Becoming A Learner

Patrick Henry, a Virginian lawyer, made himself known for the speeches supporting American democracy. He is known as the "Orator of Liberty." In 1775, American colonists were still under Great Britain’s power. Many were hoping to be able to work out their disagreements and remain British subjects. Patrick Henry had had enough of cooperating with the British. Henry believed the only solution left was to go to war with Britain. So he gives a speech to the Virginia Convention to plead his cause. In his speech he uses many different examples of ethos, pathos, and logos.

Ethos, Logos, and Pathos are important aspects in Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”. The meaning behind Ethos is to appeal to ethics, which means convincing readers of the author’s credibility, meanwhile Pathos is an appeal to emotion, and is used in literature to convince readers of an argument by getting their emotions involved. Last but not least, Logos is the appeal to logic and is used to persuade readers using a force of reason. These terms are important in MLK’s Letter from Birmingham Jail because the foundation of the letter is built upon ideas of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. King shows Ethos in his letter by writing back to the clergy men who had objections against King’s protest in Birmingham. They basically called him an outsider but by establishing his credibility, King shows that he is in fact an

In the popular video “Why I Hate School but Love Education” a man named Darryll Amoako introduces us to some of the issues with today’s upper education system. The presenter, Darryll, is a distressed college graduate who wishes to persuade the viewer to not fall into some of the traps along the way to becoming successful. The main trap talked about is the idea that to be successful, you need to attend some form of higher education. Throughout the video the use of rhetorical devices, such as logos, ethos, and pathos are employed to make the viewer understand and agree with the idea that higher education should not be forced upon students.

To begin with, it is extremely important that our educational system stops promoting false confidence and allowing students to unlearn their current outlook on life. Both Davidson and Twenge touch upon the flaws in the current education system. As Davidson describes, “Confidence in your ability to learn is confidence in your ability to unlearn, to switch assumptions or methods or partnerships in order to do better. This is true not only for you, as an individual, but for whole institutions” (Davidson 67). Davidson believes true confidence, allows one to not only learn important ideas, but also forsake the ideas that may harm him or her from reaching a goal; she also mentions that this notion does not apply just to an individual person, but also applies

High school seniors are faced with a wide variety of decisions as they approach graduation. They must decide whether or not they are going to attend college, begin working, or do something else. If they do decide to attend college, they also must decide whether to pursue a liberal arts education or a vocational one. A liberal arts education primarily includes a collection of different classes and topics students can choose to take and study. A vocational route will mainly educate students on their specific intended career. Each method of education can be argued for and against.

Ever wanted to throw down that textbook and read something enjoyable for once? Well, go ahead! Chunk that dull textbook out a window and pick up a comic; it will be more beneficial to your education than you think. The skills and values that liberally educated people should posses can vary from different views, yet the list of ten qualities that William Cronon created in his article, “’Only Connect…’ The Goals of a Liberal Education”(1998), is an inspirational goal for the liberally educated. Cronon’s list of qualities includes solving problems and puzzles, empowering others, and understanding how to get stuff done in the world. However, as I read through Cronon’s list, I could not come up with one person who had all ten qualities of a liberally

Kareem Abdul-Jabber writes an article explaining the attack on education and the serious problems in the classroom involving teachers and students. Abdul-Jabbar describes how students only hold on to one perspective; students should explore different perspectives on topics, and question education’s opinions on practical matters. Republicans, Democrats, and non-partisan discuss this controversy over education. Abdul-Jabbar demonstrated bias by outlining his side of the argument, to where the other argument had little outlining. The author’s argument of the education system has problems was discussed throughout the article and there was rarely any discussing of the education system

In The Achievement Habit, written by Bernard Roth, Roth showcases many of the human minds greatest weaknesses. Roth, a respected professor at the University of Stanford, teaches a “D. School” at Stanford. In this school, Roth now requires every student who enrolled read this book, which is now used all over the country for the exact reasons Roth wants. Roth expresses his opinions throughout the book but none of his opinions or quotes stick out more than his claim that “reasons are bullshit” (Roth 38). While the points and claims Roth makes doesn't make specifically make his audience weaker, it does prevent growing and getting stronger. Roth uses rhetorical appeals throughout the book to further expand his argument and reach out to the readers on a personal level, teaching the same principles that is taught to the students in the D. School. Most people will believe a good reason can relieve any situation, if manipulated well enough. Roth shuts this theory down in the second chapter, as reasons are all made up and not believable and quickly become excuses or ways to barely get by instead of achieving the goals people really want or striving to be the best. Too many goals and promises are not reached or completed through

