ipl-logo

William Zinsser College Pressures Summary

498 Words2 Pages

In the “College Pressures” essay, made by William Zinsser, he shows the reader the struggles that college students have while they are in school. Within the essay he brings up the four pressures that college students face: economic, parental, peer, and self-induced. Zinsser makes his essay easy to understand by not being extravagant with his words and very straightforward. He also likes to transition from relatable topics and how he views them into interesting examples.
The beginning of his essay can be a bit hard to comprehend to some readers. It all begins with random texts appearing to be journal entries written by a stressed out man named Carlos. If taken into proper context, the reader will understand that Carlos is leaving messages appearing …show more content…

He explains how other kids are working harder and getting almost perfect grades, which sets the bar too high for some kids, making their lives seem not as successful as their peers. He uses these situations like these as firm examples to represent his logos. It all doesn’t just end with peer or parental pressures either. Economical pressures and self induced pressures play a huge role in the stress of a student as well. The writer states that we are without a doubt, living in a brutal economy and that it seems that colleges are getting rich off of their students. To further back up his logos, he states that Tuition covers only 60% of what it costs to give a student education, and that the remainder of funds comes from what colleges receive in endowments, grants, and gifts. The cost of basically everything has spiked up resulting in higher costs of living. Just the thought of this debt that the kids will have to pay after college is thought to cause stress.
It may appear that throughout the essay, Zinsser views the students lives in a completely negative way. He catches himself doing this and plainly states it to the reader. He tells the parents, “I have painted too drab a portrait of today s students, making them seem a solemn lot (246).” This isn t his purpose at

Show More
Related

Analysis Of Morning Rain By Sigrid Nunez

1001 Words | 5 Pages

They must have misunderstood far more than they understood of each other.’ After years of marriage, they still had practically no language in common. Thus, Carlos started to retreat into silence. It is very probable that he became simply tired of being constantly misunderstood and mocked by his wife because of his weak English. In his case it was more a self-preservation than creating the identity by conscious abstaining from expressing his opinion directly.

Read More

Self-Destruction In The Censors By Luisa Valenzuela

154 Words | 1 Pages

This shows Juan's decision to rebel and overcome the Censorship division’s control over their freedom, what Juan hadn't realized was that he wouldn't think for himself much longer. As Juan found his letter, the narrator showed his decision, “He was about to congratulate himself for having finally discovered

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of College Pressures By William Zinsser

1025 Words | 5 Pages

In the article, “College Pressures,” William Zinsser discusses the many struggles college students face while trying to focus on their studying. He convinces the reader of his point by using different types of rhetorical strategies. Zinsser’s usage of the rhetorical strategies such as getting straight to the point, quoting, paragraphing, the use of word pictures, and choosing a title was effectively done in his article to persuade his reader of the struggles faced by college students. The author did not waste anytime getting to the main point in his article, which is effective because it makes me interested in what he had to say.

Read More

What's College For By William Deresiewicz

1245 Words | 5 Pages

Today, most students always hear about college being an “extremely expensive way to get an education.” While this is true, it has become noticeable that students planning to receive an education at a four-year institution have begun to focus more on the cost of college, rather than the worth of it on who they are as an individual. Overall, the discussion of college has become a very controversial topic. From the cost to the social issues on campus, many people will find several reasons to condemn the idea of college. In his essay, “What’s College For?,” William Deresiewicz uses several literary and rhetorical elements, such as ethos and pathos to build upon his argument that college is more about just the idea of an education; moreover it’s about developing as a human being.

Read More

Mike Rose's Essay What College Can Mean To The Other America

1193 Words | 5 Pages

Mike Rose is an internationally recognized writer, educator and specialist in composition. In his essay, “What College can Mean to the Other America”, Rose starts off by dating back to nearly 50 years since Michael Harrington wrote “The Other America”, to put an emphasis on the similarities of the society 50 years ago, compared to present day. Rose writes an exceptionally moving essay about the rigid school system, and how it forsakes students who cannot afford tuition fees. He paints a very vivid picture of the students he encountered. Those who were not able to pay for their tuition, and how inauspicious it currently affects them.

