The article on “Rank Colleges, But Rank Them Right" has several strong points, one of which is the need for rankings motivated by the increasing demand by students and their parents for credible ranking data. The author, David Leonhardt, effectively appeals to the reader via three avenues: ethos, logos, and pathos. As a columnist, as well as managing editor for the New York Times, Leonhardt is plain spoken and analytical in his data laced commentary on ranking colleges. Included in his summary, lending credibility to the value of and need for rankings are in the following statements: "Today the United States ranks ninth among industrialized nations in higher education attainment...;" America used to be considered to be “the most educated in the world;” and “…those who don’t finish (a bachelor’s degree) pay an enormous price.” Given the importance placed on completing a degree of higher education, “because higher education is by all accounts critical to the country’s economic future, it seems to be deserving of rigorous measurement.” The author points out the need for universities to become more accountable.
The author sources the ranking of higher education in a supporting logos statement of the actual census data: "… only 53 percent of students who enter college emerge with a bachelor’s degree, according to census data.” The data shows how the United States has fallen behind in world-wide ranking, with 47 percent of students leaving college without completing a bachelor’s degree. There are economic dangers in these trends, as was succinctly pointed out by the Commission on the Future of Higher Education: “To meet the challenges of the 21st Century, higher education must change from a system primarily based on reputat...
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...rson pointed out that “all yardsticks for ranking universities have their drawbacks; yet parents and students are clearly desperate for information.” McPherson further stated, “The degree of defensiveness that colleges have is unreasonable….the usual resistance to having someone interfere with their own marketing efforts.” The Commission on Education is being advised toward “create an easily navigable Web site that allows comparisons of colleges based on their actual cost..,” entrance fee data and significant graduation degrees. While ranking standards can be improved, rankings will likely not be unbiased, because the majority of the measuring tools will remain subjective; i.e., Indiana University Surveys of how students feel they are performing.
Work Cited
Wilhoit, Stephen. A Brief Guide to Academic Arguments. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print.
In his essay, "Why Colleges Shower Their Students With A’s,” Staples claims that student grades are increasing for the wrong reasons, causing college degrees to become meaningless. Staples provides evidence that average grades have increased significantly over the last several decades, but claims that it is not because students are working harder. The real explanation for grade inflation, he argues, is the effect of grades on both students and their professors. Teachers give more A’s to receive better evaluations and increase job security. Students give more importance to their grades as a result of the rapidly increasing cost of a college education. Staples argues that modern
In his article “A Rational Optimist’s View of American Higher Education”, Dr Lane A. Glenn discusses his vision concerning higher education in America. Inside the article, he explains and also re-futes the principal reasons why today, some people doubt of the importance of higher education such as colleges and universities in America. Glenn is writing to an academic and public audience in order to in-form them about what is happening to the education. His main claim is that receiving a higher education is still valuable.
In the article “America’s Most Overrated Product: The Bachelor’s Degree” by Marty Nemko, the author argues several different views on why higher education may be very overestimated. For starters, the author shares his opinion of what he thinks about colleges/ universities due to him being a career counselor. In continuation, The American Dream has a lot to deal with the situation of Nemko’s passage. For example, The American Dream for most people is growing up, all high school students hear is be good, go to college, get a degree. Unfortunately it all depends on the students, but others see benefits of other choices they choose to do. It’s sad to say, that over time the idea of working hard to get a Bachelor’s degree and the hope of actually going to school is not there anymore. Furthermore, for some people, when they think of The American Dream, they think of hope for bettering themselves and also helping their families. The purpose is about a Bachelor’s degree and how overrated it can be. Colleges and most universities are actually business, and they only want
In the article, “Is the College Admission Bubble About to Burst?” Lindsey Cook (2014) suggests that college application processes are getting too competitive and stressful. Cook started the article by expressing the hardship of applying to university. Comparing to the past, more students try to go college, and more extra-curricular activities are required to be accepted by the college.
...is better, the Monitor’s Editorial Board said three times the amount of A’s are given out than used to be, which makes employers question the student’s education. Maybe the search for schools should not be by ranking; maybe it should be by the months and months of research that way the student knows they are getting the education that is right for them. And more of the education that the Monitor’s Editorial Board and I think students should get, an education that is full of critical thinking and a love for what the student is learning. My ideal education is a hands-on education that will last me not just through my college education, but will last me my entire life.
