Great choice! Writing in favor of attending college after high school allows you to explore various benefits and opportunities that higher education offers. You can argue about how college education enhances career prospects, increases earning potential, fosters personal growth and development, and provides valuable life skills. Additionally, you can discuss how college opens doors to a wider range of opportunities, including access to specialized knowledge, networking opportunities, and diverse learning experiences. Let me know if you need further assistance with developing your argument or structuring your essay!
Of course! Here’s a brief overview of the main points you could include in your thesis statement for the argument in favor of attending college after high school:
1. Career Advancement: Attending college after high school provides individuals with the necessary skills and qualifications to pursue rewarding careers in various fields.
2. Higher Earning Potential: College graduates typically earn higher salaries compared to those with only a high school diploma, making higher education a wise investment in one’s future financial stability.
3. Personal Growth and Development: College offers a unique opportunity for personal growth and development through exposure to diverse perspectives, critical thinking skills, and intellectual exploration.
4. Access to Opportunities: Higher education opens doors to a wide range of opportunities, including internships, research experiences, study abroad programs, and networking opportunities that can enrich one’s academic and professional journey.
5. Preparation for Life: College equips students with essential life skills such as communication, problem-solving, time management, and adaptability, which are invaluable in navigating the complexities of the modern world.
Your thesis statement could be something like: “Attending college after high school is essential for career advancement, as it provides individuals with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities necessary for personal growth, higher earning potential, and success in today’s competitive job market.”
Feel free to adjust and refine this thesis statement according to the specific arguments and evidence you plan to present in your essay!
Resources Supporting the Thesis Statement:
1. Academic Journals:
– “The Economic Value of College Majors” by Anthony P. Carnevale, Jeff Strohl, and Michelle Melton
– “The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society” by Pew Research Center
2. Books:
– “Higher Education and the Future of Graduate Employability: A Connectedness Learning Approach” by Aline-Wendy Dunlop and Sharon R. Reddy
– “The Case for College: Why It’s Worth It to Invest in Higher Education” by Dave Ramsey
3. Research Reports:
– “How College Shapes Lives: Understanding the Issues” by American Council on Education
– “Education Pays: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society” by College Board Advocacy & Policy Center
4. Government Publications:
– “Employment Projections” by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
– “The Condition of Education” by National Center for Education Statistics
Resources Opposing the Thesis Statement:
1. Academic Journals:
– “Is College Worth It? An Examination of Undergraduate Education and Student Outcomes” by Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa
– “The Trouble with Higher Education: A Critical Examination of our Universities” by Jason Brennan and Phillip Magness
2. Books:
– “The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money” by Bryan Caplan
– “Is College Worth It?: A Former United States Secretary of Education and a Liberal Arts Graduate Expose the Broken Promise of Higher Education” by William J. Bennett and David Wilezol
3. Opinion Articles:
– “Is College Worth It? Clearly, New Data Say” by David Leonhardt (The New York Times)
– “The Value of a College Education: Should College Be Free?” by Kevin R. McClure (The Conversation)
4. Research Reports:
– “The Undereducated American” by Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce
– “The Overeducated American” by Richard Vedder and Christopher Denhart (The Independent Institute)
These resources provide a comprehensive range of perspectives on the topic of attending college after high school, allowing for a well-rounded analysis and argumentation in the essay.
