Manned space flight is costly and dangerous. Moreover, the recent success of a series of unmanned space probes and satellites has demonstrated that a great deal of useful information can be gathered without the costs and risks associated with sending men and women into space. Therefore, we should invest our resources in unmanned space flight."
Write a response in which you examine the stated and/or unstated assumptions of the argument. Be sure to explain how the argument depends on these assumptions and what the implications are for the argument if the assumptions prove unwarranted.
The letter to the editor postulates that US resources should be invested in unmanned rather than manned space flight. This is based entirely on the idea that a) manned missions are expensive and dangerous, and b) unmanned vehicles are able to gather a lot of information. However, the writer does not consider the quality and type of information being gathered. He or she assumes that the difference in costs is more important than the value of the mission. Acting on such assumptions could permanently limit comprehension of our universe.
A "great deal of useful information" is a vague claim on the value of unmanned space probes and satellites. The writer should consider the types of intelligence that probes and satellites can obtain. Rather than the greater solar system, these devices are often used as surveillance for conditions of the planet Earth. Additionally, once these devices are released into the atmosphere, they cannot be reclaimed. Thus, gathering samples of soils, gases and other matter is not possible. On the first mission into outer space, American astronauts visited the moon and touched its surface. Certain observations and judgements about the conditions of the environment could not have been made with unmanned crafts. They are also able to problem-solve in experiments in a way that artificial intelligence would not have the capacity for. As with so many technology advances - such as optimization software in transportation design - machines can develop infinite amounts of data, but subjective, human interpretation must still be made. Sometimes this is most effectively done live, in person.
Secondarily, the writer assumes that the risk level of human space travel is not worth the value of the information obtained. In the past, astronauts have experienced and reported about the physical conditions of zero-gravity environments, and about how time-passage is experienced in such an environment. Such information is critical, given that humans have considered habitation on planets other than Earth. In fact, such considerations are impossible without it. A large challenge requires a large investment. The fact that many more astronauts desire to travel to space than are permitted, regardless of the risk, is an indicator of consensus of this.
If the letter-writer's explication is to be followed, human knowledge of our environment and activities would be permanently limited. For example, humans might still believe the Earth is flat, if ocean travel had been considered too dangerous to be undertaken. If science had not invested in experimenting with physical construction capacity, skyscrappers would never have been built. This would have a huge impact on how urbanization and human settlement has developed in the last few centuries. Vaccines and cures for disease must ultimately be tested on humans, despite the hazard, if they are to be developed successfully. Again, experts in the field demonstrate their support for taking their risk. Epidemiologists knowingly put themselves in harm's way by taking uncertain treatments on themselves.
The writer should consider the type and quality of information being obtained by manned and unmanned vessels. Prior to jumping to conclusions, we must know more about what information can be gathered by manned and unmanned vehicles. This should be juxtaposed by what information is needed and how it can be used. Lastly, she or he should also consider the value of the risk and the cost. Ultimately, the stakes for humankind may be too critical to assume that money and safety are more important.
Comments
e-rater score report
Attribute Value Ideal
Final score: 3.5 out of 6
Category: Satisfactory Excellent
No. of Grammatical Errors: 0 2
No. of Spelling Errors: 0 2
No. of Sentences: 8 15
No. of Words: 398 350
No. of Characters: 2086 1500
No. of Different Words: 200 200
Fourth Root of Number of Words: 4.467 4.7
Average Word Length: 5.241 4.6
Word Length SD: 2.994 2.4
No. of Words greater than 5 chars: 144 100
No. of Words greater than 6 chars: 114 80
No. of Words greater than 7 chars: 92 40
No. of Words greater than 8 chars: 65 20
Use of Passive Voice (%): 0 0
Avg. Sentence Length: 49.75 21.0
Sentence Length SD: 31.084 7.5
Use of Discourse Markers (%): 0.75 0.12
Sentence-Text Coherence: 0.398 0.35
Sentence-Para Coherence: 0.718 0.50
Sentence-Sentence Coherence: 0.093 0.07
Number of Paragraphs: 5 5
I added 160 more words, 4…
I added 160 more words, 4 more examples, and edited for more relative clauses, but my score came in the same. I don't get it.
