2016-04-11 Pre TOEFL: integrated writing

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk
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Integrated writing:
- 3 minutes to read a text
- time to listen to part of a lecture (contradicting the text)
- 20 minutes to write about the points in the lecture and how they cast doubt on the reading
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What were the points made in the listening?
- Rewards don’t increase productivity. (He wants to question the idea that rewards increase productivity.)
	- people want to be paid for being more productive, not just get some reward
	- No studies show long-term productivity increases from rewards. Studies show rewards can actually result in less productivity.
Why?
- People feel manipulated and controlled by reward schemes.
- It can be punishment if you don’t get the reward you expected.
- Rewards can damage the relationship with supervisors because workers won’t tell them about problems in order to avoid negative ratings and the disappointment of not receiving a reward.
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Reading:
- Rewards increase productivity and employees’ motivation, attitudes, and behavior.
- Reward the most for workers who perform the best.
- Rewards must be perceived as valuable to workers and within reach.
	(Unreachable rewards may cause productivity to decline.)
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Question: Summarize the points made in the lecture you just heard, explaining how they cast doubt on points made in the reading.

Introduction: The lecturer questions the idea from the reading, that rewards will increase productivity. He says that no studies have shown a long-term improvement in productivity from a rewards scheme. On the contrary, rewards schemes can result in less productivity, not more. He gives two reasons for this.

Body 1: People can feel manipulated and punished by rewards schemes. (details about manipulation/control, details and example of “punishment” / disappointment) This contradicts the statement in the reading that rewards improve employee attitudes and motivation.

Body 2: Rewards schemes can damage the relationship between workers and supervisors. (example from the lecture) Contrary to the reading, this suggests that rewards schemes hurt performance and productivity.