Former professor of geophysics, Stuart Rojstaczer, in his informative op-ed piece, “Grade Inflation Gone Wild,” featured in “Christian Science Monitior(2009),” investigates grade inflation among universities today. Rojstaczer’s purpose is to inform and educate universities on the inflation of grades, and how an A has become the average grade among those schools. He adopts a dismissive tone when generalizing and addressing the students on their behaviors and actions. Rojstaczer found over 80 universities with data on they’re grades, using this he was able to better understand the inflation and also analyze possible solutions. His logos based writing portrays a negative connotation on todays students and their ability to achieve within the classroom. There is no hiding that the standard for grades has been on the rise sense the 1960’s, and is now at an average GPA of a 3.0, but rojstaczer may have lost his audience with his arrogant approach.
Jaschik, Scott. "Study Documents Impact of 'quality of Life ' Rankings of Colleges." Inside Higher Ed. Inside Higher Ed, 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 12 Oct. 2016. .
...sented themselves such as: lack of financial support, low graduation rates, and a non-existence of diversification. However, these issues can be changed by an increase in support from different places which would add to the existing importance of HBCU’S. People are inspired by the Institutions because they work hard to overcome obstacles placed in their way. Students, Alumni’s, and Parents see the motivation and determination of the schools to stay ongoing and I see it as well.
The right and privilege to higher education in today’s society teeters like the scales of justice. In reading Andrew Delbanco’s, “College: What It Was, Is, and Should Be, it is apparent that Delbanco believes that the main role of college is to accommodate that needs of all students in providing opportunities to discover individual passions and dreams while furthering and enhancing the economic strength of the nation. Additionally, Delbanco also views college as more than just a time to prepare for a job in the future but a way in which students and young adults can prepare for their future lives so they are meaningful and purposeful. Even more important is the role that college will play in helping and guiding students to learn how to accept alternate point of views and the importance that differing views play in a democratic society. With that said, the issue is not the importance that higher education plays in society, but exactly who should pay the costly price tag of higher education is a raging debate in all social classes, cultures, socioeconomic groups and races.
Introduction: In the essay America’s Most Overrated Product: The Bachelor’s Degree by Marty Nemko argues that attending college does not benefit most students. Many of us grow up believing that going to college is the best option to get good jobs, even if we did not do so well in college. In this essay, we explore statistics presented by Nemko to get a better idea if college is worth the time and money spent on the benefits of having a diploma.
Throughout the years, America has always debated whether education is needed- if it helps people succeed or not. The argument in the past was always over high school education, which is now mandatory. That decision has helped the US rise economically and industrially. Today, the US is in the middle of the same debate- this time, over college. Some, like David Leonhardt, a columnist for the business section of The New York Times, think a college education creates success in any job. Others, such as Christopher Beha, an author and assistant editor of Harper’s Magazine, believe that some college “education” (like that of for-profit schools) is a waste of time, and can even be harmful to students. Each stance on this argument has truth to it, and there is no simple answer to this rising issue in an ever changing nation full of unique people. Any final decision would affect the United States in all factions- especially economically and socially. However, despite the many arguments against college, there is overwhelming proof that college is good for all students, academically or not.
A very dramatic educational development in the past decades has been the global expansion of higher education. Harvard economist Richard Freeman has estimated that the total number of post-secondary students (students who continue school past the required level) fell from 29% to 12% from 1970 to 2006, a 60% decline. In China alone, postsecondary enrollments exploded from fewer than 100,000 students in 1970 to 23.4 million in 2006. The increase over the same period in India was from 2.5 million to 12.9 million students. According to the EPE on average there are 1.1 million American students dropping out of school every...
The report, Higher Education for American Democracy, triggered changes in federal policies and subsequently the universities followed suit. Members of the commission arg...
Education is important for a country to succeed. An uneducated workforce is far less productive than an educated one. As the sole super-power in the world, U.S. should be a able to constantly fine-tune it education to meet the future challenges. Critics have often argue that U.S. education system right now is what created the world best quality students from the Ivy League universities. Yes, it is inarguable that U.S. still produces one of finest quality of students in the world, however, the quantity of college educated students are equally or not, more important in this fast changing world. If the U.S. are unable resolve this problem, its future is nothing but a dire road of declination.
The ability to gain a degree in any field of study is highly important in American society, possessing skills and knowledge over your job emphasizes the significance of higher education. Especially, for job promotions that would cause someone to make more than their fellow colleagues. In our increasingly competitive economic society, having the minimal of a high school diploma is not enough to provide financial stability nor will it help to compete in a workforce in which the best-educated are the ones that are rewarded the most. Therefore, higher education is a crucial necessity in order to move up the socioeconomic ladder and qualify for higher paying jobs. The rising costs of college, however, is making it harder for Americans to obtain