Grammar and spelling errors:
Line 1, column 118, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...nmanned rather than manned space flight. This is based entirely on the idea that ...
^^
Line 1, column 218, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...are able to gather a lot of information. However, the writer does not consider th...
^^
Line 1, column 309, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
... and type of information being gathered. He or she assumes that the difference in...
^^
Line 1, column 404, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
... comperable to the value of the mission. Such assumptions could permanently limit...
^^
Line 1, column 491, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...knowledge of our world and solar system. A 'great deal of useful information...
^^^^^^
Line 3, column 1, Rule ID: EN_A_VS_AN
Message: Use 'An' instead of 'A' if the following word starts with a vowel sound, e.g. 'an article', 'an hour'
Suggestion: An
...dge of our world and solar system. A 'great deal of useful information&...
^
Line 3, column 118, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...of unmanned space probes and satellites. The writer should consider the types of ...
^^
Line 3, column 211, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...e that probes and satellites can obtain. Often these devices are used as surveill...
^^
Line 3, column 331, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...h, rather than the greater solar system. Additionally, once these devices are rel...
^^
Line 3, column 425, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...he atmosphere, they cannot be reclaimed. On the first mission into outer space, A...
^^
Line 3, column 527, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...isited the moon and touched its surface. Certain observations and judgements abou...
^^
Line 3, column 651, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...not have been made with unmanned crafts. They are also able to problem-solve in e...
^^
Line 3, column 719, Rule ID: EN_A_VS_AN
Message: Use 'an' instead of 'a' if the following word starts with a vowel sound, e.g. 'an article', 'an hour'
Suggestion: an
...lem-solve in experiements in a way that a artificial intelligence would not have ...
^
Line 3, column 777, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...ligence would not have the capacity for. Secondarily, the writer assumes that the...
^^^^^
Line 5, column 126, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...h the value of the information obtained. In the past, astronauts have experienced...
^^
Line 5, column 411, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...han Earth, such information is critical. In fact, such considerations are impossi...
^^
Line 5, column 468, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...onsiderations are impossible without it. A large challenge requires a large inves...
^^
Line 5, column 516, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...e challenge requires a large investment. If the letter-writers conclusion is to b...
^^^^^
Line 7, column 132, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...activities would be permanently limited. For example, if ocean travel had been co...
^^
Line 7, column 260, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...s might still believe the Earth is flat. Additionally, if science had not investe...
^^
Line 7, column 377, Rule ID: ADVERB_WORD_ORDER[7]
Message: The adverb 'never' is usually put between 'have' and 'been'.
Suggestion: have never been
...nstruction capacity, skyscrappers would never have been built. This would have a huge impact o...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Line 7, column 399, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...kyscrappers would never have been built. This would have a huge impact on how urb...
^^
Line 7, column 512, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...has developed in the last few centuries. The writer should consider the type and ...
^^^^^^
Line 9, column 110, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...obtained by manned and unmanned vessels. She or he should also consider the value...
^^
Line 9, column 263, Rule ID: WHITESPACE_RULE
Message: Possible typo: you repeated a whitespace
Suggestion:
...nd without undertaking such investments.
^^
Transition Words or Phrases used:
also, first, however, if, second, so, still, for example, in fact, such as
Attributes: Values AverageValues Percentages(Values/AverageValues)% => Comments
Performance on Part of Speech:
To be verbs : 24.0 19.6327345309 122% => OK
Auxiliary verbs: 13.0 12.9520958084 100% => OK
Conjunction : 16.0 11.1786427146 143% => OK
Relative clauses : 7.0 13.6137724551 51% => More relative clauses wanted.
