GMAT考试写作指导：Argument范文四七

　　23. This speaker draws the conclusion that there is no need to substantially increase

　　funding for Einstein High School. To support this conclusion, the speaker claims that

　　Einstein has improved its educational efficiency over the past 20 years, even though

　　funding level s have remained relatively constant. His evidence is that two-thirds of

　　Einsteins graduates now go on to college, whereas 20 years ago only half of its students

　　did so. This argument suffers from several critical problems.

　　To begin with, we must establish the meaning of the vague concept educational

　　efficiency. If the term is synonymous with the rate of graduation to college, then the

　　statistics cited would strongly support the argument. But, normally we are interested in

　　something more than just the numbers of students who go on to college from a high

　　school; we also want to know how well the school has prepared students for a

　　successful college experience―that is, whether the school has provided a good

　　secondary education. Thus, for the speaker the term educational efficiency must

　　essentially carry the same meaning as educational quality.

　　Given this clarification, one of the speakers assumptions is that the rate of

　　graduation to college has increased because Einstein is doing a better job of educating

　　its students. However, the fact that more Einstein graduates now go on to college might

　　simply reflect a general trend. And the general trend might have less to do with

　　improved secondary education than with the reality that a college degree is now the

　　standard of entry into most desirable jobs.

　　But even if the quality of education at Einstein had improved, would this be a

　　compelling reason to deny Einstein additional funding? I dont think so. It is possible

　　that the school has managed to deliver better education in spite of meager funding.

　　Teachers may be dipping into their own pockets for supplies and other resources

　　necessary for doing their job well. Perhaps the quality of education at Einstein would

　　improve even more with additional financial support.

　　In sum, this argument does not establish the conclusion that additional funding for

　　Einstein is unnecessary. To do so, the speaker would have to provide evidence that the

　　quality of education at Einstein has improved. This could be done by examining student

　　assessment scores or by tracking students through their college careers to see how many

　　successfully graduate and find jobs. In addition, the speaker would also have to show

　　that Einstein is doing a good job with adequate financial support, and not merely in

　　spite of insufficient funding.