The following is part of a memorandum from the president of Humana University.
"Last year the number of students who enrolled in online degree programs offered by nearby Omni University increased by 50 percent. During the same year, Omni showed a significant decrease from prior years in expenditures for dormitory and classroom space, most likely because instruction in the online programs takes place via the Internet. In contrast, over the past three years, enrollment at Humana University has failed to grow, and the cost of maintaining buildings has increased along with our budget deficit. To address these problems, Humana University will begin immediately to create and actively promote online degree programs like those at Omni. We predict that instituting these online degree programs will help Humana both increase its total enrollment and solve its budget problems."
Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the prediction and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the prediction.
The author argues that implementing online degree programs at Humana University will help increase total enrollment and solve budget problems. He has come to this conclusion based on the fifty percent increase of enrollment and consequent decrease in expenditures at Omni University. However, before the author’s predictions can be properly evaluated, three questions must be answered.
First of all, is the success of Omni University a direct consequence of their availability of online degree programs? That is, it is possible that Omni University could have had greater enrollment and decreased expenditures if they did not institute the online programs? Perhaps Omni University is well-known for providing students with high-quality education. It may be that Humana University’s reputation is not as highly regarded and therefore attracts fewer students. If this were the case, students would possibly be more inclined to enroll in Omni rather than Humana University. As a result, implementing online degree programs would not effectively increase enrollment and solve budget problems at Humana University.
Secondly, would the benefits of online degree programs experienced at Omni University apply to Humana University? Perhaps Omni University is located in an area where internet and technology is readily available to students, while those attending Humana University cannot afford a personal computer. It is also possible that Omni University provides online students with a computer for the duration of their program, while Humana University expects students to use their own computers. If any of the above are true, then the author’s argument does not hold water.
Lastly, what are the structural differences between Omni and Humana University’s construction? It is possible that Omni University has spend less on dormitory and classroom expenditures because they initially invested in a greater number of dormitories and larger classrooms, and therefore do not need to renovate. In contrast, the layout of Humana University may be outdated and therefore had to renovate everything. In addition, perhaps Omni University is contracted with a construction company that charges less for better quality builds, whereas Humana Universitiy’s contractor charges more for poor infrastructure; therefore requiring renovations more often.
Evidently, the argument, as it stands now, is considerably flawed due to several unwarranted assumptions. That being said, answering the questions above will allow for a proper analysis of the author’s suggestion and prediction.
Comments
Essay evaluations by e-grader
Grammar and spelling errors:
Line 7, column 136, Rule ID: HAVE_PART_AGREEMENT[1]
Message: Use past participle here: 'spent'.
Suggestion: spent
...It is possible that Omni University has spend less on dormitory and classroom expendi...
^^^^^
Line 7, column 665, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...efore requiring renovations more often. Evidently, the argument, as it stands no...
^^^^^^
Transition Words or Phrases used:
also, first, however, if, lastly, may, second, secondly, so, then, therefore, well, whereas, while, in addition, in contrast, as a result, first of all
Attributes: Values AverageValues Percentages(Values/AverageValues)% => Comments
Performance on Part of Speech:
To be verbs : 20.0 19.6327345309 102% => OK
Auxiliary verbs: 12.0 12.9520958084 93% => OK
Conjunction : 12.0 11.1786427146 107% => OK
Relative clauses : 9.0 13.6137724551 66% => More relative clauses wanted.
Pronoun: 22.0 28.8173652695 76% => OK
Preposition: 38.0 55.5748502994 68% => OK
Nominalization: 15.0 16.3942115768 91% => OK
Performance on vocabulary words:
No of characters: 2216.0 2260.96107784 98% => OK
No of words: 380.0 441.139720559 86% => More content wanted.
Chars per words: 5.83157894737 5.12650576532 114% => OK
Fourth root words length: 4.41515443553 4.56307096286 97% => OK
Word Length SD: 3.16240467431 2.78398813304 114% => OK
Unique words: 200.0 204.123752495 98% => OK
Unique words percentage: 0.526315789474 0.468620217663 112% => OK
syllable_count: 721.8 705.55239521 102% => OK
avg_syllables_per_word: 1.9 1.59920159681 119% => OK
A sentence (or a clause, phrase) starts by:
Pronoun: 7.0 4.96107784431 141% => OK
Article: 3.0 8.76447105788 34% => OK
Subordination: 7.0 2.70958083832 258% => Less adverbial clause wanted.
Conjunction: 1.0 1.67365269461 60% => OK
Preposition: 3.0 4.22255489022 71% => OK
Performance on sentences:
How many sentences: 19.0 19.7664670659 96% => OK
Sentence length: 20.0 22.8473053892 88% => OK
Sentence length SD: 43.916251196 57.8364921388 76% => OK
Chars per sentence: 116.631578947 119.503703932 98% => OK
Words per sentence: 20.0 23.324526521 86% => OK
Discourse Markers: 7.94736842105 5.70786347227 139% => OK
Paragraphs: 5.0 5.15768463074 97% => OK
Language errors: 2.0 5.25449101796 38% => OK
Sentences with positive sentiment : 9.0 8.20758483034 110% => OK
Sentences with negative sentiment : 3.0 6.88822355289 44% => More negative sentences wanted.
Sentences with neutral sentiment: 7.0 4.67664670659 150% => OK
What are sentences with positive/Negative/neutral sentiment?
