essay Consumerism and College
Humanities
Unit 3 Essay: Consumerism and College
Topic
: We will focus on making a convincing argument using a clear and direct thesis statement. Your
argument should be supported by effective topic sentences and reinforced by a practical conclusion.
Audience
: You will travel back to your old high school to meet with a group of seniors that have just received
acceptance letters from several universities. Assume the students you meet with have read and seen all the
materials for this unit. The students are concerned about the material they have read and seen.
They are
specifically concerned about:
the cost of college and the eventual debt after
graduation,
the ability to find employment after graduation,
the time commitment for earning a four-year
degree
finding a major that is fascinating and
interesting,
the amount of time college will take away from
their family and friends,
the pressure from family and teachers to attend
Addressing Audience:
Pick
at least one
concern above to address in your paper, but
do not address more than
two concerns
.
Purpose
: Based on your experiences and the material we have reviewed for class, argue the value of a college
education.
Writing Task:
Argue if a college degree is essential for success in today’s world. Why or why not?
The essay must meet the following
guidelines for submission:
Use an MLA Heading:
o
Your Name
o
Instructor’s Name
o
Course–Section #
o
Date in Day/Month/Year format (e.g. 1 October 2017)
4-5 pages in length, Double-spaced
One inch margins
12-point, Times New Roman font
Include in-text citations and a Works Cited page in MLA format
Textual Reference:
In your essay,
include textual references from
at least two
sources we have reviewed for
this unit. The articles include: “The Shock of Education: How College Corrupts,” “Bright-Sided,” “The
College Degree has become the new High School Degree,” “Is College Worth It?” and Social Class and the
Hidden Curriculums of Work. The “60 Minutes” interview with Peter Thiel is also a great source.
Tips:
Does the pressure to attend college represent the negative aspects of positive thinking as discussed by
Ehrenreich? Consider the reasons you attended college. What benefits does college offer outside of the
classroom? How do you balance college responsibilities and your relationships? How are you using university
services to your advantage? Consider services like the University Writing Center, the University Tutorial
Center, and the library. Does a college degree guarantee future financial success? Should students be strongly
encouraged to go to college even if they have doubts about why they are going to college? Why or why not? Is
college the only path to financial success?
