The Personal Attack: The Logical Fallacy of Argumentum

The term â€Å"ad hominem† is a Latin phrase that translates to â€Å"against the man† (â€Å"Ad hominem†).   It is one of several logical fallacies that may appear (intentionally or otherwise) in the rhetorical mode of writing or speaking known as Argument.   The use of the ad hominem indicates that an argument (or counter-argument) is focusing not on the issue or cause, but on the issue’s presenter, and it generally takes the form of a personal attack of the presenter’s character (â€Å"Introduction to Ad Hominem Fallacies†). The soundest ad hominem attacks are made up of two steps.   The first step is to discredit the speaker/presenter/sponsor, and the second step is to imply that because the speaker/presenter/sponsor is a â€Å"bad† person, the issue or cause must be bad as well (â€Å"Introduction to Ad Hominem Fallacies†). For example, prior to the last local election, I attended a debate between two city council candidates regarding a public school bond measure.   Having read about the issue, I was aware that the facts proved the bond’s cost would far outweigh the anticipated minimal benefits—benefits that had not been shown to occur in similar communities.   I had seen no evidence to support any logical argument to encourage citizen’s to support the bond issue, so I was not surprised when one candidate turned the factual debate into a personal attack of his opponent. The argument: that his opponent had no school-aged children and because of this, his opponent has no vested interest in the success or failure of the community’s public school system. Obviously the candidate who was attacking his opponent (via the ad hominem) hoped that people would equate his opponent’s lacking school-aged children with an inability to assess a public school bond issue properly. The logical counter to this fallacious argument would be to return the focus to the facts: if  passed, would the school bond result in improvements or would it not?   If passed, would the  costs of the school bond be worth the benefits or not?   I would quickly point out that whether or  not one has children has no bearing on one’s ability to assess the fiscal impact of a set of facts,  and I would add to that, that if this were a logical supposition, that only those who had children  should be allowed to vote on the bond issue as obviously only those with children have  the capacity to make a sound decision in this area. References Ad hominem.   (2000).   In The American heritage dictionary of the English language (4th ed.).   Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Introduction to ad hominem fallacies.   (n.d.).   Mission Critical.   Retrieved October 17, 2006, from http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/graphics/adhom/adhom.html

Are you being paid a fair salary

Are you being paid a fair salary Here’s a question that will inevitably come up at some point (or several points) during your professional journey: Am I being paid what I’m worth? It’s a fair question- and one you should be comfortable with asking yourself whenever you do a â€Å"status check† while traveling along your career path. Why? Well, the truth is, in today’s ultra-competitive job market, employers in any given industry can offer a wide range of salaries for positions, and it’s absolutely within your best interests to know what end of the salary spectrum you’re on.Of course, many variables will come into play when you’re given a salary offer at the time of hire for a position (things like geographic location, years of experience, and even the relative financial health of the company can factor in), but one thing that’s true for employees across fields, positions, and locations is that the salary you agree to for a position can have a real impact on your long-term earning potential- both at your current position and company and for future positions, either there or at a new company. Many companies base things like salary offers and even raises and bonuses on your prior earning history, and if your salary is below the industry average for your position and experience, it may take years before you’re able to catchup to other, better compensated colleagues.   Taking into account the time and effort most of us put into our professional lives, it’s obviously important to ensure that you’re getting paid a fair salary for the work you do and contributions you make to your employer. And you can’t have faith that your employer is staying on top of what’s fair. In the tricky world of salary negotiations, you’re often going to be your own best advocate towards ensuring that you’re being compensated fairly.Hopefully, it’s now clear why educating yourself about compensation stand ards, practices, and trends in your industry is a valuable use of your time. Consider using the following strategies to help you determine if you’re being paid a reasonable salary.Steps to take to ensure your salary is what you deserveResearchYou don’t need us to tell you that the Internet is often your best friend when you’re in need of doing some research on a subject. When it comes to gathering salary info, it’s an invaluable tool as well. In fact, there are sites that are practically dedicated to this- check out Salary.com’s salary calculator tool or Glassdoor to determine what other folks in your field and position typically make.In addition, professional associations in your field may openly share important information like average salary and compensation to help you figure out where you’re at relative to your peers. Many professionals across industries maintain blogs that are designed to create supportive communities and share key inf ormation with their colleagues- use these to your advantage and feel empowered to ask questions as needed.Utilize your HR departmentRemember, your company’s HR department is there to support you with all sorts of issues that come up during your professional tenure. If you have questions or concerns regarding compensation, these are often good places to start. And if they don’t have all the answers you’re looking for, if they’re good at their jobs they’ll be able to direct you where to go for next steps.Check yourselfDon’t forget that the issue of professional satisfaction, which includes being content with your current salary, is highly personal- what makes you feel satisfied and fulfilled and meets your life needs will be different than anyone else. Therefore, a strong source to determine if you’re being paid reasonably is yourself. Look within, do a personal inventory, and try to assess whether or not you feel as if you’re cu rrently in a good place salary-wise. Regardless of what others in similar positions make, if you feel content with where you’re at, take that into consideration when deciding whether you’re compensated fairly.What not to doSalary issues can be highly emotional. If you feel as if you’re underpaid, it may set you off on a charged and volatile footing. That’s never a good place to operate from when it comes to issues involving your career. Be sure to keep your emotions in check when addressing compensation matters with your company. Also, avoid discussing salaries with your coworkers- many companies frown upon this, and it can also lead to animosity if there are clear disparities.One last thing to avoid- avoid ignoring the issue. If you feel unsatisfied or unclear regarding your compensation, simply ignoring it will undoubtedly lead to ongoing negative results. Take proactive steps to ensure that you’re a valued and fairly compensated member of your o rganization, and both you and your company will benefit from it.

