Some people believe that a college or university diploma has become
far less meaningful than before, with ever larger percentages of people
receiving higher-levels of education. Others believe that it is a positive
development to have increasing numbers of students graduating from college. Discuss
these views. Which view do you agree with?
☆Let’s Think
Discuss the following.
1.
This is a long writing topic. What
would be the first thing to do to answer this kind of writing topic?
Note: The
first thing to do to answer this king of writing topic would be to read the two
opposite views carefully and analyze them.
2.
Discuss the first view. Why do
you think
they say this? What kind of values is the idea based on?
they say this? What kind of values is the idea based on?
Note: The
first view, a college or university diploma has become far less meaningful than
before, with ever larger percentages of people receiving higher-levels of
education, is negative about rising college-bound rates and reminds you of the phrase,
“scarcity value”. This opinion sees a college or university diploma as
something like a commodity that has a value in the market. The market is probably
the job market in this case. When you apply for a job, having a higher
educational background than others is an advantage. Unlike those living long
time ago, however, most people in developed countries go to college now and
there is little advantage in having a bachelor’s degree when you try to find a
job.
3.
Discuss the second view. What
does development mean here? What kind of values is the idea based on?
Note: The
second view says that having more college graduates is a positive development. It
is probably about the development of society with the increase of the number of
highly-educated citizens. What is good about society filled with people with
higher-levels of education? Well-educated people can read and write well. They
have a lot of general knowledge and have been trained to think logically and conclude
based on evidences. Many of them also have special knowledge and skills for
specific jobs. Developing countries with good leaders spend a lot of money on
education especially on university education because they need highly-trained human
resources to build their countries: engineers, doctors, office workers,
teachers, and many other professions that require at least a college degree. This
is fundamentally true to developed countries, too. Increasing numbers of
college graduates indicates prosperity.
4.
What is you view on this topic?
Note: Each view has a point. The difference between these views might be
the values that they are based on. What does a college diploma mean? Why do you
go to college?
☆Hints for points
Discussion points on the first view
1.
If most people have a bachelor’s
degree, having one means that you are average, not special.
2.
Having a college degree is no
longer an advantage when you look for a good job.
3.
The trend automatically
requires you to acquire more than the college or university degree to make a
head-start in society.
Discussion points on the second view
1.
The more people go to university,
the better future we will have. Highly-educated workforce will develop society.
Developing countries that spend a lot of money on higher education are doing
well while those that do not or cannot stay poor. Modern industrialized society
requires highly-qualified workers with good interpersonal skills. College or
university graduates meet these needs and some even have special skills that
many companies are in need of.
2.
Geniuses appear when cultural
level of societies are high. Statistically, children of college graduates are
more likely to go college. With so many problems concerning all human beings
such as energy problems and food shortage, we are in dire need of many brilliant
people who can handle this situation.
3.
Well-educated citizens can protect
democracy. If most people are highly educated, they can understand what
politicians and corporate officials are doing, and can prevent politics from
going wrong.
4.
Open admission is a step to
equal society. In many countries, college education is still only for the elite.
Also, few women were allowed to go to college a hundred years ago. If the day
comes when all people on the earth can go to college, it will be an accomplishment
of humankind.
5.
Knowledge and skills acquired
at college will make the person’s everyday life easier and more enjoyable. If
the number of individuals who are happy increases, it can be said that it is a
good thing.
☆Essay for Ideas and
Expressions:
Although the hard work one does to go to college does not seem to be
rewarded as many others go to college now, I personally consider it
intrinsically good that more people have contact with the best in education. It
will contribute to the development of society and will enrich individuals’
life.
It is true that the value of college diploma as qualification goes
down as more people go to college. Having a bachelor’s degree is no longer a
great advantage. Most people in developed countries go to college and no one
makes much of a college degree anymore. Seventy years ago, graduating from
college or university was an accomplishment, but now, it is a preliminary for
white-color employment.
However, it is also true that having higher numbers of college graduates is a positive development. First, it develops the economy. As the education level of a society goes up, so do the living standards of the people. In a developed economy, college or university education seems to be redundant. Many college graduates in rich countries are doing the job that high school graduates were doing fifty years ago. Still, the fact that the same job is done by a person with higher academic background means the society benefits from the well-educated personnel, who are trained to work effectively and pro-actively.
Second, it will be good for the cohesion of the community. If a
larger percentage of citizens are well-educated, it will be easier to reach a consensus
on issues that require higher levels of knowledge to understand. For example, today’s
world is full of such issues as global warming and immigration crisis for right
perception of which mind of enlightenment is required. In addition, the more
conscious and informed citizens become, the more critical issues they can
solve. This is especially important when they have a delinquent government. Informed
citizens will not let it deceive them and ruin their lives.
Lastly, more individuals having the luxury of receiving higher
education means more people given chances to make their lives more fulfilling. At
university, people are trained to think in scientific ways, see things from
multiple perspectives, and keep themselves informed and inspired even after
graduation. The increasing numbers of housewives with college diplomas means
more informed mothers and happier children.
Experiences in highly academic circumstances will light up each individual’s
life and collectively this is good for society. Therefore, I believe that to
have more college graduates is a positive development that should be celebrated.
A bachelor’s degree is not only a qualification for job-hunting but also a building
block of society.
☆Your Sample
Essay Structure
Reminder:
The topic instructs you to discuss both views.
【Introduction = Outline】
【Point 1】
【Point 2】
【Point 3】
【Conclusion = Wrap-up】
