Battling the Stigma of Community Collegechristinamguzman.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/7/7/...of_com… · Web viewShe argues college hasn’t died, and still provides many dreams and

Battling the Stigma of Community College

March 28, 2013

Table of Contents

Cover Page………………………………………………………….1

Table of Contents………………………………………………..3

Introduction……………………………………………………….5

Final Analysis………………………………………………………8-12

Draft Analysis………………………………………………………14-18

Introduction

Most college papers require some kind of analysis as part of the pre-writing process. This

semester I have learned the art of rhetorical analysis; the ability to critique and analyze a piece of

writing. Despite the many struggles this semester, I am taking many skills with me outside of the

classroom. I am more analytical of myself as a student. Many questions are asked : How and

when am I studying effectively? When is the best time to write? Revise? Think?

Through this assignment I have learned to use many skills such as description, summary,

definition, and comparison among other things. Specifically, I have been struggling on Rhetoric

this semester, and it has taken a lot of patience and vigilance to grasp the concepts of persuasion.

I have learned very quickly that rhetorical analysis is not about the subject the author is trying to

persuade, but rather how the writer goes about accomplishing the task of persuasion.

Many struggles have reared their ugly head in this class, and I have felt like the lamb to be

sacrificed during the last Holy meal, but this was only an invitation to a challenge. I felt during

my rhetorical analysis, however, I was all but unbiased, therefore making my experiences in the

classroom a direct cause of the attitude I took on the piece written by Liz Addison.

March 28, 2013

Battling the Stigma of Community College.

Final Analysis

Community College Biology Graduate, Liz Addison, submitted an essay titled” 2 years are

better than 4” as a part of a college essay contest done by NY Times Magazine. In her essay she

argues the validity of an opinion piece written by Rick Perlstein titled “ What’s the matter with

college?” Liz Addison discusses what used to be in her counter essay. She starts by describing a

story of a former university graduate, who believes college no longer provides dreams to the

students it harbors, but then adds her own points of view on the matter. She argues college hasn’t

died, and still provides many dreams and goals needed, only it does it through the Community

Colleges of America. She praises community colleges, mentioning they are easily accessible and

financially affordable, and goes on to say it is the graduates of the Community Colleges that

change the world, not those of the universities. Addison also mentions her own experiences going

to college, and how it changed her. She concludes her writing piece asking students to reconsider

the position of the community college relative to the 4-year university.

March 28, 2013

Addison’s purpose is to convey the idea that college really does still matter through her own

community college experiences. Unfortunately, Addison adopts a sarcastic tone and a graceless

voice, making it very hard to connect with similar feelings and similar educational experiences.

Instead of attempting to persuade an audience that hold opposing opinions, she gears her writing

towards people who have the same opinion as hers. Her sarcasm weakens her rhetorical reasoning

to a fallacious argument that holds little value in terms of proof, but high value in terms of

propaganda. Use of sarcasm and humor is a persuasive technique to influence her reader to look

over the holes in the argument being presented. The use of fallacy is explored with an emphasis

on ad hominem attacks as an appeal to ignorance. The use of ethics and logic are examined along

with her abundant use of pathos, the appeal to emotions, with a final conclusion on the strength of

the argument made by Liz Addison.

March 28, 2013

Originally the main publication source was NY Times Magazine, and Addison directly

targeted Rick Perlstein. Her purpose in targeting Perlstein was simply to argue his original claim.

The likely readers for this essay aside from Perlstein are the many readers of the magazine,

targeting a low-income demographic; this is evident with her negative attitude towards those

likely to attend the “University of Privilege” She writes to the low-income, the minority, the

single parent. She displays this as one of her targeted audiences, because all of her major

arguments rely on the idea that anyone can attend the great community college. Her statements

imply that she feels this demographic is sub-par in the area of academia. Addison conveys a

strong connection with this demographic through her passion for the Community College.

OH THE HAND WRINGING in big bright capital letters written to mock Perlstein and

intended to take a stab at his credibility, followed by a quote by Perlstein “ College as we know it

has come to an end”. She immediately classifies her essay as

informal and impersonal. The technique was a great way to

capture the interest of the reader though. Yes, I could agree

that college is vital but the cenacle tone regarding the 4-year

institution seems a bit ignorant, especially coming from

merely a community college graduate with zero personal

experience with the so-called University of Privilege.

Addison says “ The Philosophy of the community college and I have been to 2 of them is it

unconditionally allows students to begin.” This assertion was very important in laying the

March 28, 2013

foundation for her direct argument. Her direct argument begins to lead readers in the direction of

Community College superiority. The assertion is logical, but is it relevant to her direction so far?