Interrupting Conversations in English

Interrupting Conversations in English Interrupting a discussion can seem impolite, but is often necessary for a number of reasons. For example, you might interrupt a conversation to: Give a message to someoneAsk a quick question that has nothing to do with the conversationGive your opinion about something that has been saidInterrupt to join the conversation Here are forms and phrases used to interrupt conversations and meetings arranged by purpose. Interrupting to Give Someone Information Use these short forms to quickly and efficiently interrupt a conversation to deliver a message. Im sorry to interrupt but youre needed (on the phone / in the office / in the classroom / etc.)Sorry for the interruption. Its Jim / Peter / Mary on the phone.Pardon me, but I have John on the phone.Excuse me, could I get a signature / an answer / a cup of coffee quickly? Interrupting to Ask a Quick Unrelated Question At times we need to interrupt to ask an unrelated question. These short phrases quickly interrupt to ask for something else. Im sorry to interrupt, but this will only take a minute.Sorry for the interruption, but could you (answer a quick question / help me for a moment / give me an opinion on ...)?Im so sorry. This will just take a minute.I apologize for the interruption, but I have an important question. Interrupting to Join the Conversation With a Question Using questions are a polite way of interrupting. Here are some of the most common questions we ask in order to be allowed to join the conversation. Could I jump in?Could I add something?Can I say something?May I interject? Interrupting to Join the Conversation During a conversation we might need to interrupt the conversation if we are not asked for our opinion. In this case, these phrases will help. Would you mind if I joined the conversation?I couldnt help overhearing. (Use when listening to a conversation that you are not a part of)Sorry to butt in, but I think / feel ...If I may, I think / feel ... Interrupting Someone Who Has Interrupted You Sometimes we dont want to allow an interruption. In this case, use the following phrases to bring the conversation back to your point of view. Please let me finish.Let me complete my thought.Would you please let me finish?Can I continue, please? Allowing an Interruption If you want to allow an interruption, use one of these short phrases to allow the person to ask a question, express an opinion, etc.   No problem. Go ahead.Sure, what do you think?Thats OK. What do you need / want? Continuing After an Interruption Once youve been interrupted you can continue your point after the interruption by using one of these phrases. As I was saying, I think / feel ...To get back to what I was saying, I think / feel ...Id like to return to my argument.Continuing where I left off... Example Dialogue Example 1: Interrupting for Something Else Helen: ... its really amazing how beautiful Hawaii is. I mean, you couldnt think of anywhere more beautiful. Anna: Excuse me, but Tom is on the phone. Helen: Thanks Anna. This will only take a moment. Anna: Can I bring you some coffee while she takes the call? George: No thanks. Im fine. Anna: Shell be just a moment.    Example 2: Interrupting to Join the Conversation Marko: If we continue to improve our sales in Europe we should be able to open new branches. Stan: Could I add something? Marko: Of course, go ahead. Stan: Thanks Marko. I think we should open new branches in any case. If we improve sales great, but if we dont we still need to open stores. Marko: Thank you Stan. As I was saying, if we improve sales we can afford to open new branches.