Read More

Summary Of William Zinsser College Pressures

1735 Words | 7 Pages

While the ever increasing pressures and cost of a college education seem to be a recent event, they problems have persisted for many decades. In 1979, William Zinsser wrote “College Pressures” in order to portray the daily struggles of college students and argue how students see college differently in the modern era. Zinsser stresses how college has changed from being an institute purely focused on higher learning to one of almost strictly vocational purposes. He argues that modern students equate college degrees more with higher paying jobs than as a symbol of knowledge in a specific field, and that these pressures to succeed greatly impact the student’s health. Through my own college experiences, I can certainly verify that college is more

Read More

The Boat Emir Macleod Analysis

209 Words | 1 Pages

Pressure, a thorn in the side of every student. In The Boat by Alistair MacLeod. While pressure may be beneficial, too much pressure may result in unhealthy amounts of stress. For as long as I could remember, my parents placed a strong emphasis on my academic success. Stereotypically, they decided I would become a doctor and expected me to get good grades.

Read More

The American Dream In Roberto Acuna Talks About Farm Workers

1015 Words | 5 Pages

students would try their hardest but still wouldn 't get acknowledged for the hard work they’ve overcome. Now they have to struggle to find a job that at least pays good money to support a family. People are suffering just to support their family and have the necessities they need. No matter how hard they try to succeed, it’s not good

Read More

Adderall Argument Paper

727 Words | 3 Pages

The stresses and strains that are put on young adults today is getting out of hand. Between the work that school demands from students to the cost it takes to put one self through school is unreasonable. The dignity of students is at stake. Students are not only stressed and constantly worried about the work it takes to pass classes and graduate, but they are also stressed with the cost it takes to simply stay enrolled in their field of study if they are in college or maintain a scholarship. With the great power of education comes great responsibility.

Read More

Charles Murray's Essay Are Too Many People Going To College

1090 Words | 5 Pages

Throughout the essay, Charles Murray stresses the idea that college is the wonderland of finding oneself and to find the career that one would want to follow for the rest of their lives. “College is seen as the open sesame to a good job and a desirable way for adolescents to transition to adulthood. Neither reason is as persuasive as it first appears.” Murray, C (2008) Practically spoken, this is not normally the case. College is a fair amount of work, much more work than one would normally acquire through any course of a high school or secondary school setting.

Read More

Linda Banks-Santilli's Guilt Analysis

470 Words | 2 Pages

As I look back on my journey to college, I faced many different problems and disadvantages even before taking my first steps on campus. In Linda Banks-Santilli’s “Guilt is one of the biggest struggles first-generation college students face” many first generation students view being the first one in the family as a major flaw before entering college (Banks-Santilli, 2015, Par. 4 &7). The lack of self-respect makes it difficult for students to achieve success without help or motivation. The students have to change their viewpoint about being the first to go to college in their family as a weakness and make it a strength to help motivate them to be better students.

Read More

First Generation College Students

740 Words | 3 Pages

College is one of the most significant times in a person’s life. Every year high school kids will visit many different colleges so that they can be confident in their college decision. Some kids will follow in their parent’s foot steps and base their decision on where their mom or dad went, though, not all kids are fortunate to have help from their parents. Many kids nowadays may be the first in their family to take on higher education. The article, “First Generation College Students: Unprepared and Behind” by Liz Riggs explains that kids who are the first in their family to take on college are at a disadvantage compared to kids with parents who attended college.

Read More

College Pressures William Zinsser Summary

1083 Words | 5 Pages

In “College Pressures” by William Zinsser, leader of one of the residential colleges at Yale University, the author describes the different amount of pressures that students struggle with in college. Because of his position at the university, he constantly noticed the students around him and the anxiety that was radiating off them. He believes that economic pressures cause students to feel anxious about paying back student loans after college. However, parental pressure leads students to make decisions that their parents would be happy with because of the feeling of guilt and wanting to please them.

Read More

Essay About Stress In College Students

1448 Words | 6 Pages

It can be one of the best experiences in a person’s life, but it is a major adjustment from the life that most people live prior to it. With this adjustment comes many types of stress that a college student will face. Whether it is taking out a loan, trying to make my parents proud, or relearning how to make friends, there will always be some sort of stress that comes along with being a college student. The stress that the average college student will endure can seem to be overwhelming at times, but these stresses are part of the learning experience of college and overcoming them will teach us valuable lessons that will help us in whatever we

Read More

Essay On Challenges Facing College Students

784 Words | 4 Pages

Students face various challenges throughout their college career. Thus, the problems that students have can range from balance, new lifestyle, to financial problems. Therefore, finding a balance between being a student, possibly working, and keeping up with their social life is a necessity. Similarly, others are away from home for the first time thus, they have a new responsibility with being on their own and findings ways to deal with homesickness. Likewise, being exposed to new financial situations is yet another challenge college students will need to learn how to cope with.

Read More

More about William Zinsser College Pressures Summary

Related Topics

Open Document