On The Uses Of Liberal Education By Mark Edmundson

The article “On the Uses of Liberal Education” was written by a professor of a university named Mark Edmundson. He wrote it based on his own experience and what he noticed in the university where he teaches. The purpose of the article is to discuss how universities have changed overtime and the tendency of university to conform based on what would be appealing to consumers (students). He uses a critical tone throughout the article and also blame the attitudes of the students that seems to be consumers to university nowadays. Edmundson begins his article by telling us his own experiences teaching. He told us about the day that he doesn’t enjoy which is the evaluation day. He doesn’t like the good reviews such as “entertaining” or “enjoying” …show more content…
He also said that the students that the students he used to know was full of passion and genius. He explains, “It’s too bad that the idea of genius has been denigrated so far, because it actually offers a live alternative to the demoralizing culture of hip in which most of my students are mired.” He then compared them with one of his student that he admire, Joon Lee. According to Edmundson, Lee is different from other students because he is not afraid to show his own interest and constantly curious about things, not like the majority students who try to fit in with the crowd. He explains that it is hard to find these type of students in today’s culture because student who ask question is considered as weird. Edmundson also said "Most of my students seem desperate to blend in, to look right, not to make a spectacle of themselves." Society is changing which means that people and student overall is also changing, most students are trying to be common with others. And that’s why lack of their own expressions, emotions, and opinions are shown in themselves. I actually do not agree with the writer saying that students nowadays are lack of passion for studying, and to me this is fallacies. I think that Edmundson uses of fallacies help to enhance his point …show more content…
Throughout the paper, Edmundson also ask questions to the readers, then answer them. I think that this is a great way to make the readers understand more of what he is trying to say. He also add “My overall point is this:” towards the end of the paragraphs, this makes the whole points to be clearly understood in one sentence. Edmundson also uses ethos, pathos, fallacies, and logos throughout the paper. He uses pathos to convince the readers of his arguments. Although some of Edmundson’s tone of voice is critical but he still manages to make the readers understand the purpose of his arguments and make the readers the desire to change. By providing statistics and facts (logos), it helps Edmundson to make the readers assure of the paper. I agree with Edmundson that there is definitely a problem in our education system and students must be more challenged sometimes, but I disagree when he puts teacher cracking a joke and enjoyable teachers to problems. I feel that teacher who sometimes crack jokes and having fun teachers make the class environment better, students will be engaged more in the learning experience and not just listening to the boring lecture which would not stuck on your head