An Annotated Bibliography Essay Example for Free

An Annotated Bibliography Essay Chin, Jean Lau. (2004). The Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group This book discusses the effects of prejudice and discrimination on the psyche and one’s participation in society as a whole. The relevant section in this book discusses the unique plight of gay or bisexual black men that have to contend with homophobia as well as racism. Of special note is the section in which sexual orientation often has a negative effect on the career development of many gay black men. This is an interesting resource since most of the material on the subject does not address the secondary sub-category of sexual orientation (Chin, 2004). Daniels, C. (2004). Black Power Inc. : The New Voice of Success. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons C. Daniel’s Black Power Inc. is a book of medium length that explores the phenomenon of black people placing a growing emphasis on economic rather than political power. The book is geared toward young to middle-aged black professional men and women, who are Working While Black (WWB). C. Daniels writes for Fortune magazine with an extensive history in writing about the social dynamics inherent in big business—especially as it relates to the unique issues black men and women face in the corporate world (Daniels, 2004). Davis, G. & Watson, G. (1982). Black Life in Corporate America: Swimming in the Mainstream. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press Although written twenty-seven years ago, this account by Davis & Watson (1982) is still relevant in chronicling the early stages of Black integration into corporate American life. The book describes the upstream struggles of educated black professionals as they attempt to make a living commensurate with their skills. While also observing the lesser tolerance of open bigotry in the workplace, certain â€Å"jokes† and comments are often alienating to black men (Davis & Watson, 1982). Gates, Henry Louis. America behind the Color Line. New York: Warner Books, 2004 This book contains interviews from several powerful African-American men including Russell Simmons, Quincy Jones, Vernon Jordan, Colin Powell and Morgan Freeman. Written by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. , one of the premier scholars of African-American studies today. This book shows the diversity of successful Black men from the corporate and political arenas to the performing arts and community activism, and discusses triumphs and challenges. A very good read for anyone studying black achievement (Gates, 2004). Livers, A. & Caver, K. A. (2002). Leading in Black and White: Working across the Racial Divide in Corporate America. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons This book by Livers & Caver (2002) describes the challenges faced by Blacks who occupy a higher level on the corporate ladder (i. e. managerial positions). They challenge the popular assumption that black leaders have the same issues as white leaders, and underscore the problems of trust many black men have with their white colleagues because of lack of common experiences. This book was intended for black managers that need help in continuing to navigate the system (Livers & Carver, 2002). Merida, K. (2007). Being a Black Man: At the Corner of Progress and Peril. Washington: Public Affairs This is a collection of essays about the personal and professional struggles of black men in America. Many points of view deal with identity intersections of different roles—husband, father, employee, and businessman—as well as dreams and ambitions. This book generated a great deal of interest in the reading public as it offers a personal glimpse of the realities of black life. K. Merida is a reporter for the Washington Post, and was thus able to use his credentials to find many contributors to this volume (Merida, 2007). Van Horne, W. A. (2007). The Concept of Black Power: Its Continued Relevance. Journal of Black Studies, 37(3), 365-389 This is a study of the growth of Black Power in America as the middle-class grows slowly and quietly. Even though over time, black people have gained more civil rights in America, there is still a significant lag between them and the white majority. However, W. A. Van Horne notes that the black underclass often overshadows the slow, but inexorable growth of the black middle class. He also raises questions of whether the black power movement is still relevant (Van Horne, 2007). An Annotated Bibliography. (2016, Aug 04).

