Introduction and Summary of the Two Articles About Going to College

The authors of the two articles with contrasting views about people don't have to go to college are Holy Epstein Ojalvo whose article gets titled, "Why go to College at All," and Ashley Thorne with the title, "Ten reasons not to go college." Holy Epstein Ojalvo argues going to college from the positive dimensions. He recognizes that college education plays a significant role in an individual's life as opposed to high school diploma. One of the reasons which the article presents revolves the recognition of learning as a rigorous activity which requires a conducive environment. It is, therefore, at the colleges where students can access the environment and partake of the learning activity. He also notes that college education allows students to establish connections which they may use in the future when seeking for employment or improving the concept of socialization and diversity. As the article progresses, we are introduced to one Mr. Stephen who agrees with most of the arguments that compel students to go to college.

The article goes further to argue that going to college also enables students to discover and develop inventions about particular things which may not be known. It thus comes out clearly, that according to Holy Epstein Ojalvo, college education plays a significant role in realizing the unknown abilities of the learner due to the various inventions and creation of certain things which may be of greater significance. The article goes ahead to discuss several issues concerning going to college with the last concern in the summary getting based on the status it bestows upon an individual. In most situations, those who go to colleges share in the state of the particular college in which they went to acquire education. At times, it also comes out as a sign of prestige especially in the event where the college in which the person went to is one that is known for better performance or offering credible courses that are accepted globally by the employers.

On the other hand, Ashley Thorne presents a divergent opinion that opposes the view of Holy Epstein Ojalvo. According to her, she shares in the argument of Charles Murray which informs about people having varying abilities. The abilities may either be educational or those that require a student to go to a vocational institution and acquire technical skills as opposed to the college education. In the event of the student opting for the college education, then there exists a likelihood of the student not blending well with the technocrat society. The other view on not going to college revolves the debt incurred with no proper plan for employment. Ashley notes of college students being offered loans by the government or even from parents. The parents may as well spend all their savings on the student education and in the end failing to recover the money considering the stiff competition in the job market. Therefore, she is of the opinion of students considering other alternatives which may prevent them from incurring a lot of debt and at the same time acquiring immediate returns. An excellent example of these options are the courses offered at the vocational centers. Even though there exist at least ten points in the article published by Ashley Thorne, the dominant one revolved the acquisition of toxic habits amongst the youths. Some of the toxic habits noted include the binge drinking and hooking up with others. Most of the students engage in these practices courtesy of peer pressure and at last suffer consequential outcomes.

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In consideration of the summaries concerning the articles, the primary aim will be based on giving a comparative analysis concerning the views and drawing a conclusion as to which view or opinion can be adopted as far as going to college is concerned. It should also be noted that the points to be compared are those that have been highlighted in the summaries of both Holy Epstein Ojalvo and Ashley Thorne.

Three arguments of Holy Epstein Ojalvo and their supportive points

The former has argued reasons for going to college to be based on the environment which it provides. The primary support for the point as noted by the author is that learning is a rigorous process which requires a calm and conducive atmosphere characterized by fewer disturbances. The second point revolves the aspect of offering the chance that enables people to connect regardless of their backgrounds. The primary support provided pertained college education bringing people together with a common goal. The different people interact and establish connections which may be useful in matters employment or other significant areas. The last point pertained the status which it bestows upon an individual. It enables a person to be associated with the institution and may as well offer a sense of prestige.

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The arguments presented by Holy Epstein Ojalvo goes contrary to the opinion of people not having to go college. Holy Epstein still holds the view pertaining the significance of college education. He believes that going to college enables a person to achieve certain things which may not be achieved when a person fails to go to college. Therefore, the next paragraph will primarily focus on the view of Ashley Thorne which according to the summaries above appear to support the topic in the discussion.

Three arguments of Ashley Thorne and their supportive points

On the part of Ashley, she noted the existence of different abilities on people hence no need for going to college. People should be allowed to freely choose the courses they want to partake even if they are from the vocational institutions. She also drew her second concern on the debt incurred with less reward after the completion of studies. She believes that the debts exist as a double tragedy to a person who has gone to college since he may lack employment and at the time required to repay the debt. Lastly, she argued on the toxic habits which may be acquired from the colleges. The supportive evidence she gave includes habits like binge drinking and hooking up.

Analysis of the two sources based on the logos, pathos, and ethos

Based on the logos, it gets essential to weigh the merits and demerits of going to college to establish a sound comparison of the two divergent views. Even though Holy Epstein Ojalvo focuses most on the benefits while Ashley gets concerned with the demerits, Holy appear to present his arguments logically and even appreciating the existence of particular challenges on going to college through one Mr. Stephen. The depicted does not out rule the concerns of Ashley Thorne, but it is not agreeable that college education has more demerits than merits. I also disagree to some extent with the view of the debt incurred. There are courses at the college level which when taken by a student can guarantee better returns, for example, medicine and surgery among others.

When comparing the two articles based on the pathos, it comes out clearly that the concerns of Ashley Thorne evoked much pity on the students who opt to go to college. The dominant area where she qualified in applying the pathos concerns the acquisition of toxic behaviors due to peer pressure. It came out clearly that some students may also lose track while in college because of the people they meet, a concern which should be given significant consideration. Lastly, from the dimension of the ethos, it gets arguable that both the articles got based on the beliefs and culture which people have pertaining going to college. None of the views got depicted out of context since they are all based on the college set-up. Both of them, therefore, used the technique appropriately in arguing their concerns.

Conclusion

In summary, it gets essential to note that the arguments presented by both Holy Epstein Ojalvo and Ashley Thorne hold meaning about going or not going to college. Holy Epstein Ojalvo contrasted the topic by arguing the positives which should make people go to college whereas Ashley Thorne agrees with the question that people don't have to go to college. Ashley went ahead in arguing the various concerns which should make people not to go to college. Some of the concerns included the considerable debt with little reward among others. It, therefore, gets vital to note that the argument on people going or not having to go to college is a broad one which should be observed keenly and deliberated upon appropriately.

Works Cited

Holly E. Why People go to College. New York Times. 2012. Print. Retrieved from

Website Title: The New York Times

Article Title: Why Go to College at All?

Publisher: The New York Times

Electronically Published: February 02, 2012

Date Accessed: October 04, 2017

Author: Holly Epstein Ojalvo

Ashley T. 10 Reasons not to go to College. NAS Article. 2010. Print. Retrieved from https://www.nas.org/articles/10_Reasons_Not_to_Go_to_College

Website Title: The NAS Article

Article Title: 10 Reasons not to go to College

Publisher: The NAS Article

Electronically Published: May 26, 2010

Date Accessed: October 21, 2017

Author: Ashley Thorne