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William Cronon Only Connect Analysis

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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 …show more content…

The power and the will to connect is a trait that is worthy to pertain. Everyone can connect in different ways, and by connecting to others we form a group that, as a whole, does exhibit all the qualities in Cronon’s list. Cronon’s list could be shorten to one: connecting; and through that trait we would create a collection of people that would result in the rest of his list. You can see this happening in superhero comics, such as the Avengers or the Justice League. A single superhero can only have so many strengths, but in a group those strengths are combined with others’ strengths to create a stronger force against …show more content…

First let me define what I think a liberally educated person is. In theory, a liberally educated person is someone who has received a well-rounded education, but I consider it to be more defined than that. I believe a liberally educated person is simply someone who is constantly using their skills to improve themselves and their communities. In order to do this, you need to have some sort of education. When you want to become a better writer, you study great writers, when you want to become a better artist, you study great artist, and so if you want to become a better person, a liberally educated person, you study great heroes, superheroes. Studying superheroes teach you about the liberally educated qualities listed by Cronon, and studying superheroes individually teach you the key virtues of connecting: selflessness, bravery and perseverance. In the end, to be able to learn, grow, and aid your community, you just need to connect with others. Connecting is what makes societies, superheroes, and liberally educated people come together and from a strong

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