Pronoun: 23.0 28.8173652695 80% => OK
Preposition: 47.0 55.5748502994 85% => OK
Nominalization: 18.0 16.3942115768 110% => OK
Performance on vocabulary words:
No of characters: 2234.0 2260.96107784 99% => OK
No of words: 386.0 441.139720559 88% => More content wanted.
Chars per words: 5.78756476684 5.12650576532 113% => OK
Fourth root words length: 4.43248042346 4.56307096286 97% => OK
Word Length SD: 3.70866481951 2.78398813304 133% => OK
Unique words: 201.0 204.123752495 98% => OK
Unique words percentage: 0.520725388601 0.468620217663 111% => OK
syllable_count: 685.8 705.55239521 97% => OK
avg_syllables_per_word: 1.8 1.59920159681 113% => OK
A sentence (or a clause, phrase) starts by:
Pronoun: 1.0 4.96107784431 20% => OK
Article: 5.0 8.76447105788 57% => OK
Subordination: 3.0 2.70958083832 111% => OK
Conjunction: 2.0 1.67365269461 119% => OK
Preposition: 0.0 4.22255489022 0% => More preposition wanted as sentence beginning.
Performance on sentences:
How many sentences: 1.0 19.7664670659 5% => Need more sentences. Double check the format of sentences, make sure there is a space between two sentences, or have enough periods. And also check the lengths of sentences, maybe they are too long.
Sentence length: 386.0 22.8473053892 1689% => The Avg. Sentence Length is relatively long.
Sentence length SD: 0.0 57.8364921388 0% => The essay contains lots of sentences with the similar length. More sentence varieties wanted.
Chars per sentence: 2234.0 119.503703932 1869% => Less chars_per_sentence wanted.
Words per sentence: 386.0 23.324526521 1655% => Less words per sentence wanted.
Discourse Markers: 74.0 5.70786347227 1296% => Less transition words/phrases wanted.
Paragraphs: 5.0 5.15768463074 97% => OK
Language errors: 25.0 5.25449101796 476% => Less language errors wanted.
Sentences with positive sentiment : 1.0 8.20758483034 12% => More positive sentences wanted.
Sentences with negative sentiment : 0.0 6.88822355289 0% => More negative sentences wanted.
Sentences with neutral sentiment: 0.0 4.67664670659 0% => More facts, knowledge or examples wanted.
What are sentences with positive/Negative/neutral sentiment?
Coherence and Cohesion:
Essay topic to essay body coherence: 0.101019484492 0.218282227539 46% => OK
Sentence topic coherence: 0.101019484492 0.0743258471296 136% => OK
Sentence topic coherence SD: 0.0 0.0701772020484 0% => Sentences are similar to each other.
Paragraph topic coherence: 0.0596351054958 0.128457276422 46% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence SD: 0.0331097688302 0.0628817314937 53% => OK
Essay readability:
automated_readability_index: 198.8 14.3799401198 1382% => Automated_readability_index is high.
flesch_reading_ease: -337.23 48.3550499002 -697% => Flesch_reading_ease is low.
smog_index: 0.0 7.1628742515 0% => Smog_index is low.
flesch_kincaid_grade: 156.2 12.197005988 1281% => Flesch kincaid grade is high.
coleman_liau_index: 17.78 12.5979740519 141% => OK
dale_chall_readability_score: 27.04 8.32208582834 325% => Dale chall readability score is high.
difficult_words: 104.0 98.500998004 106% => OK
linsear_write_formula: 59.0 12.3882235529 476% => Linsear_write_formula is high.
gunning_fog: 156.4 11.1389221557 1404% => Gunning_fog is high.
text_standard: 157.0 11.9071856287 1319% => The average readability is very high. Good job!
What are above readability scores?
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Rates: 66.67 out of 100
Scores by essay e-grader: 4.0 Out of 6
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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.