3.5: Model Essay 2
- Page ID
- 293703
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Model Essay 2
Read the model essay and answer the questions that follow.
First Name Last Name
Professor Name
Course Name and Number
Day Month Year
Consider this before Choosing a Major
(1) Many people in the U.S. are raised to believe that college is the key to success, and they are not necessarily wrong. A college degree can provide access to better, higher-paying jobs. A college education can also provide a sense of accomplishment and personal success. College degrees don't come easily, however. They require a lot of time and money to complete. Therefore, a new enrollee should think very carefully about how to make the most of her investment. Since not all degrees are equal, thinking carefully about a course of study before embarking on the journey is one of the wisest things a student can do. Choosing the right major can make a college investment truly worth it. The most important factors to consider before choosing a major are one's interest in the coursework, the flexibility the major provides, and ultimately one's passion for the work that comes after its completion.
(2) The first factor to think about when choosing a major should be a real interest in the coursework. College is a long and expensive commitment, so no matter how good a particular degree might appear in the abstract, it's important to consider that it takes years of coursework to get there. If the subject matter and the assignments in the classes required for this major are not at all interesting, or are too difficult, that could be a sign that the major itself is not the right one. It's better to choose a major with classes that are interesting, but also challenging because those classes may signal interesting challenges beyond.
(3) Another consideration before choosing a major is the flexibility it could provide out in the workforce. A major that is too broad may require extra coursework and training later on to be suitable for a particular job, while a major that is too narrow limits job choices. For instance, many English majors continue their studies after they receive their degrees because English is like an "umbrella" major. English majors often go on to study law, business, advertising, and teaching, among other things. A major like "Crime Scene Technician," however, limits job choices to one very particular niche in the law enforcement field. In these cases, English is not an end goal, and Crime Scene Technician is a bit too specific. Choosing a major that offers some flexibility with job choices but does not necessarily require further education could allow you to apply for a wider range of jobs for which you will be qualified, which, from there, allows you to build hands-on skills for more opportunities in the field.
(4) Finally, before and after choosing a major, students should never forget their own interests and passions. It is more than a commitment of a few years. A major is an indicator of the kind of work that you might do for the rest of your life. One leaves college with particular skill sets that they will most likely use over and over again in the workforce. It's important to think ahead by ten or fifteen years before choosing a major and asking yourself, "What will I be doing at that time?" If the answer does not relate to your coursework or your major, then it could be a sign to choose a different major. College is a short period of time compared to a lifetime of work. Will the work be worth it?
(5) In conclusion, college can be a highly gratifying and uplifting endeavor, but a lot of thought should go into choosing the right course of study. Students should consider their talents, their interests, and their needs and apply these to their choice of major. Choosing an inappropriate major can result in a lot of wasted time and money, or worse, a wasted career. One should always consider her interest in the coursework and the opportunities that coursework will provide for a long time to come.
Questions about Model Essay 2:
- In an essay, we call the essay’s main idea the thesis. Where is the thesis located in the essay?
- How does the writer introduce the topic of choosing a major?
- How many paragraphs is the essay? Which paragraphs explain the subtopics?
- What words does the writer use to introduce new subtopics in the essay?
- What word does the writer use to conclude the essay?
Outline the above essay by copying the outline template below into your notebook. Fill in the key features of the essay—thesis and subtopic sentences, and details. Outlines—except for the thesis statements and the topic sentences—do not need to be in complete sentences.
Essay Outline
I. Introduction
Background Information:
Thesis Statement:
II. Supporting Topic Sentence 1:
A.
B.
III. Supporting Topic Sentence 2:
A.
B.
IV. Supporting Topic Sentence 3:
A.
B.
V. Conclusion:
Restate Thesis:
Final Comment:
Attributions:
Content on this page was adapted from ESL Academic Writing(opens in new window), which was shared under a CC BY (opens in new window)license by Prince George's Community College.