Month: February 2021

Ungar Homework for February 24

Ryan McLaughlin

English 110

Misconception #1 A Liberal-arts degree is a luxury that most families can no longer afford. 

The first misconception in the Ungar article is a Liberal-arts degree is a luxury that most families can no longer afford. This is a pretty easy misconception due to the fact that most colleges are already super expensive to go to. Most Liberal arts education are part of colleges and have liberal arts courses and majors. The article says, “The future demands of citizenship will require not narrow technical or job-focused training, but rather a subtle understanding of the complex influences that shape the world we live in.” Liberal education prepares students for the real world and teaches them valuable skills. They don’t focus on technical or job-focused training, but rather an understanding of the issues that shape the world we live in. 

Misconception #2 College graduates and finding it harder to get jobs with a liberal arts degree.

In the Ungar article the second misconception is that College graduates find it harder to get jobs with a liberal arts degree, however this is proven to be wrong. They do bring up the point about, “Who wants to hire somebody with an irrelevant major like philosophy or French?” Almost everywhere would turn them down but, “A 2009 survey for the Association of American Colleges and Universities actually found that more than three-quarters of our nation’s employers recommend that college bound students pursue a “liberal education.” ” An added 89% of employers also said that they were looking for more emphasis on “the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing,” and urged  college students to develop better “critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills.” The Schuer article also talks about the benefits of having critical thinking. One of Schuer’s main parts is critical thinking and how the liberal arts can teach you it and the values of being a contributing citizen and person. 

HW Feb 10

1. The authors define (and italicize) the terms microaggressions and trigger warnings and offer a set of examples they think “border on the surreal.” They draw a distinction between what they term “political correctness” of the 1980s and 1990s and what they think is happening today. What, on their view, is that difference and why does it matter for education? What do you make of their ideas in the first section of the article? Be sure to quote from the text in your response. I think that we do need to watch what we say in front of people but also that people do need to have a little bit more of a spine. Teachers shouldn’t fear teaching their students and having to fear what they are saying during their classes. They even talked about how famous comedians won’t go to college campuses anymore because they said, ” Some people can’t take a joke.”
2. Consider the second section of the article, “How Did We Get Here?” The authors offer a kind of historical/social diagnosis for what they see on campuses. Attempt a brief (2-3 sentence) summary of the section and draw a text-to-self connection to a specific passage (quote). You might agree or disagree with them in your connection – or both, if it seems appropriate. In this section of the article they talked about what got us to this point and start off by saying it probably comes from generation shifts. They give examples of other things that have changed for each generation and explain how this may be connected to it. Culture has changed alot and has impacted people especially in this way.
3. How might Dweck’s ideas about a “fixed mindset” (or a “growth mindset” if you prefer) relate to ideas in the first three sections of “The Coddling…”? In your response, be sure to quote from both texts and EXPLAIN the relationship you see. I think the coddling shows people using a combination of growth and fixed mindset. I understand that things are changing and the world isn’t black and white and if people can understand that then they show growth mindset. However if people are getting offended by insignificant things someone says then that demonstrates a fixed mindset. People can be harsh in the real world and if they don’t learn to deal with and ignore it then they won’t succeed in life.

HW February 3

In the Dweck video She talks about what growth and fixed mindset is. She then goes on to tell about how a growth mindset is beneficial for a young student and how a negative mindset isn’t good to have.

In the Lukianoff/Haidt article they talk about how times have changed and people have to be more careful what they say due to microaggressions. They then proceed to talk about how we got to this point and how people have changed due to modern times.

I think that they both have the right idea with what they are trying to say. I agree that having a fixed mindset will hinder you in the future and that microaggressions are a part of a fixed mindset.

Ryan McLaughlin

02/22/2021

English 110

M. Cripps

Pre-reading.

Looking at the I can see that obviously there is a connection with the liberal arts and critical thinking. So if I had to guess that the Liberal Arts requires you to critically think to be successful in the kind of learning technique. If I had to guess I would say that critical thinking has connections to growth mindset, growth mindset is about being open to new ideas and learning how to overcome obstacles which I think would fit in with critical thinking. 

Part 1)

In the first part of the article they talk about the origins of the Liberal Arts and some of the stereotypes that people think of when they hear liberal arts. They then make a statement about how the liberal arts are dying and that the liberal arts aren’t properly appreciated. Many students today are more focused on getting a degree that will get them one specific job and don’t really do much with the liberal arts while they are in college. It’s hard to want to have a liberal arts education when you don’t really know what it is. 

Part 2)

In this section of the article they talk about what the liberal arts are and some of the ways that people perceive them. One is that the liberal arts include teaching many different areas like some sciences, humanities and social science courses. Another way is they focus more on the art and social way of learning. Lastly they are perceived as focusing more on the hands on and humanities type of learning that doesn’t include the sciences but doesn’t degrade them. They continue to go into more detail about some of the courses that can be taught when part of the liberal arts.

Part 3)

The third part of the article explains the importance of the liberal arts and why it can be beneficial for students to partake in the liberal arts. The liberal arts teach valuable skills to a person that won’t just help them find a job but will also help them in other real world situations. An example of what they teach is critical thinking and citizenship, there is cultural citizenship, economic citizenship, and more. These skills are good tools to have and will help you succeed in life wherever you end up.

Part 4) 

This section of the article talks about is critical thinking, what it is and how we should use it. Critical thinking is analysing an issue and using evidence gathered evaluating a situation and coming up with the best solution. Critical thinking is a major part of the liberal arts and influences more advanced intellectual thinking and problem solving. In the article they say, “Critical thinking also expands our abilities to speak, listen, write, and think, making us better learners, communicators, team members, and citizens”

Part 5)

In the last part of the article they finish up by talking about the Importance of Critical Inquiry. Critical Inquiry is, “ just a matter of analytic thinking as a formal process”. They continue by talking about how critical inquiry is important and how people fail to see it.

February 10, 20201

My meeting with Olivia went well since we already knew each other and have met in the past. She asked how I thought the class was and if it was going well so far. I told her what my thoughts were and asked her a few questions. She then asked about my paper and talked about my meeting with my writing advisor. I told her what I needed to make some changes to and she gave me a few tips on what I could do. The meeting was helpful and enjoyed it.