College Attendance Rhetorical Analysis

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Higher education through university attendance after high school is emphasized more than ever in today’s world. Despite this parents and students are questioning if the cost of college is too great to be worthwhile. Though individuals are seemingly obligated to attend college, many are finding the cost of attending cannot compare to the opportunities presented elsewhere. College attendance has become almost mandatory in this country, it’s time to change the stigma. Michael Roth argues that “A successful liberal arts degree develops the capacity for innovation and for judgment” (Source B). This statement isn’t quite true. As a student in a vocational high school, it is apparent some of the most of the highly creative students are the ones who work well with their hands and aren’t necessarily academically inclined. Vocational education also promotes critical thinking and problem solving skills. Vocational students are exposed to real world issues through shops and learn how to properly cope with these issues all before graduating high school and without gaining “higher education” through college courses. …show more content…
Most college graduates get hired for so called “desk jobs”. Many desk jobs are selling products, accounting, and a myriad of other services that can be done from anywhere in the world, unlike skilled labors such as mechanics, plumbers, electricians, and carpenters. This point is strengthened with Blinder’s words “You can’t hammer a nail over the Internet” (Source A). On top of greater job security, skilled tradesmen and women are idealized as “the salt of the earth” this is because, as Crawford puts it “Beneath our gratitude for the lineman may rest envy” (A). Most individuals who go to college just for a desk job envy those who have a job that is straightforwardly useful. Not feeling satisfied in your work is one of the biggest costs of going to