Learning Objectives
Examine the process involved with problem formulation.
Apply critical thinking to problem identification.
Evaluate ethical implications of a decision.
Prompt:
Choose an editorial article (An editorial is an article that presents the writer’s opinion on an issue supported with facts) from the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. Browse the library and choose an editorial that addresses a business issue that interests you.
Instructions:
Write an essay describing the following:
Citation of the article and a brief summary of its contents
What are the premise(s) in the article?
What evidence is presented? Is it credible?
Can you independently verify the evidence presented?
How are counterarguments addressed?
Does the writer represent a particular interest?
How is language used to develop the argument?
Do you detect any errors in knowledge, evidence, or thinking?
Does the writer use any types of appeals or commit any fallacies?
Overall, how compelling is this article?
Be certain to carefully research your analysis using at least 3 credible sources. Your submission should be 4-6 pages in length minimum and should be a thorough representation of your ability to critically think through the steps above. Use the template provided to ensure you are following APA format. This assignment is worth 14% of your final grade.
Grading Rubric
A rubric is provided here for your convenience that details how this assignment will be graded. Please review it carefully prior to submitting your work.
The Pandemic’s Toll on Women’s Careers
Cutter, C. (2021). The Pandemic’s Toll on Women’s Careers, The Wall Street Journal
The central premise of the editorial is the real impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Women’s Careers, especially those in white-collar jobs. According to the article, regardless of the impact of the pandemic, improvements in women holding white-collar roles have been noted. The number of women in corporate jobs did not decline during the pandemic. However, according to the writer, women tend to experience more burnout than men in corporate roles. The high level of burnout at work leads to their questioning whether they want to remain in their positions in companies or their current career paths. The author reveals that women just held on to their jobs and career paths regardless of the expectations that they would be significantly affected by the pandemic.
Evidence is one of the most important elements of editorials since it supports the writer’s arguments. Cutter (2021) presents numerous pieces of evidence to support his premises. One of the sources of evidence in the article is McKinsey & Co. and LeanIn.Org. ‘s 2021 Women in the Workplace report. The article also includes expert evidence, including an interview with Lareina Yee, a McKinsey’s senior partner. The expert has also served in the firm as a chief diversity and inclusion officer. Another expert’s view included in the article is from Rachel Thomas, the co-founder, and CEO of Lean In. the experts discuss what is included in the report and analyze its implications to women in white-collar careers. Thus, the evidence provided in the article to support the premise is credible.
I can independently verify the evidence presented in the article. For example, I can access the 2021 Women in the Workplace report to check whether the information used in the article is correct. The reports show how women in corporate careers have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the report, regardless of the crisis, the level of women representation in corporate roles has remained relatively stable (McKinsey & Co., 2021). However, the report shows that women have been affected by the pandemic, causing an increase in the level of burnout. Thus, the same premise in the article matches what the report shows. Another way of verifying the information is using the experts cited in the article. Therefore, it is possible to tell whether the information in the article is true or false.
One of the possible counterarguments in the article is that the pandemic has affected all sectors of the economy and all types of employees, including men and women in corporate careers. However, the writer addresses the counterargument by proving that regardless of the impact of the pandemic, the level of women in corporate jobs has not been affected. Besides, the author also reveals that women have not evaded the impact of the pandemic. One of the problems women have experienced in the wake of the pandemic is increasing burnout (Aldossari & Chaudhry, 2021). Cutter (2021) uses this as one of his arguments in the editorial. Thus, the article presents a convincing claim to support the author’s opinion and presented evidence.
The author presents a particular interest in the article. The main focus of the article is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses. The focus on the topic shows that he is interested in establishing the current business trends in the wake of the pandemic. Since the emergence of the pandemic, significant changes had occurred in the business world since 2019, when the first case of the highly infectious strain of coronavirus was identified (Ting et al., 2020). Thus, the writer seems to be interested in learning how the pandemic has affected women in white-collar careers. Expectedly, various worker groups would be affected by the COVID-19 and measures implemented to address it. The article includes important knowledge regarding the consequences of the pandemic and the post-pandemic reality.
Language is one of the essential elements of media reporting. The element makes a difference between writers who can tell their story effectively and those who fail in this area. In the article in The Wall Street Journal, the author uses formal language to tell the story. The reader can understand the message put across since the language used is simple and easy to understand. Besides, it is possible to identify with the story by reading the article. The author does not struggle to put the message across because the choice of the language is relevant to the message he sends to the audience. Thus, the choice of the language is suitable and appropriate to the editorial.
Writers can either send their message correctly or fail in the objective due to the correctness of how it is conveyed. One of the things that impact the delivery of the message is erring in knowledge, evidence, or thinking. Cutter (2021) correctly wrote the editorial that shows proof of careful editing and proofreading. Besides, the evidence used in the article is correct and verifiable. The information presented in the article correctly matches what is written in the original report. Furthermore, the reader can follow the information, following the precise flow of thoughts and ideas. The article is correctly organized, from an introduction to the final summary.
The author did not commit any fallacies. He instead used different types of appeals to convince the audience. The author used Logos to convince the audience about the validity and credibility of the argument. One source of the evidence is McKinsey & Co. and LeanIn.Org. ‘s 2021 Women in the Workplace report. Apart from the Logos, the author used ethos, which is an appeal that uses moral expertise and knowledge. Lareina Yee and Rachel Thomas provided critical expert knowledge on the topic. The author used their credibility to show the reader that the information is correct and valid. As a result, the audience would be convinced that what the author says accurately represents reality.
Overall, the article is quite compelling and represents the real impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses. Before reading the article, one would expect that the pandemic affected women, reducing the number working in corporate settings. Besides, without the evidence, one would counter the writer’s opinion that the number has not declined. However, the effective use of credible evidence and expert opinions makes the claims quite compelling and believable. The author also persuasively presents the information, beginning with a general premise that shows the argument, proceeding to the evidence and the interview before giving a parting shot. Thus, the reader can effectively follow through the story to understand the message and be convinced that the claims are correct and valid.
References
Aldossari, M., & Chaudhry, S. (2021). Women and burnout in the context of a pandemic. Gender, Work & Organization, 28(2), 826-834.
Cutter, C. (2021). The Pandemic’s Toll on Women’s Careers, The Wall Street Journal
McKinsey & Co. (September 27, 2021). Women in the Workplace 2021. Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace
Ting, H., Ling, J., & Cheah, J. H. (2020). It will go away!? Pandemic crisis and business in asia. Asian J Bus Res, 10.
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