Linda Borgen RWS 280 June 17, 2010 Word Count: 1,272 Cheaters, Liars, and Imposters, Oh My! Growing up, do you remember hearing the phrase, “honesty is the best policy?” Our society has lost the mentality of being honest in order to succeed and get ahead in life, even if it means they must go against their morals and cheat. David Callahan, a political science professor and speaker of an academic lecture “On Campus: Author Discusses the ‘Cheating Culture’ with College Students,” claims that American society has taken root in the “cheating culture,” that welcomes and praises those who have chosen to conform to cheating. This occurs in business, in sports, and in academia and as a result, they have all become more competitive in a “winner take all society” (par. 18).
Guerra argues that it is a mistake to think that a liberal education means that one is intellectually and culturally, as the saying goes, well rounded. His article describes liberal educated people as the jack of all trades, who is also the master of none, yet students are pushed to choose where they will study, what they will study, and who the will be studying that with. Pushing more towards student audiences he points out that “We are choosing to believe that a particular person, perhaps our mother or father or brother or high school teacher….is worthy of our trust.”
“Critical thinking is the ability to think for ones self and to reliably and responsibly make the decisions that effect ones life” (Garner 64) “Critical thinking is an important component of all colleges. It is a part of the education process and is increasingly significant as student’s progress through university to graduate education, although there is debate among educators about its precise meaning and scope” (Ritola 21). College is about thinking, and it will help one understand how to become a critical thinker which is, someone who doesn’t believe everything he or she hears or reads but instead looks for evidence before forming an opinion. Critical thinking allows one to think outside the box and develop ones own ideas and solutions. “Developing critical thinking skills will empower one to make sound decisions throughout ones life” (Garner 3).
“The only real learning for leadership is leadership " THE HISTORY - WHAT I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT MYSELF During my undergraduate study, I had taken the Myers-Briggs test which forced me to admit what I am not capable of performing as an individual. I have learned that I value my strengths and take advantage of my abilities, but ignore my weaknesses. To grow as a person and get what I want out of life I must not only capitalize on my strengths, but also face my weaknesses head on. This will not only better me as a person, but it will also force me to be honest with myself. One of my personal strengths is that I am able to cut straight to the chase in any situation and not be sidetracked by non-essential issues; Moreover, I have a propensity for leadership, which follows naturally, from my ability to control and manage real world situations.
11). For some students, learning and understanding are not their goal of education. They come to class just to get a certificate. This thinking affects students’ behaviour because they only need to finish the assignment or to get the grade. Crawford Kilian writes in her article “Plagiarism for beginners” about this attitude of students: You are in school only to get a non academic job.
Barber-Bloom Synthesis Education was, still, and will always be the most important base for each society, country and nation. At first glance, it is apparent in both Barber’s and Bloom’s essays that they are writing about the problems in universities. However, each one has his own perspective of the problems that exists in the universities. Barber, firstly, wrote that the main problem that makes the education used as a tool that offers profits not for the sake of knowledge and educating the people is commercialization. Advertisements and commercials are everywhere nowadays even between our hands.
Armed with vast resources of information, and brimming with some of the most brilliant minds in the world, universities certainly have ample potential to be at the forefront of heralding this change in society. An effort should certainly be made to promote an argumentative culture within the academia. It might make sense to make it compulsory to have classes in which students are asked to present opposing takes on various issues.As Unterreiner says,students need to have the medicine of contrary ideological views forced down their throats to cure the ailment of ideological
Overtime I grew frustrated and noticed that the only way I’d make it in this life is to settle my nose down into some state educational program to get a paper that shows my worth to this earth. When I say worth I don’t want to make you think in terms of money, even though that’s exactly what school and learning is about for many people. The more you know in your field of study the more you make salary-wise. I just want to know more so I can help people and friends figure out what they want out of their life and how to fulfill their personal purpose. When working with people you must understand when and how to communicate.
Also the author’s description of Yale students is relative to colleges in America everywhere. Zinsser say, “If I have described the modern undergraduate primarily as a driven creature who is largely ignoring the blithe spirit inside who keeps trying to come out and play, it’s because that’s where the crunch is, not only Yale but throughout American education”. In addition to pressures listed by Zinsser there are many more pressures college students possibly face, such as: facing the future and multitasking. Facing the future is probably the pressure I deal with the most. While I have a clear idea of what I want to do as an adult, I also find myself overwhelmed by trying to figure out what I want to do with my life.
Berkowitz quotes King who states “most college men have a misconception of the purpose of education. Most of the "brethren" think that education should equip them with the proper instruments of exploitation so that they can forever trample over the masses. Still others think that education should furnish them with noble ends rather than means to an end.” Education is not just a tool individual learns to succeed in life. Education is a process where one learns to reason for their own, from experiences others have, to solve problems. This is what King seeks to explain to the reader in his essay.