Alex Recchia
Professor Rinke
WRT 150, Composition I
October 26, 2011
Dave Eggers says in the article, “Serve of Fail,” that college is too long. He states that students should deserve time off because of how hard they work throughout the school year, but also shouldn’t because much of their time is also spent playing foosball. There are many hours and days that are wasted and could be put into our communities. He believes that colleges should think about making service requirements in order to graduate. He had done volunteer work in college and thought it was too easy. He needed a push from a college or university to continue. Students can gain many benefits from getting involved and it would help America. Students can help the world and become lifelong volunteers. The three main points of this article are colleges should make service requirements for students because there is time in their lives for it, college is about completing requirements, and the pushing of volunteer work can make student lifelong volunteers. Dave Eggers used personal examples which tied in to support what he was writing about. It made it interesting to read how he connected his skills of playing foosball to how he became a lifelong volunteer. He appeals to logic because he incorporated statistics and facts about how America could gain from more volunteers. He also appealed to ethics because some people believe that community service is right and shouldn’t have to be required to participate in. It goes along with people’s beliefs and morals. It shouldn’t be left for criminals and delinquents, it is good for everyone.
Ramaley says in the article, “Service learning, more than a fad,” that service learning is a trend. Money is tight for Minnesota’s colleges and universities and many things are being limited. Educators found that problem-solving is paired with education is more than a fad. It can help with tight money problems on and off campus. Service learning can be tutoring or mentoring younger students, delivering meals to homes, and inviting neighbors to campus activities. It helps students have a better understanding of what they are learning when they learn through real-world activities. They develop awareness to responsibilities of citizenship. Students will be excited about the work they are doing. The three main points of the article are service learning can be done in many different forms, real-world experiences deepen learning in students, and community interaction makes people feel excited about work they have accomplished. The author appeals to logic because she says that people should do more and spend less. They should save money, which is something everyone tries to do. It appeals to emotion because the outcome experience can inspire and make people feel excited. It appeals to ethics because people can believe in whether or not service learning makes a person more aware of their responsibilities of citizenship.
The Monitor’s Editorial Board says in the article, “How to reduce student dropout rates: link volunteering to studies,” that volunteering is key to keeping kids in school. Mr. Cruz starts kids volunteering early on in their education. Starting in elementary school, gardens are tended and trout is caught. In high school, students help immigrants study for their citizenship tests. Students reflect on all the work that they are doing and aren’t just doing it because it is on a list. Service learning adds to students having great attendance and a low dropout rate. It increases civic awareness and keeps students focused on learning. The three main points of the article are volunteering connects to academic success, engaging in the real world increases the likely hood students will stay in school, and starting volunteer work in early education is the key to keep kids staying in school. The author appeals to logic because there are many statistics to back up examples and to give information. It appeals to ethics because it is a person’s belief in whether or not starting kids volunteering early on is the reason that will keep them in school. Emotion is expressed through what is felt after reading the statistics. It can leave each person feeling differently.
I think the three main points of all the articles combined are starting volunteer work at a young age will help with academic success, real world experiences deepen learning in students and gives many benefits, and colleges should make service learning a requirement. I agree that starting volunteer work at a young age is beneficial with academic success and keeping kids in school. It helps them gain knowledge and experience on different activities in which they can learn from. I believe that real world experiences are the best way to learn. It gives people on the job training which is up close and you can get a lot out of it. It is beneficial to grow as a person, as well as with academic success. I don’t agree that colleges should require service learning in order to graduate. I don’t believe that all students waste time or have extra time to volunteer. It is nice to do, but it doesn’t fit into everyone’s schedule. Students try to fit in jobs and study time and other exercising activity to stay healthy.
All three authors agree that service learning is beneficial for everyone. They all say that leaning in real world experiences is the best way to deepen learning. They all agree that students will feel accomplished and happy about the work they have done. This will make them keep volunteering because they feel good about the good deeds they are doing. They differ because one of the articles says that volunteering should be started early on, while Dave says that it should be required in college. Starting early on would be beneficial if service learning is required in college because they will already be doing it. They also differ because Ramaley is the only one that brings up money involved and how people should volunteer more and spend less money.
