What are the benefits and/or drawbacks of four-year schools and community colleges?

Essay #1

Length: 1,000 words (3-4 pages)

Outcomes we are working on in this essay:
support a thesis using credible and adequate source material;
engage in a dialogue with a text, integrating their own ideas with those of others;
construct a logical, well-supported argument;
consider multiple viewpoints in their writing, acknowledging different ways of looking at things.
demonstrate an understanding of audience and purpose, including but not limited to the development of academic tone;
quote, paraphrase, and summarize a text.
For this essay, imagine that a high school student has asked you for advice on whether to go to a community college or a four-year school or not go to college at all. Then write a letter in which you address that student and give them advice on how to make decisions on what to do after high school. If you know someone in high school write now, you can address that person. You can make up a person to write to, or you can write to high school students generally.
Address these questions in your letter: What are the benefits and/or drawbacks of four-year schools and community colleges? What advice would you give?

Your essay MUST use one or both of our readings on college: Ben Casselmans Shut Up About Harvard and/or Liz Addisons Two Years Are Better Than Four. Make sure to devote a full paragraph to summarizing at least one of these essays and use at least one quotation from the essay. Respond to the essay as well: do you agree with it, disagree, or some combination?

This is the one and only essay in which you are allowed to use personal material and use I. You can draw on your own experiences if you wish. (Essays #2-4 will NOT be personal in nature.)

Cite the essay(s) according to MLA format, including a Works Cited page and in-text citations.
Remember that I grade all work pass/fail and follow my grading rubric carefully. I will grade your essay based on the following:
Meeting the minimum word count requirement (1000+ words);
Use of the letter format with a clear audience in mind;
Use of Casselmans and/or Addisons essay and evidence that the writer understood the essay correctly;
At least one paragraph of accurate summary of Casselman and/or Addison;
A clear, detailed answer to the assignment question;
A Use of MLA format, including both in-text citations and a works cited page.

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