Conflicting Viewpoints

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Often, writers try to anticipate their readers' differing viewpoints. They write an essay or article expressing their opinion while addressing some of the differing viewpoints that others may have.

• Why would an author present an opinion that's contrary to their own?

Providing opposing arguments shows that the author has really considered the issue and understands both sides' viewpoints.

When you're reading, it's important to recognize the author's point of view and analyze any opposing arguments he/she may provide. In this lesson, you'll read several opinion articles and determine the author's viewpoint as well as analyze how they deal with opposing arguments.

The first article deals with how teachers should be paid.

• Should they earn a fixed salary, regardless of how well they teach?
• Or should their pay be based on how well they do their jobs?

Read the passage below and consider how the author presents arguments for both sides.

Many people believe that our schools could be improved if we paid our teachers based on their performance. They argue that teachers should have to meet goals, as many other professionals do. It might motivate underperforming teachers to work harder and do better.

Often, teachers will take a second job to supplement their income. With performance-based pay, they could make more money without working extra hours. This would benefit both teachers and students, as students would get a better education.

Friendly competition among teachers would also increase under performance-based pay. As they will receive more money when their students' grades improve, teachers will invest more time and effort into the art of teaching to try to be the best and even to do better than their peers.

Performance-based pay would also benefit principals. If teachers didn't perform well, principals could replace them. Of course, teacher unions would oppose changing the pay system if it meant that some teachers might be more easily fired.

Of course, performance-based income has drawbacks for teachers. The most common method of measuring teachers' success is testing students. When testing is the main focus of assessment, teachers tend to "teach to the test" and lose the opportunity to bring their best teaching to the classroom.

Also, teachers do more than just teach. Their impact cannot really be measured. They often mentor their students and can influence their lives in unseen ways for many years.

• What do you think is the author's viewpoint on the issue of teacher pay?

Examine the text.

Paragraph 1 states: "It might motivate under-performing teachers to work harder and do better."

From this, you can conclude that the writer believes performance-based pay can motivate poor teachers to improve.

Paragraph 2 states: "With performance-based pay, they could make more money without having to work extra hours. This would benefit both teachers and students, as students would get a better education."

So the writer thinks this kind of pay can benefit both teachers (more pay) and students (better education).

In paragraphs 3 and 4, two more reasons are presented for instituting performance-based pay: it fosters good competition among teachers and allows principals to fire teachers who are not doing well.

The author then turns to the negative aspects, considering the arguments someone opposed to performance-based pay would present.

• Did you like how this writer offered both his opinion and some opposing arguments?
• What do you think: should teachers be paid for how well they teach?

Move to the Got It? section to tackle opinions on another tough subject—homework!