Traditional salary schedules versus diversified salary schedules

Traditional salary schedules versus diversified salary schedules Order Description You can choose to carry out an interview-based, small-scale research project on the same topic of "Traditional salary schedules versus diversified salary schedules." In such as case, you will read about the pros and cons of each type of salary schedules, prepare interview questions, and get the perceptions of one or two teachers on these two types. Analyze and discuss the findings and provide some recommendations. 221 CHAPTER 11 If you like to argue, you will enjoy writing position papers and argument essays. The purpose of a position paper or argument essay is to explain both sides of a controversy and then argue for one side over the other. This two-sided approach is what makes position papers and argument essays different from commentaries (Chapter 10). A commentary usually only expresses the author’s personal opinion about a current issue or event. A position paper or argument essay explains both sides and discusses why one is stronger or better than the other. Your goal is to fairly explain your side and your opponents’ side of the issue, while highlighting the differences between these opposing views. You need to use solid reasoning and factual evidence to persuade your readers that your view is more valid or advantageous than your opponents’ view. In college, your professors will ask you to write position papers and argument essays to show that you understand both sides of an issue and can support one side or the other. In the workplace, corporate position papers are used to argue for or against business strategies or alternatives. The ability to argue effectively is a useful skill that will help you throughout your life. Position Papers JOHN_7441_CH11_pp221-246.qxd 9/16/09 9:39 AM Page 221 Summary of opponents’ position Limitations of opponents’ position Your understanding of the issue Reasons why your understanding is better than your opponents’ understanding Introduction Conclusion Major point of difference Opponents’ position Your position Major point of difference Opponents’ position Your position Reasons why your understanding is better than your opponents’ understanding Introduction Conclusion ••• Position Papers This diagram shows two basic organizations for a position paper, but other arrangements of these sections will work too. In the pattern on the left, the opponents’ position is described up front with its limitations; then your own position is explained with its strengths. In the pattern on the right, you make a point-by-point comparison, explaining why your position is better than your opponents’. You should alter this organization to fit your topic, angle, purpose, readers, and context. 222 AT–A–GLANCE JOHN_7441_CH11_pp221-246.qxd 9/16/09 9:39 AM Page 222 Overview 223 Overview Arguing is fun, but you need to argue fairly and reasonably if you want to win over your readers. The strongest position papers and argument essays present both sides of an issue as objectively as possible and then persuade readers that one side is superior to the other. They tend to have the following features: • An introduction that states the issue being debated, identifies the issue’s two or more sides, and usually makes an explicit claim (thesis) that the position paper or argument essay will support. • An objective summary of your opponents’ understanding of the issue. • A point-by-point discussion of the limitations of your opponents’ understanding. • A summary of your side’s understanding of the issue. • A point-by-point discussion of why your side’s understanding is superior to your opponents’ understanding. • A conclusion that drives home your main point and looks to the future. This genre tends to be organized two ways, as shown on page 222. With some topics, you may need to show that there are more than two sides to the argument. In these cases, the pattern on the left can be expanded to include summaries and limitations of these other positions. It is best, though, to try to boil the issue down to two major sides. Otherwise, your readers will find it difficult to keep the sides of the argument straight.