Liz Addison, ”Two Years Are Better Than Four” (255)

Liz Addison, ”Two Years Are Better Than Four” (255)

1. What view is Liz Addison responding to? Who exactly is her “They Say?”
2. How does Addison make clear that her topic is really important–and that it should matter to readers?

Freeman Hrabowski, ”Colleges Prepare People for Life” (259)

1. After reading Freeman Hrabowski’s essay carefully, pick the one sentence that you think expresses its main idea. Why? Explain your choice.
2. Hrabowski stresses the role of college in preparing leaders who help their communities. What counterarguments could you present to his emphasis on college as a place to learn to help others?

Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill, “Should Everyone Go to College?” (208)

1. Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill announce the “they say” in their second sentence—“Study after study reminds us that higher education is one of the best investments we can make”—and then proceed to report on how the return on that investment varies. What factors do they say make college a questionable investment? Do you agree or disagree?
2. Owen and Sawhill’s analysis seems to favor baccalaureate degree programs as conferring the greatest advantages upon students. How might Liz Addison (pages 255-258) respond to their argument?

Charles Murray, “Are Too Many People Going to College?” (234)

1. Charles Murray’s “they say” is explicit: “too many people are going to college.” We know what Murray thinks. But why does he think this? In the rest of his essay, he tells us why. Summarize his argument, noting all the reasons and evidence he gives to support his claim (refer to Chapter 2 for summary review).
2. Is Murray right—are too many people going to college? If you agree with him, do you find his argument persuasive? If you disagree, why?