Adrienne singleton

Eng170

April26 2023

Sara Vinciguerra 

 

Part A: Analysis

1. Identify Owen Cass’s main argument (thesis). Explain your rationale.

Oren Cass writes that the United States spends a disproportionate amount on college-bound students and much less on those who seek an alternative path, The educational system doesn’t work with those who are meant for paths other than that of college and causes minds to become closed off to the idea of a successful future to those who might not be interested in a college education or the college experience. Promising a wealthy/easier future for college-bound students and looking down on those who don’t attend college after high school is a common fault in our educational system. 

2. Who is Cass writing to, and what is their purpose or motivation (goal) for writing about this issue? Using evidence from the article, identify what you think Cass is trying to accomplish for their audience.

Oren Cass seems to be writing to those who feel their future is doomed because they don’t suit the college criteria. Their motivation for writing this article is to soothe the stressed readers, reassuring them that there is more to life than what they’ve been conditioned to believe. “even a small chance at escaping the supposedly sad fate of inadequate education is better than ever admitting defeat.”(page 1 paragraph5)

3. Using evidence from the article, explain how Cass structures their argument and why this structure is appropriate for their goal.

Cass structures their argument by explaining the difference between how college-bound students are treated vs. those who prefer a different path. They write in the second paragraph on page 1 that  “ We celebrate the first student and lavish taxpayer funds on his education… To the second student, we offer little beyond a sympathetic “Sorry.” Our education system has become one of our nation’s most regressive institutions.” This perfectly exemplifies the point Cass is trying to get across: the education system focuses on college-educated students and ignores those who struggle with how the American education system has failed them.

4. Identify ONE of Cass’s smaller claims in support of the thesis. What evidence does Cass present to support this claim? Explain the effectiveness of this evidence.

Cass argues that “society invests heavily in those headed for economic success while ignoring those falling behind, is the widespread belief that everyone can be a college graduate.” (Page 1, paragraph 4). This summarizes their claim that there’s more to life than the goal of a college degree, and society overlooks the possibilities of a different path. This claim opens the eyes to society’s focus on college and the lack of respect for those who know they wouldn’t thrive in a college environment. The education system ignores those who fail, painting them as the problem even though they most likely clawed their way through high school to graduate. College-bound students are understandably celebrated for their accomplishments, but when they cannot accomplish as much as others, they’re looked at as less than or “lazy” when the education system never focuses on their abilities or helps them reach their full potential.

  1. Using evidence from the article, identify an incidence of Cass’s bias. Explain how this may influence the audience’s understanding of the argument and/or shape their reaction to the content. 

Cass’s point that there are roads to success that don’t necessarily require a college degree seems unfair to the readers trying to find their path, while the article doesn’t even suggest a valid alternative. They write about the possibility of an alternative but even say, “If a good alternative existed, they would be well served to take it.”(page 2, paragraph 4). Cass doesn’t necessarily give us options; all they’re doing is stating that society would be more well-rounded if we had more diverse paths in life. 

  1. Focusing on the language of the article, identify one example to analyze how Cass connects to their audience by appealing to pathos.

   Cass reassures the unsure readers by explaining how “a false promise of college success does more harm than good”(page 2paragraph 5). Cass appears to feel somewhat sympathetic to those clawing their way through the American school system only to be looked down upon when they don’t meet the unreasonable standards set by society’s high achievers. The overall pathos of this article is attempting to convince those who believe college is the only acceptable option after high school that there’s more to life than meeting a specific standard. Cass wants us to know that more paths to success don’t require a degree. 

Part B: Responsive Engagement

1. As a student, what do you think of Cass’s ultimate conclusions or suggestions? For instance, do you think college is a choice, a privilege, an obligation, or something else entirely? What motivated your decision to go to college?

As a student, I understand that Cass has a point, but I believe it’s unfair to give false hopes of ways to succeed without a college degree and any solid alternatives. My motivation to attend college was because my mother, who works in education, has pushed the idea of college on me since kindergarten. College is a privilege, and the opportunity to attend is something to cherish because I know many people from my childhood who were never gifted with the opportunity to attend college, whether because of a lack of motivation or expense. College is also an obligation because I know if I didn’t attend, I would be disowned and struggle to survive independently. College is also a choice because I choose to at least attempt to reach my full potential. College is meant to create a more well-rounded individual and prepare them for adulthood. We practice living without our parent’s supervision and making our own choices, and furthering our education. My goal is to come out of college knowing what id like to do with my life and to find my path, I also choose to go to college because I want to succeed and get a job that will not only support me mentally and financially, but when I have a family I don’t want them to have to see me financially struggle, I want to spoil them and keep them as happy as I can so because of this I believe that college is an obligation privilege and choice all in one.

Part C: Synthesis

Refer to Natalie Proulx’s introduction to Cass’s article and the Letters to the Editor:

1.

Choose one alternate view to Oren Cass’s article from the Letters to the Editor, “Should a College Diploma be a Goal for All?” Explain why this respondent’s perspective is essential to understanding Cass’s main article. Who is affected by these arguments, ultimately?

The people ultimately affected by these arguments are the ones confused about what they’d like to do with their life and those whose minds go blank when envisioning their futures.  “Should society offer students more alternatives to higher education?”It should be more important to society to keep our options open rather than limiting ourselves to one desired future. For most people, the whole point of high school is to graduate to get into college, then the whole point of college is to get good grades and graduate so you can get the job you desire or move on to the next school (graduate or med) and it’s just an endless cycle of doing what you’re told you’re supposed to live a respectable life and make a livable wage. If we were given more options that don’t limit us, for example, we’re told if we don’t go to college, we won’t be successful, the pressure of “needing” to attend a university to get by in life is unfair. Everyone is different, and no one thinks the same, so to limit us to professions that we don’t find as interesting or that don’t express the beauty of our differences because we need the money is unnecessary when so many bright minds are being put to waste. The thought of the endless cycle of school and then work until retirement is enough to keep some unmotivated because it’s not an interesting way to live and feels like a waste of life. 

2. Explain why readers might give any of these perspectives serious consideration, or if not, explain your rationale by analyzing the effectiveness of the author’s diction/tone, examples, appeals to the audience, etc

High schools focus on preparing students for college and pay less attention to those who prefer a different path. This gives fewer options and causes students to think they must go to college rather than motivate them to want to. If we were to design a high school that prepared students for the range of post-high school options, as Cass argues, not just college, it would create a more well-rounded society. I have no idea what this would look like since my whole life has revolved around getting into college, I wouldn’t even know where to begin with a vocational program or a subsidized internship and paid work, but I think it’s brilliant. 

We are brought up to believe that a college degree is key to success, but society would be more equitable if success weren’t impossible for those who weren’t meant for college. The first sentence of the third article, complaining about the article by Oren Cass, says, “saying that college is valuable only as it relates to earning power” This immediately makes me question their reasoning while causing me to agree completely. The reader who responds to Oren Cass’s article feels saddened because they believe there is more to college than having employment and making a decent living wage. It’s unfair that if students were to fail after one or two years, they’d have nothing to show for their effort, no matter how much work they put into their education. I am grateful for this opportunity to be in college, but Cass’s argument that there should be greater alternatives is completely valid. A college diploma is a respectable goal but shouldn’t be the only respectable option for those who deserve success but don’t suit the college scene.