Resources Supporting the Thesis Statement:
1. Academic Journals:
– “The Economic Value of College Majors” by Anthony P. Carnevale, Jeff Strohl, and Michelle Melton
– “The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society” by Pew Research Center
2. Books:
– “Higher Education and the Future of Graduate Employability: A Connectedness Learning Approach” by Aline-Wendy Dunlop and Sharon R. Reddy
– “The Case for College: Why It’s Worth It to Invest in Higher Education” by Dave Ramsey
3. Research Reports:
– “How College Shapes Lives: Understanding the Issues” by American Council on Education
– “Education Pays: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society” by College Board Advocacy & Policy Center
4. Government Publications:
– “Employment Projections” by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
– “The Condition of Education” by National Center for Education Statistics
Resources Opposing the Thesis Statement:
1. Academic Journals:
– “Is College Worth It? An Examination of Undergraduate Education and Student Outcomes” by Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa
– “The Trouble with Higher Education: A Critical Examination of our Universities” by Jason Brennan and Phillip Magness
2. Books:
– “The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money” by Bryan Caplan
– “Is College Worth It?: A Former United States Secretary of Education and a Liberal Arts Graduate Expose the Broken Promise of Higher Education” by William J. Bennett and David Wilezol
3. Opinion Articles:
– “Is College Worth It? Clearly, New Data Say” by David Leonhardt (The New York Times)
– “The Value of a College Education: Should College Be Free?” by Kevin R. McClure (The Conversation)
4. Research Reports:
– “The Undereducated American” by Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce
– “The Overeducated American” by Richard Vedder and Christopher Denhart (The Independent Institute)
These resources provide a comprehensive range of perspectives on the topic of attending college after high school, allowing for a well-rounded analysis and argumentation in the essay.
Rough Draft:
Attending college after high school is crucial for career advancement and overall success in today’s competitive job market. Academic journals, such as “The Economic Value of College Majors” by Carnevale, Strohl, and Melton, and “The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society” by Pew Research Center, highlight the significant advantages of pursuing higher education. These sources emphasize how college equips individuals with essential skills, knowledge, and opportunities for personal growth, ultimately leading to higher earning potential.
Books like “Higher Education and the Future of Graduate Employability” by Dunlop and Reddy, and “The Case for College” by Dave Ramsey, further support the importance of attending college. They argue that college education prepares individuals for the demands of the modern workforce and provides them with the necessary tools to navigate and succeed in their chosen career paths.
Additionally, research reports from reputable organizations such as the American Council on Education and the College Board Advocacy & Policy Center underscore the positive impact of higher education on individuals and society. These reports highlight how college graduates tend to have better job prospects, higher salaries, and greater job satisfaction compared to those with only a high school diploma.
While there may be opposing viewpoints, such as those presented in books like “The Case Against Education” by Caplan and “Is College Worth It?” by Bennett and Wilezol, the overwhelming evidence supports the notion that attending college after high school is essential for career advancement and overall success. Therefore, it is imperative for individuals to pursue higher education to maximize their potential and opportunities in today’s competitive job market.
Include a thesis statement that provides your position about going to college, trades school, or starting a career after graduating high school.
Remember that a paragraph is a minimum of 3-5 clear and well-developed sentences.
There are tips for writing an introduction in the Introduction and Conclusion Argument Paper video.
Body of the Essay
Write a minimum of 5-7 paragraphs for this section.
Include one claim to support your thesis statement for each paragraph.
Use at least three of the sources provided to you on the Argumentative Writing Skills page.
Include quotes or paraphrases from one of your sources followed by an in-text citation for each paragraph.
Provide a source for at least one counterargument and explain why the counterargument is not valid.
Remember when including quotes from a source, try to keep this to 1 sentence within a body paragraph.
Remember that a paragraph is typically a minimum of 3-5 sentences.
Conclusion Paragraph
Restate the position you provided in your thesis statement.
Write at least 3 sentences that summarize the claims you made in your body paragraphs.
Make sure you do not present new details in this paragraph.
Works Cited Page
Use MLA format
List all the sources used to support your argument.
Review tips for creating citations in the Using the Citation Tool in Microsoft Word video.
Review tips for creating citations in the Using the Citation Tool in Google Docs video.
There are tips for creating citations in MLA Citations in your course.
Writing Mechanics
Remember to write in third-person.
Match the subject and the verb.
Use clear pronouns / antecedent agreement.
Use correct word combinations.
Correct spelling and punctuation.
Clear and Concise Writing
Sentences should be clear.
Avoid run-on or fragmented sentences.