Develop an evaluation form that includes 7 objective criteria to Essay

Develop an evaluation form that includes 7 objective criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed plan (regarding nursing shortage) - Essay Example After communication, the evaluation form would be distributed to personnel who would be deemed most appropriate to respond. The distribution of evaluation forms would be done the day after the monthly meeting. Collection of the responses would be undertaken the day after these evaluations forms are distributed. The data would be interpreted through collation and tallying, according to nursing units. The findings would be communicated by the assigned nurse manager to the department heads. The department heads would assign one department manager to integrate the findings for subsequent report to the vice president of nursing. Any weaknesses in the evaluation form could be identified and corrections would be recommended. The final report would be submitted to the board of directors for their review. After the board has reviewed the findings from the evaluation form and report, the results, recommendations, and conclusion would be disseminated to the involved personnel in the next scheduled monthly meeting. Health practitioners and nurses could therefore communicate any methods of improvement in achieving the identified objectives; as well as in suggesting any improvements in the evaluation process, as deemed necessary. Education Career Articles. (2014). The Latest Statistics on Nursing Shortage. Retrieved from educationcareerarticles.com:

Deficiency in the Neo-Classical Labour Market Model and Possible Essay

Deficiency in the Neo-Classical Labour Market Model and Possible Solution - Essay Example Neo-Classical theorists argue that households are suppliers of labour, and that they are rational in seeking to maximize their usefulness in return for payment. In the Neo-Classical model this usefulness are determined by the choice of workers between work and leisure, which is also constrained by the available hours per day. The graph below gives indication of a workers choice of allocating time between work and leisure. Point A in graph 1 gives an indication of what a worker's usefulness may be with the choice he makes between work and leisure. However, this graph will be influenced by other variables as well, such as the wage rate and the cost of living. If for example the wage rate rises, workers will forgo more of their leisure time and increase working hours to earn more. On the graph point W1 shift to W2 when wages increase, and this leisure time decrease to point L2, as less time is available due to more time being spend at work. The marginal revenue product of labour can be used as the demand for labour curve for this firm in the short run. In competitive markets, a firm faces a perfectly elastic supply of labour which corresponds with the wage rate and the marginal resource cost of labour. In a inperfect market this curve will have to be adjusted to reflect the wage rate divided by marginal costs. Graph 3: Labour Market Demand Curve In a perfect world the supply and demand curve would have adjusted to the optimal equilibrium point through market influences alone. The amount of workers in the market would compete on the same level for the available jobs and the wages firms will be willing to pay for labour. But due to facts such as unions, automation, economical sentiment, the actual productivity of workers and continuous unemployment rate the Neo-Classical method is insufficient to predict how the labour market behaves in reality. Theorist argues that one of the reasons the Neo-Classical method is not working is due to the fact that employees already in the market are protected and those that is outside the market, the unemployed or those looking for alternative work cannot compete on the same level with the employed. This is called the inside/outside theory, and according to Blanchard and Summers (1986, 1987) when an employment shock takes place, and workers loose their jobs, they not only become un-employed but loose their protection from the real market, such as their union membership.1 This prevents the labour market's rapid return to pre-shock employment levels. This theory is supported by Lindbeck and Snower (1988, 2001) as they argue that the cost to Firms in replacing their employees with un-employed will dramatically increase their turn-over cost. Turn-over cost includes hiring, training and firing cost, making it unprofitable for firms to employ outsiders. They also continue by arguing that newly employed workers have to go through several stages before they are accepted as insiders. Layard et al (1991), identified that workers that became unemployed and stayed unemployed for long will

Obesity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Obesity - Essay Example Obesity is a serious illness that has been spreading fast. It can even strike people who are not predisposed to it, primarily because of the influence of the modern civilization - above all, the development of technologies that diminish the amount of physical movements for people and, of course, the spread of fast-food that is a source of extra calories and a reason for multiple maladies, of which obesity is the most common one. (Leake, J. and Porter, A., 2003) Bulimia is considered nowadays an addiction, and the most widespread addiction is the addiction to sugar. As a result, more than half citizens of the USA and Canada are overweight, and though doctors warn people how harmful it is for health, there is still a flow of commercials and advertisements propagating "eating non-stop" as the best way of life. Many doctors and dieticians believe that certain kinds of food can cause a stable addiction (chocolate, sugar, meat, and cheese) since they make our brain produce the substances that evoke the sensation of happiness: "foods which are high in fat and sugar can cause significant changes in brain biochemistry similar to those from drugs such as heroin and cocaine". (Leake, J.