Looking back: College Debt – Archer
Answer the following:
Name a rhetorical appeal you saw Archer use in “College Debt.”
Reason – In paragraph two and three Archer pointed out that the college degree is not worth anything anymore because it became more common, and it was no longer enough. This is basically his entire case, he goes on later in the article with information to supports this reason, like the the high income/debt ratio, job prospects, and the fact that there are alternative options like trade school.
What do you think was his aim of argument? Why
Persuading – He was sort of persuading them to weigh their options when it came to what they wanted an education for. Go to college, or trade school. He was trying to persuade college students to consider ditching college for alternative education options.
Convincing – He was trying to convince the audience that the college degree is no longer worth the investment.
Is archer a reasonable reasoner? Why or why not?
I don’t believe that he is a reasonable reasoner because he is not very self critical.
Do you trust Archer and his solution to the problem of college debt based on the work we’ve done with his essay? Why or why not?
I understand where Archer is coming from. He wants his readers to realize there are other, more inexpensive alternatives to college. I do not fully trust his solution because his argument is rather one sided. He demonizes the college degree, and give information about student debt, etc but he fails to backup his proposed solution. He failed to provide stats for job outcomes for trade schools, cost of trade schools, and what the average salary is for different trades.
Rhetorical Appeals: College Debt
| Reason | Character | Emotion |
| Point (claim), build on reasons, supported by evidence | Used personal experience to gain trust of reader | Price of some colleges, entices anger about high prices |
Aims of Argument: College Debt
| Persuasion | Convincing | Inquiry |
| Wants to influence you to choose trade over college. (combo of emotion and reason appeals) | Trying to make a case “College is not the best option” | Uses informal dialogue and personal experiences. |
Reasonable Reasoner: College Debt
| NO | YES |
| Not open to criticism Doesn’t present other side Not self critical | He did not meet all criteria to be a reasonable reasoner |
Waking Up and Taking Charge – Kamenetz
Shared topic between articles: causes of debt among students and young people
Specific issue of each essay:
| Waking Up and Taking Charge | College Debt |
| Young people need to take charge, lobby, and using their voice on issues that effect them. | College degree has become too common and is losing value, trade is an option. |
Based on what you have learned about Kamenetz:
I say she would be because she went to Yale, has a good education that she paid a lot of money for I’m sure. She an education blogger, and has also been featured in documentaries about student loans and debt.
How controversial is her proposal?
It would say it’s controversial because what she is proposing effects more than one party. For example, credit card companies. If students start lobbying high interest rates on loans and credit lines, these companies will begin losing money, or customers all together.
PAC- Political Action Committee. Controversial also because she is encouraging people to join PACs. A lot of people don’t like PACs. They aren’t voters or citizens but they influence outcomes. With the money they can give/withhold they can influence candidates and influence public opinion.
A Place for My Thoughts 