Rhetorical Analysis Of On Real Education Perry

In an essay that appeared on InsideHigherEd.com titled, “On ‘Real Education’”, South Dakota Board of Regents executive director Robert T. Perry writes about the need for more people to graduate from a community college or a university. Through the use of facts and statistics from agencies like the U.S. Department of Labor and the National Center for Higher Education, and his own credibility, Perry shows that there is a significant need for more college degrees. He states that a higher education will help the individual's standard of living as well as the American economy. In support of his position, Perry makes references to a book written by Charles Murray called Real Education, stating that “his pessimistic view of people’s ability to learn ignores...the real pressures the American economy is facing” (670). Obtaining a college degree can

He supports his facts by stating where they come from. For example, he says “the U.S. Department of Labor reports that the country needs more graduates if we are to keep up with, let alone lead, other nations in the global economy” (670). By giving recognition to his source, it makes the audience more likely to take the fact into consideration. He also makes statements provided by the State Higher Education Executive Officers and the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. Perry is credible himself because he is the executive director on the South Dakota Board of Regents. He provides specific information about how the state of South Dakota is trying to raise graduation rates; “The state’s public institutions are opening our doors to more out-of-state students” and they are providing scholarships to students who “pursue their education in South Dakota” (672). By talking about specific strategies in the state of South Dakota, Perry backs up his argument by giving credible examples on how more people can obtain a college