Madison Gregory
English 102
Summary Essay January 26, 2016
Liberal Arts Education
According to scholar Edward Levi, “The role of a liberal arts college within a university is to be a genuine part of that university, giving and responding to the other parts.” It seems that not everyone agrees with the positive roles of liberal arts education. In the article “The New Liberal Arts“ by Some Sanford J. Ungar, Ungar discusses the critique of liberal arts education, which is led by misconceptions. Some of the misconceptions of liberal arts colleges that Ungar counter-argues are that the costs of outweigh the benefits, that a liberal arts education is only relevant for certain students, and that liberal arts degrees will not help a student get a job.
It is often said that the costs of the liberal arts colleges are too high, but Ungar argues saying the cost is worth the benefits. Ungar is a firm believer that liberal arts colleges are a good investment in a student's life. He asserts, “... the liberal arts offer is a better investment than ever... ” (Ungar 191). Ungar advocates that the amount of money spent on a liberal educations would pay off with the preparations that this education provides into the real world. Being more prepared to be successful in the future has more meaning than a large paycheck to start out with.
Many people assume that lower income students should not attempt to receive a liberal arts education. Ungar disagrees with this statement completely. Ungar emphasises that “It is condescending to imply that those who have less cannot understand and appreciate the finer elements of knowledge” (Ungar 192). He implies that this a very stereotypical way of thinking and inaccurate. According to Ungar, any person can be successful in a liberal arts college.
The standard way of thinking about liberal arts education has it that this type of education would not be as helpful; in the real world. Ungar debates otherwise. He states, “No evidence suggests, however, that success in scientific and technical fields would be greater if it comes at the expense of a broad background in other areas of the liberal arts“ (Ungar 194). To simplify, Ungar is saying that having a liberal arts education is not a disadvantage when it comes to the workforce. In conclusion, liberal arts education should valued just as much as a science or technology field of education.
Sanford J. Ungar and Edward and Levi had very similar views on liberal arts education although some people disagree with these views. Some incorrect thoughts about liberal arts education that Ungar disagrees within his article, “The New Liberal Arts,” are that the costs of outweigh the benefits, that they are only relevant for certain students, and that liberal arts degrees will not help a student get a job.
Works Cited
Ungar, J. Sanford. "The New Liberal Arts." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 179-189. Print
English 102
Summary Essay January 26, 2016
Liberal Arts Education
According to scholar Edward Levi, “The role of a liberal arts college within a university is to be a genuine part of that university, giving and responding to the other parts.” It seems that not everyone agrees with the positive roles of liberal arts education. In the article “The New Liberal Arts“ by Some Sanford J. Ungar, Ungar discusses the critique of liberal arts education, which is led by misconceptions. Some of the misconceptions of liberal arts colleges that Ungar counter-argues are that the costs of outweigh the benefits, that a liberal arts education is only relevant for certain students, and that liberal arts degrees will not help a student get a job.
It is often said that the costs of the liberal arts colleges are too high, but Ungar argues saying the cost is worth the benefits. Ungar is a firm believer that liberal arts colleges are a good investment in a student's life. He asserts, “... the liberal arts offer is a better investment than ever... ” (Ungar 191). Ungar advocates that the amount of money spent on a liberal educations would pay off with the preparations that this education provides into the real world. Being more prepared to be successful in the future has more meaning than a large paycheck to start out with.
Many people assume that lower income students should not attempt to receive a liberal arts education. Ungar disagrees with this statement completely. Ungar emphasises that “It is condescending to imply that those who have less cannot understand and appreciate the finer elements of knowledge” (Ungar 192). He implies that this a very stereotypical way of thinking and inaccurate. According to Ungar, any person can be successful in a liberal arts college.
The standard way of thinking about liberal arts education has it that this type of education would not be as helpful; in the real world. Ungar debates otherwise. He states, “No evidence suggests, however, that success in scientific and technical fields would be greater if it comes at the expense of a broad background in other areas of the liberal arts“ (Ungar 194). To simplify, Ungar is saying that having a liberal arts education is not a disadvantage when it comes to the workforce. In conclusion, liberal arts education should valued just as much as a science or technology field of education.
Sanford J. Ungar and Edward and Levi had very similar views on liberal arts education although some people disagree with these views. Some incorrect thoughts about liberal arts education that Ungar disagrees within his article, “The New Liberal Arts,” are that the costs of outweigh the benefits, that they are only relevant for certain students, and that liberal arts degrees will not help a student get a job.
Works Cited
Ungar, J. Sanford. "The New Liberal Arts." They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 179-189. Print