Edited by Noel merino, How Valuable is a College Degree? explores issues concerning the worth or rather value of pursuing a college degree. Merino provides a range of opinions regarding the specific social issue. There is a mismatch between what is required to get a job in various occupations and the amount of education required obtained by employees. The problem can be viewed on two standpoints; underemployment of youths as well as jobs that require vastly less levels of education. As such, there has been controversies surrounding the worthiness of a college degree. Through an objective language, persuasion, and supported evidence, the book informs the reader on opinions of how valuable a college degree is.
In the book, Merino uses objective language to focus on the plain facts about a college degree. To begin with, he says that there are rising costs of not going to college. The language is objective because realistically, most organization want a task force that has earned a college degree. As such, the reader becomes aware on how much likely they are to miss on job opportunities if they were to drop out from college or fail to enroll for a degree. Merino says, “About nine -in-ten adults” with a bachelors degree or more education 91% say that considering what they and their family paid for undergraduate education, it has paid off for them or they expect it will pay in the future” (2016). The author uses objective language to back up his claims on the importance of earning a college degree. At some point he makes the reader relate while growing up, parents used to tell their children that in order to get a good job, they should get good education.
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Another instance in which the author uses objective language is holding onto the claim of a how important a college degree is but then refutes with the rising costs. The figures he gives on how expensive college education has become reveals that the book is not based on mere subjective arguments or rather the author’s opinions but facts that can be proved. Merino states, “According to a 2015 report by the US Department of Education’s National Center for Statistics, the cost of college education has doubled over the last thirty years” (2016). Besides, there has been ongoing studies regarding the high amounts of loans students have incurred in terms of debt. As such the book is objective and facts provided can be backed up by evidence from previous studies and credible institutions such as the Department of Education.
Also, Merino’s How Valuable is a College Degree? is informative and persuasive at the same time. From a standpoint of informative, the author educates his audience based on a wide range of previously done studies. Each of the topics in the book has a study which he uses to back up his information. The first topic for instance, “The Rising Cost of Not Going to College” is informative in that it makes the reader aware of the importance of the social issue regardless of the controversies. Considering that a college degree may have decreased its value due to the high number of students graduating and the high rates of unemployment, readers are likely to also not see the value. Merino however, uses informative topics and a well-done research to inform his readers. On the first topic, for instance, data from the Pew Research Center is used to inform the audience. The author also persuades his audience regarding the issue at hand at the end of each topic. For instance, in the 13 th chapter of the book, the author persuades the audience into believing that amidst the debate, a college degree is a right. Merino is convinced that education being a right, it should not be as costly as the college degree is.
In my opinion Merino’s book instills sense and is credible because of the numerous evidences. How Valuable is a College Degree? is divided into twelve chapters, all of which have been backed by evidence. The first chapter of the book for instance, has evidence from Pew Research Center. In chapter 8, the author uses credible sources of information to inform and persuade the audience regarding the diminishing value of a college degree. He uses Richard Vedder, Robe, and Denhart, all of whom are credible sources of information due to their professional relations with colleges and other institutions of higher learning (Vedder & Strehle, 2017). As such, the use of credible evidence throughout the books makes it a credible source of information. Merino also has organized his work from with headings and subheadings which makes it easy for the audience to follow through his arguments.
In conclusion, the use of an objective language, persuasion, and supported evidence, the book informs the reader on opinions of how valuable a college degree is. As highlighted in the essay, Merino supports his information with previously done researches as well as credible sources of information. Also, he uses objective language that is not based on mere opinions but backed up with evidence. The information he presents is also accurate as it is in the studies he used as sources of evidence. This book adds to the concern and ongoing debate on the importance of a college degree. Yet still it leaves the audience to ponder, gauge, and reflect may be, with personal experiences how valuable a college degree has been to them.
References
Merino, N. (Ed.). (2016). How Valuable is a College Degree? Greenhaven Publishing LLC.
Vedder, R., & Strehle, J. (2017). The diminishing returns of a college degree. Wall Street Journal .
