Reading

1. Gathering Ideas about
Business
• Identify the argument in a
piece of reading
• Compare and contrast key
points from a range of reading
• Suggest reasons for
differences between pieces of
reading

2. What do we mean by
argument?
Expressing a point of view and giving the reasons
why you have that point of view.
This is not the same as having an argument.
Yes
No

3. Expressing a point of view and giving the
reasons why you have that point of view.
Actually, according
to research a vegan
diet does not
impact on energy
levels.
Like I said I have
been full of beans
since I gave up the
worms.

4. Evaluating an argument- Reading
Strategy
• What is the reading about –
look at the
title/headline/writer.
• Do you recognise some of
the terms?
• Enough to keep reading?
• No – do a bit of research?
• Or
• Have a go see if the terms
become clearer.

5. Find the argument
You have a paragraph on zero-hours contracts
In pairs:
• identify what the argument is
• break the paragraph down into WEED
• discuss why this writer may be putting forward this
argument

6. What’s the argument?
What gig economy? Worry over zero-hours contracts and insecure work is
‘misplaced, report claim.
Panic over the rise of the gig economy, zero hours contracts and insecure work is
misplaced and based on a misunderstanding, according to the Chartered Institute of
Personnel and Development (CIPD). Rather than becoming less secure, the world of
work has if anything become more stable, despite the rising profile of flexible online
jobs and the use of gig workers such as minicab driving and takeaway delivery. The
number of workers in this type of work has risen, but largely because of the overall
number of people in work has hit records highs. Temporary work has actually
declined in favour of permanent positions, suggesting that worries over a supposed
surge in insecure work are overdone. “This counters some of the common rhetoric
that employment in the UK is becoming more and more insecure”, said Ben Wilmott
at the CIPD. Indeed, CIPD’s surveys indicate that gig workers typically choose this type
of employment to boost their income, rather than being forced into it for lack of
regular employment. Just 14% said they wanted a regular job but could not get one
and so had to settle for this type of job. Mr Wilmott cautioned against “demonising”
zero-hours contracts, noting that they do suit some workers at different points in
their careers, such as pensioners seeking flexible work, while the number of young
people on zero-hours contracts, the demographic often seen as experiencing negative
effects of irregular work, in fact remains low at 7%, and most reported being happy
with the flexibility this offers. Thus, instead of focusing on this so-called ‘atypical’
work, the CIPD suggests policy makers acknowledge the stability of a rising number of
jobs and channel their efforts into boosting the productivity of such roles.

7. • Panic over the rise of the gig economy, zero hours contracts and insecure work
is misplaced and based on a misunderstanding, according to the Chartered
Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Rather than becoming less
secure, the world of work has if anything become more stable, despite the
rising profile of flexible online jobs and the use of gig workers such as minicab
driving and takeaway delivery. The number of workers in this type of work has
risen, but largely because of the overall number of people in work has hit
records highs. Temporary work has actually declined in favour of permanent
positions, suggesting that worries over a supposed surge in insecure work are
overdone. “This counters some of the common rhetoric that employment in
the UK is becoming more and more insecure”, said Ben Wilmott at the CIPD.
Indeed, CIPD’s surveys indicate that gig workers typically choose this type of
employment to boost their income, rather than being forced into it for lack of
regular employment. Just 14% said they wanted a regular job but could not get
one and so had to settle for this type of job. Mr Wilmott cautioned against
“demonising” zero-hours contracts, noting that they do suit some workers at
different points in their careers, such as pensioners seeking flexible work,
while the number of young people on zero-hours contracts, the demographic
often seen as experiencing negative effects of irregular work, in fact remains
low at 7%, and most reported being happy with the flexibility this offers. Thus,
instead of focusing on this so-called ‘atypical’ work, the CIPD suggests policy
makers acknowledge the stability of a rising number of jobs and channel their
efforts into boosting the productivity of such roles.

8. So, how is an argument built? How does this
process help us identify it?

9. What’s the argument?
Each group has two different pieces of
reading and you have been given one of
them to read.
Individually, read and identify the
argument and how it has been built.
Compare with the other group members
who have read the same article: have you
found the same argument?
You then need to team up to share what
you have found with the others in your
group who read the different article.

10. Gathering
different
arguments.
A reading grid like this is a
useful way of keeping track of
your reading throughout your
degree and to start seeing
how different authors’ ideas
compare and contrast.
Author/Title/
Date
Topic Argument Key evidence How to use
Wallace, ‘What
gig economy?’,
2019
Zero-hours
contract/
atypical work
Not insecure,
employees
happy, stability in
job market
CIPD:
15% wanted
permanent, only
7% young people
Rising because
rising employment
figures
Compare with
writer arguing
zero-hours
instability
damaging
Compare with
those who
emphasise record
employment
levels due to
unstable jobs
Marsh, ‘Zero
hours affect
young people’s
health’, 2017
Zero-hours
contract/
atypical work
Institute of
Education:25 yr
olds on zero-hours
41% less likely to
have good health
Compare with
stats from CIPD –
match up?
Compare with
Wallace – Political
bias of
newspapers or diff
research?

11. Gathering different arguments
• Using a grid makes it easier to write comparisons. Look at how this uses language to
highlight differences and similarities between two articles:
• While both Wallace (2019) and Marsh (2017) offer statistical
evidence on the effect of zero-hours contracts on employees, their
arguments are contradictory. Wallace insists that evidence from the
CIPD demonstrates that this type of work is a favoured option for many
employees due to flexibility and the opportunity they offer for making
some extra money. Indeed, he argues that the increase in such work is
a result of a booming job market and should no longer be considered
problematic. However, Marsh’s position focuses on evidence from the
Institute of Education that suggests young people are experiencing
both mental and physical health difficulties caused by the insecurity of
a zero-hours contract, as opposed to what Wallace proposes is a
preference for them. Although they both use statistical evidence, the
origins of that evidence comes from potentially biased sources and
their desire to appeal to the readership in politically opposed
newspapers, may account for these difference.

12. Now present!
• You now need to use all
of your reading, organising
and discussion to give a
• 5 minute presentation
on your group’s topic.
• Suggested format:
• Introduce the topic
• Argument 1
• Argument 2
• Compare and contrast the
argument
• Sum up

13. Task For This Week
• Online Learning
•Complete the review activity on
Canvas: Identifying and Comparing
Arguments.
• Complete the pre – meeting
activities on Canvas
• Continue your blog
• Homework
• Find your next article/podcast
on Business and write summary
notes – for Week 8