David Kirp's Essay 'What Can Stop Kids From Dropping Out'

Improved Essays
The art of metacommentary is truly one of the most prized techniques in a writers’ repertoire. Not only does this unique method allow the writer to clarify any misunderstandings in their work, but it also enables them to further elaborate on their topic. By developing arguments in this way, the writer avoids miscommunication and stimulates a deeper engagement from the reader. In David L. Kirp essay “What Can Stop Kids From Dropping Out”, he exploits the art of metacommentary to enhance his argument that colleges should revise their current practices to increase their students chance for success. From the title to the every last word, David L. Kirp uses specific forms of metacommentary to elucidate and exemplify his explanation. David L. Kirp’s …show more content…
Kirp uses the art of metacommentary to advance the arguments in his essay “ What Can Stop Kids From Dropping Out” is by providing specific examples for otherwise vague claims. By introducing more supporting details to a general claim, he is more likely to build an argument that will persuade the reader to agree with him that there must be a change in the college school system. One masterful display of the art of metacommentary come after Kirp made the general point that colleges need to adapt their criteria to fit the needs of their student. To support his claim, he exemplifies the data collected from Georgia State’s research on grades when looking to identify where the failure of their students stems from. David L. Kirp reports, “ One surprising example – passing an introductory course in a student’s major isn’t as good a predictor of graduation as the actual letter grade. The student who earns a B in first-year political science has a 70 percent probability of graduating in that field, while a classmate who gets a C has only a 25 percent chance.” In this example, Kirp provides more precise details on what statistics were produced by the evaluation of grades. This also enhances the reader comprehension of Kirp’s argument by providing concrete evidence that support the claim he is elucidating

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