Coherence and Cohesion:
Essay topic to essay body coherence: 0.339906337022 0.218282227539 156% => OK
Sentence topic coherence: 0.121098918976 0.0743258471296 163% => OK
Sentence topic coherence SD: 0.0805289274353 0.0701772020484 115% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence: 0.190260832509 0.128457276422 148% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence SD: 0.110414917993 0.0628817314937 176% => OK
Essay readability:
automated_readability_index: 16.0 14.3799401198 111% => OK
flesch_reading_ease: 25.8 48.3550499002 53% => Flesch_reading_ease is low.
smog_index: 11.2 7.1628742515 156% => OK
flesch_kincaid_grade: 14.6 12.197005988 120% => OK
coleman_liau_index: 16.53 12.5979740519 131% => OK
dale_chall_readability_score: 9.37 8.32208582834 113% => OK
difficult_words: 114.0 98.500998004 116% => OK
linsear_write_formula: 12.0 12.3882235529 97% => OK
gunning_fog: 10.0 11.1389221557 90% => OK
text_standard: 12.0 11.9071856287 101% => OK
What are above readability scores?
---------------------
Rates: 83.33 out of 100
Scores by essay e-grader: 5.0 Out of 6
---------------------
Note: the e-grader does NOT examine the meaning of words and ideas. VIP users will receive further evaluations by advanced module of e-grader and human graders.
Grammar and spelling errors:
Line 7, column 136, Rule ID: HAVE_PART_AGREEMENT[1]
Message: Use past participle here: 'spent'.
Suggestion: spent
...It is possible that Omni University has spend less on dormitory and classroom expendi...
^^^^^
Line 7, column 665, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...efore requiring renovations more often. Evidently, the argument, as it stands no...
^^^^^^
Transition Words or Phrases used:
also, first, however, if, lastly, may, second, secondly, so, then, therefore, well, whereas, while, in addition, in contrast, as a result, first of all
Attributes: Values AverageValues Percentages(Values/AverageValues)% => Comments
Performance on Part of Speech:
To be verbs : 20.0 19.6327345309 102% => OK
Auxiliary verbs: 12.0 12.9520958084 93% => OK
Conjunction : 12.0 11.1786427146 107% => OK
Relative clauses : 9.0 13.6137724551 66% => More relative clauses wanted.
Pronoun: 22.0 28.8173652695 76% => OK
Preposition: 38.0 55.5748502994 68% => OK
Nominalization: 15.0 16.3942115768 91% => OK
Performance on vocabulary words:
No of characters: 2216.0 2260.96107784 98% => OK
No of words: 380.0 441.139720559 86% => More content wanted.
Chars per words: 5.83157894737 5.12650576532 114% => OK
Fourth root words length: 4.41515443553 4.56307096286 97% => OK
Word Length SD: 3.16240467431 2.78398813304 114% => OK
Unique words: 200.0 204.123752495 98% => OK
Unique words percentage: 0.526315789474 0.468620217663 112% => OK
syllable_count: 721.8 705.55239521 102% => OK
avg_syllables_per_word: 1.9 1.59920159681 119% => OK
A sentence (or a clause, phrase) starts by:
Pronoun: 7.0 4.96107784431 141% => OK
Article: 3.0 8.76447105788 34% => OK
Subordination: 7.0 2.70958083832 258% => Less adverbial clause wanted.
Conjunction: 1.0 1.67365269461 60% => OK
Preposition: 3.0 4.22255489022 71% => OK
Performance on sentences:
How many sentences: 19.0 19.7664670659 96% => OK
Sentence length: 20.0 22.8473053892 88% => OK
Sentence length SD: 43.916251196 57.8364921388 76% => OK
Chars per sentence: 116.631578947 119.503703932 98% => OK
Words per sentence: 20.0 23.324526521 86% => OK
Discourse Markers: 7.94736842105 5.70786347227 139% => OK
Paragraphs: 5.0 5.15768463074 97% => OK
Language errors: 2.0 5.25449101796 38% => OK
Sentences with positive sentiment : 9.0 8.20758483034 110% => OK
Sentences with negative sentiment : 3.0 6.88822355289 44% => More negative sentences wanted.
Sentences with neutral sentiment: 7.0 4.67664670659 150% => OK
What are sentences with positive/Negative/neutral sentiment?
Coherence and Cohesion:
Essay topic to essay body coherence: 0.339906337022 0.218282227539 156% => OK
Sentence topic coherence: 0.121098918976 0.0743258471296 163% => OK
Sentence topic coherence SD: 0.0805289274353 0.0701772020484 115% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence: 0.190260832509 0.128457276422 148% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence SD: 0.110414917993 0.0628817314937 176% => OK
Essay readability:
automated_readability_index: 16.0 14.3799401198 111% => OK
flesch_reading_ease: 25.8 48.3550499002 53% => Flesch_reading_ease is low.
smog_index: 11.2 7.1628742515 156% => OK
flesch_kincaid_grade: 14.6 12.197005988 120% => OK
coleman_liau_index: 16.53 12.5979740519 131% => OK
dale_chall_readability_score: 9.37 8.32208582834 113% => OK
difficult_words: 114.0 98.500998004 116% => OK
linsear_write_formula: 12.0 12.3882235529 97% => OK
gunning_fog: 10.0 11.1389221557 90% => OK
text_standard: 12.0 11.9071856287 101% => OK
What are above readability scores?
---------------------
Rates: 83.33 out of 100
Scores by essay e-grader: 5.0 Out of 6
---------------------
Note: the e-grader does NOT examine the meaning of words and ideas. VIP users will receive further evaluations by advanced module of e-grader and human graders.