In his Chronicles of Higher Education essay, “A Ban On Brain-Boosting Drugs Is Not The Answer, Matt Lamkin aims to influence his reader to encourage students to engage in the practice of Education, rather than frighten them with threats. Lamkin tells us “If colleges believe that enhancing cognition with drugs deprives students of the true value of education, they must encourage students to adapt that value as their own” (642). Lamkin used many techniques, including appeal to logic, compare and contrast, and consistency to draft his resilient essay. Lamkin uses logos by using valid evidence, such as statistics from a credible source. Lamkin states “34 percent of university’s undergraduates have used stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall as study aids” (641). By using this statistic, Lamkin identifies that there is a rising problem with the use of prescription drugs among college students that needs a solution. Lamkin then goes on to state “Wesleyan University

After describing universities like Duke, Stanford and other Ivie schools as elite private universities, Cathy Davidson in her essay “project Classroom Makeover” gives the implication that what is elite is what is considered excelling in surpassing the standards and having more power than others. This description, however, is only a snippet of how Davison views elite organizations and how those standards that qualify or nullify institutions are not as effective as they should be.

With that he talks about banner displays from two different schools and compares the meaning of the two different displays. And one of the banner displays has a very meaningful message for their students. The other banner display has a vague message for students to take away what they think it and what they want to take away from it. William deresiewicz main message in his article is that today our education system is in the neoliberal age. Meaning today schools are about preparing students for the workforce rather than actually teaching students things we need in life. “In a neoliberal age the main purpose of education is simply to produce producers and not so much about providing students with real education.” (deresiewicz p.2) With that said schools are not teaching to actually learn anything but just to get a job. William also brings up that learning is at risk for students. College has three separate purposes, the commercial which prepares you to start a career, the moral which helps you determine your own beliefs and the cognitive which helps you learn how to think better. (Brooks p.2) Nowadays the most important majors are being foggetten by students at major schools and elite

Gail Collins is a liberal / progressive American journalist, op-ed columnist and author, most recognized for her work with the New York Times. Gail Collins joined The New York Times in 1995 as a member of the editorial board and later as an Op-Ed columnist. In 2001 she was appointed editorial page editor – the first woman to hold that post at The Times. In one of her most recent articles, “Guns-When Trump Can’t Even Tweet,” she addresses the issue of gun control. In order to get her message across she uses appeals to logos, sarcasm, and clearly states her arguments.

A higher education pushes individuals to think, question and explore new and valuable ideas. An excellent education teaches students how to credibly think and prioritise when learning. David Wallace, who gave the Kenyon commencement speech, quoted, “[Learning how to think] means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience”. In his speech, Wallace is endorsing the idea that a higher education doesn't just throw knowledge at students, but it teaches them how to selectively compose their thoughts and construct a meaning from knowledge. Wallace also makes the point that individuals need to learn to adjust their “natural default setting” to become less self-centered.

Martin Luther King Jr. was a very influential and intelligent man who had his own thoughts about education as well as his opinion on what the true purpose of education was. Because of his strong illustrated thoughts about education, he gave a speech called, “The Purpose of Education.” The speech was focused towards his fellow classmates, as well as all the college students to state that they must not confuse knowledge with education.

There are many things that many people wish to do nowadays. One of which is going back to school and earning a degree. To do so though requires yourself to be an active learner. To be an active learner you have to be able to motivate yourself for the work needed. You need to be able to want to learn and be willing to put in extra work to understand better. All of that doesn't work if you don't have direction. The classes you take and the work you do should always put you one step closer to your end goal, whatever that end goal might be. So all in all, not the easiest thing to do. I know for myself, I lack in the motivation department and in asking questions. I have never found school work entertaining so I never found the