Yes, community college is open to everyone despite previous education. Most 4-year institutions

have specific guidelines for admission. At this point does it even matter? Does that make it a

better education? I doubt it. This claim is weak because it is not relevant to he idea that 2-year

colleges are better than 4-year Universities. The doors may be closed for some, but never locked.

Later in the 3rd paragraph she makes yet another assertion “ at the community college you will

find your first independent film, first independent thought and first independent study, the college

experience is as it should.” This is a strong, emotional and logical assertion but as this point is not

consistent with the C.C being superior. These experiences are

not solely found at the community college. What it did

accomplished is a strong stand on the importance of Community

College being a valued stepping-stone and it shouldn’t be overlooked.

“The Community college system is Americas hidden public service gem,” says Addison. The

blanket statement gave me the feeling we were back in the 60’s fighting LBJ’s war on poverty.

The essay would benefit her more with statistics or some kind of solid proof. She then goes on to

talk about a college essay contest for low-income students and how she was so disturbed because

no one mentioned the community college. Are there some other viewpoints that are not being

mentioned or blatantly being ignored? I think there are, but Addison does not bother to mention

the existence of any other points of view. As a reader I’m receiving the message that because I

come from a low-income family my place is on the campus of a community college. What does

she mean by public service gem? Is it the same category as public housing or public assistance?

Isn’t this adding to the stigma of the sub-par community college? Shouldn’t we be encouraging

more diverse numbers in the 4 year institution, rather than avoiding it? This assertion is very

March 28, 2013

weak and based solely on her personal experience. Couldn’t all educational systems be deemed

public service gems?

The essay was clear concise and simplistic, making it very easy to understand. These

techniques allowed her to successfully appeal to a certain demographic in the community, which

see college plausible at best. Through the essay, she maintained a strong voice that keeps your

attention. She makes it very clear that she is passionate about the topic and pleas for the passion

of others. Unfortunately, Addison’s argument is moderate at best. She used valid logical points in

her direct argument, but her child-like cheap shots towards the original author backfired and

stabbed her ethos, making it easy to contradict her beliefs and invoking distrust and feelings of

immaturity.

I believe this to be a serial argument; her premises attempt to lead you to the conclusion or the

belief that community college is one of America’s great institutions; this conclusion is the

premise for the secondary conclusion and the heart of Addison’s counter argument, College still

matters! I found the essay to be relatively unpersuasive, despite agreeing with many of her points.

Addison’s strong voice came off condescending and ignorant and this indirect strategy weakened

her argument tremendously. Good points were made through direct argument ,but she only

March 28, 2013

backed up those points with an anecdotal narrative and uneducated opinion.

Addison was right in arguing the statement made by Rick Perlstein What’s the matter with

college? Yes, I agree, college does matter. Addison argues that college still matters by way of the

community college institution. I could also agree community

college can be a big value to the community for many

people, but she uses a contrast technique towards the 4-year

university to prove her claim, implying the university was a

sub-par educational institution. The assertion Addison tries to make screams fallacy.

In my own evaluation of a great institution, I find that productivity, not just the ability to be

admitted determine greatness; the quality of teachers, high graduation rates, career prospects and

low levels of debt, probably have a higher factor in determining a great institution. (Addison very

quickly mentions cost not debt at the very most in her own argument) What really determines the

quality of a school is not how easy or hard it is to be admitted, but what it does for its students.

Look at retention rate; are students staying and finishing their degrees? Students are more

likely to stay where they are actively engaged. Advising is another place where colleges can

excel; if a student has no idea what to study, they can easily get overwhelmed. Students who

receive ongoing support usually make better decisions and tend to be more goal oriented. A

college that emphasizes teaching rather than research will probably attract professors that enjoy

mentoring. All these things collaboratively make a great institution, and all of these things can be

found at multiple educational institutions: community colleges, private schools, ivy’s and state

schools.

Look beneath the label of community college or 4-year university, it doesn’t really matter

much. Ultimately, great schools come from the needs of the individual. Depending on the student,

many types of educational institutions could be noted as great.

March 28, 2013

“ The essence in education lies in drawing the very best in you” –Mahatma Ghandi

March 28, 2013

Draft Analysis

Community College Biology Graduate, Liz Addison, submitted an essay titled” 2 years are better

than 4” as a part of a college essay contest done by NY Times Magazine. In her essay she argues

the validity of an opinion piece written by Rick Perlstein titled “ What’s the matter with college?”

Addison’s purpose is to convey the idea that college really does still matter threw her own