Is College Worth It or What?: This Question is Seriously Irrelative!

By Mohammed Alalshaikh George Mason University

Audience?? Education, originally began from the Latin word educatio, means the form of knowledge that is passed down from one generation to the next. Mankind has used knowledge since the very beginning of time to resolve many issues that are related to critical thinking. Since then, understanding and comprehension has advanced in many ways and points; this eventually helped create inventions, and helped humans evolve more creatively. During this time, people found a way to enhance their way of thinking, one of which is going to college, however, today, students are facing many issues when going on this journey, for instance, the problem with tuition debt is a very effective concept to this topic. Studies indicate that college has some setbacks and benefits of pursuing higher education. While this may be so, it appears that there are no clear answers. College is simply not accessible and suitable for everyone. Even though it is highly recommended, people can still attain their goals and dreams without receiving a degree from a college institution. The prices of many colleges are inflated to the point where it places a financial burden on the payer (Taylor, 2011). People who cannot afford the costs are forced to take large amounts of loans, which create financial problems in the long run (London, 2013). People who cannot afford the costs are forced to take large amounts of loans, which create financial problems in the long run (London, 2013). Tuition prices have raised precipitously while government aid both for educational institutions and student has went down snappishly (Lilly, 2011). University alumnis now earn a sum of between

$1million to 1.5million more than high school alumnis throughout there careers Lilly, 2011) 57% of Americans say the higher education system in the United States fails to provide good value for the money students and their families spend (Taylor, 2011). Fully 2/3 say that a major reason they did not continue their education is their need to support their family (Taylor, 2011). 57% say they would rather work and make money (Taylor, 2011). 34% say they dont feel they needed more education (Taylor, 2011). 5% say they didnt continue because they werent accepted at the school they wanted to attend (Taylor, 2011). Last, for generation that has been told self-esteem is what counts, an esteem without obvious manifestations of commitment or talent, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) study seems arduous, notwithstanding the jobs available in these fields (London, 2013). According to the Potts article, one of Paul A. Trouts student said, Im paying for school, so I should be given an A even if I dont study. (Potts, 2005) The specter of successful college-dropouts like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs weighs on young people making the decision on whether or not to go to college (Debate Club, 2010). Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses, published earlier this year by the University of Chicago Press, found that 36% of college students did not demonstrate any significant improvement learning during their college educations (London, 2013). PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel offers a different option, his 20 Under 20 program provides $100,000 grants for talented individuals to skip college and explore their own research and entrepreneurial impulses (London, 2013).

In conclusion is college really worth it? The answer to this question is complicated or just not clear as we said before since college is not suitable and accessible for everyone. Albeit it is extremely suggested, people can still achieve their dreams without a college education. What I mean here is you cant just choice one or believe that one aspect is better or more correct then the other. You must take into account that all viewpoints are correct one way or another that everyone must respect and listen to one another to learn and to get a better understanding. Our studies as we can see told us that college graduates earn a million dollars more than non-college graduates. On the other hand though they also said that college graduates these days make less than a person who didnt graduate from college. The funny thing here is both of the different viewpoints are true and ledgement facts with really people living such lives that could verify the evidence of each side.

Reference:

Debate Club. (2010). Is a college degree still worth it?. US News & World Report, Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/is-a-college-degree-stillworth-it. Lilly, B. (2011). Is a college degree worth the cost?. P.11-13. doi: SPOTLIGHT London, H. (2013). College: Who profits?. Springer, p.360-365. doi: DOI 10.1007/s12129- 013-9366-3. Potts, M. (2005). The consumerist subversion of education. Academic Questions, p.5464. Retrieved from https://mymasonportal.gmu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-3863222-dtcontentrid36401523_1/courses/14363.201410/14363.201410_ImportedContent_2014012 2024648/The_Consumerist_Subversion_of_Education _Potts_.pdf

Taylor, P. (2011). Is college worth it?. PewResearchcenter, p.5-18. Retrieved from https://mymasonportal.gmu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-3863222-dt-content-rid36401294_1/courses/14363.201410/14363.201410_ImportedContent_201401220 24648/PEWhigher-ed-report(1).pdf.

Students Name: _ Mohammed ________________________________________________ Date: __3/13/14_____________________ Evaluation System 1 = Emerging/Not present 2 = Developing/Beginning to show criteria 3 = Shows criteria with some consistency 4 = Capable/usually consistent (Passing) 5 = Experienced/effective 6 = Experienced/effective/consistent 7 = Exceptional/thought-provoking/original Criteria a. Topic is clearly introduced and relevant and sufficient background information is provided Provide background and context for the discussion at hand. Not a vague history but a specific description of recent discussions. b. Thesis statement is clear and expresses the complexity of the issue and makes a claim I like this approach to the thesis. c. Each body paragraph includes a clear topic sentence that supports thesis Try using DC-IC structure to write known-new transitions. d. Each body paragraph synthesizes ideas from two or more sources e. Relevant and sufficient evidence explicitly supports each point f. At least three different types of evidence are used (statistical, anecdotal, expert opinion, theory/philosophy) to advance argument g. Ideas flow logically and smoothly with appropriate and varied transitions Draft 1 Prof. Doetsch-Kidder 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Draft 2 Prof. Brady 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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h. Conclusion restates thesis in a different way and introduces a new direction i. Word choice is appropriate, academic, and varied j. Reporting verbs make it clear where ideas come from and accurately reflect original authors tone, purpose, and meaning

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k. Clauses are correctly formed with correct/appropriate word forms, verb tenses, verb forms and word order. l. Sentences are correctly formed with no fragments or runons. Sentence structure is varied

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m. Spelling, punctuation and capitalization are correct n. In-text citations and reference list are complete, accurate, and correctly formatted o. Very clear evidence of revision and editing; writer put in significant effort to apply feedback OVERALL: Does not meet minimum length requirement. Work on addressing counterargument, incorporating more evidence, and logical structure and flow.