The following appeared in an article in a college departmental newsletter: “Professor Taylor of Jones University is promoting a model of foreign language instruction in which students receive 10 weeks of intensive training, then go abroad to live with families for 10 weeks. The superiority of the model, Professor Taylor contends, is proved by the results of a study in which foreign language tests given to students at 25 other colleges show that first-year foreign language students at Jones speak more fluently after only 10 to 20 weeks in the program than do nine out of 10 foreign language majors elsewhere at the time of their graduation.”

The following appeared in an article in a college departmental newsletter:

“Professor Taylor of Jones University is promoting a model of foreign language instruction in which students receive 10 weeks of intensive training, then go abroad to live with families for 10 weeks. The superiority of the model, Professor Taylor contends, is proved by the results of a study in which foreign language tests given to students at 25 other colleges show that first-year foreign language students at Jones speak more fluently after only 10 to 20 weeks in the program than do nine out of 10 foreign language majors elsewhere at the time of their graduation.”

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of 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 refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.

Professor Taylor has put forth an impressive argument in his newsletter. He states that he has studied and evaluated the methods of foreign language instruction at 25 other colleges and universities, and that Jones students receive superior training. After considerable research, he has concluded that Jones students achieve more fluency in a foreign language in less time than do other students at other institutions. The reasoning behind his claim is lacking in critical thought and making assumptions that weaken his logic

First, Professor Taylor assumes that students at Jones University receive better training than students at other institutions. He contends that Jones students achieve more fluency in a foreign language in less time than do other students at other institutions. If this is true, then other colleges should be replicating the Jones method of instruction. Yet he does not provide any evidence to support this claim. Moreover, he does not state what criteria he uses to grade the programs at each college. Thus, it is difficult to evaluate his claim that students gain greater fluency in a foreign language at Jones. If Jones students receive better training, then other colleges should evaluate their teaching methods and adopt the ones that result in greater fluency. Professor Taylor fails to make such a comparison. Second, he assumes that the Jones method is superior to the methods used by other schools. He also does not present any evidence that he conducted an experiment to compare the two programs. Thus, his assertion is not based on empirical data. Instead, it is based solely on his opinion. Finally, Professor Taylor makes the assumption that students gain greater fluency in a foreign language after only 10 to 20 weeks than the nine out of 10 students elsewhere. Again, his evidence is flimsy. He does not present any statistics or research to support his claim. Thus, his argument is flawed

Professor Taylor has put a great deal of effort into his argument. He has taken the time to study the programs at 25 colleges and universities, and to evaluate the results. He concludes that the Jones method of instruction is superior to similar programs at other colleges. However, his logic is flawed. He does not offer any evidence to support his conclusions. If he had presented some statistical evidence to support his claims, then his argument would be much stronger. Instead, he merely asserts his conclusions. Unfortunately, many college instructors, especially those in the social sciences, make their assertions without providing any evidence to support their claims. While professors are not expected to know everything, they should at least be able to back up their arguments.