Writing 4 (Lackkaty) FA25

Position: YES, college is necessary

Reasons you might argue YES:

• Higher earnings - college graduates earn more over lifetime
• Career opportunities - many jobs require degrees
• Job security - lower unemployment rates for graduates
• Skill development - critical thinking, communication, specialized knowledge
• Professional networking - connections and career resources
• Social mobility - pathway out of poverty

Position: NO, college is not necessary

Reasons you might argue NO:

• Alternative paths - trade schools, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship
• Student debt burden - high costs without guaranteed return
• Changing job market - skills and experience matter more than degrees
• Successful non-graduates - many successful people without degrees
• Not for everyone - different learning styles and career goals
• Time and opportunity cost - 4+ years could be spent gaining experience

Key Concepts to Research:

• Economic outcomes - earnings, employment rates, lifetime income
• Career paths - job requirements, alternative education, vocational training
• Financial impact - student debt, return on investment, tuition costs
• Success measures - definitions of success beyond income
• Educational alternatives - trade schools, certificates, online learning
• Social factors - access, inequality, first-generation students

Database Searching Quick Tips:

• Start broad, then narrow - Begin with "college education" then add specifics
• Use quotation marks for exact phrases: "college degree"
• Try different word combinations - "higher education," "university," "post-secondary"
• Add location terms - "United States," "American students"
• Look for statistics - Search for earnings data, employment rates, graduation rates
• Find both sides - Even if arguing YES, understand the NO arguments

If arguing YES (college is necessary):

• "college degree" AND "lifetime earnings"
• "higher education" AND employment
• "college graduates" AND "career success"
• "bachelor's degree" AND "job market"
• "educational attainment" AND income

If arguing NO (college is not necessary):

• "student debt" AND burden
• "college degree" AND "not required"
• entrepreneur* AND ("no college" OR "no degree" OR "without college education")
• ("skilled trade" OR "trade jobs") AND (income OR wages)
• ("vocational training" OR "vocational education") AND (earning* OR wage* OR income)
  • Include a 5-year date limiter when searching "vocational training" or "vocational education"