenured professors. If non-tenured professors put in their best efforts in teaching in order to get tenured, then it is possible that they are more motivated to improve their teaching skills than tenured professors who already have job security.

Option A is incorrect because it contradicts the assumption that the tenure system is primarily for enhancing student learning.

Option B is irrelevant to the argument because it does not address the assumption.

Option C is also irrelevant to the argument because it does not address the assumption.

Option E is also incorrect because it does not address the assumption and only provides a partial counterexample to the conclusion.
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Using ratings of more than 15,000 undergraduate students for different introductory level courses, a recently published paper concludes that tenured professors don’t enhance student learning as much as non-tenured professors do. However, concluding that the tenure system (i.e. giving a professor a contractual right to keep the job for life) is counterproductive is clearly unwarranted since ___________________________________Which of the following, if true, most logically completes the above argument?a)the chief objective of the tenure system is to produce better quality teachers.b)tenured professors produce a significant amount of good quality research every year.c)even though tenured professors are generally paid more than non-tenured professors, tenured professors also work for more hours every week.d)non-tenured professors put in their best efforts in teaching in order to get tenured.e)not all tenured professors got a lower rating than their non-tenured counterparts.Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
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