Critical Reading 1

The Fine Line Between Safe Space and Segregation

The authors intent is to inform the audience about the division between race
in college and state her opinion on the subject in the most unbiased way
possible. Knowing that she was writing for The Atlantic, she chose to use use
neutral language that expressed her claim and added supporting evidence
without being derogatory or explosive. Deruy makes the claim that an
important part of college is putting oneself outside of their comfort zone
even if that means taking classes and joining groups with people from
different racial backgrounds. Some keywords Deruy uses include
resegregation and false equivalence that demonstrate her stance on the
topic. Do other colleges around the country have similar segregation
amongst classes? Is it beneficial or harmful to a students education to be
segregated in specific courses that encourage discussion of familial and
cultural backgrounds?

First Step to Fixing Gender Bias in Business School: Admit the

Problem

Fondas proposes her stance on the issue of a grade gap between men and
women in higher education by using the context on The Atlantic and the
example of the Harvard Business school. Using specific language that fits her
audiences needs, Fondas explained the education model of the Harvard
business school and how it was reorganized to give men and women the
same opportunity to succeed. She then stated that there is a problem of
differences in opportunities to succeed in education for men and women, but
it is not one that can be solved with a quick fix, but it is a problem that it
takes years to overcome with a significant amount of effort put into solving
it. Using words such as silver bullets in lieu of the words quick fix, Fondas
expresses her passionate stance on the issue and her concern for others
thinking there is an easy solution out there. I wonder if other colleges in the
country have tried the same tactic the Harvard Business School tried and
what their results were.

How America's 2-Tiered Education System Is Perpetuating Inequality

Emily Chertoff, the author of How America's 2-Tiered Education System Is

Perpetuating Inequality, proposes her stance on the issue of inequality in
higher education by writing an article in The Atlantic that begins with a brief
introduction that makes the reader question what big decision the college
made and why it was such a big deal. Chertoff claims that inequality in
education is due to a lack of government funding and the transfer
requirements at four year universities. Using words like jarring and
struggling, Chertoff expresses her opinion on the issue of inequality in
higher education. What steps other universities and colleges taking to reduce
the perpetuating inequality in the 2-tiered education system?

The Post-Lecture Classroom

Meyer informs the reader about the flipped classroom style and the various
positive and negative effects of the teaching tactic, then presents his stance
on the issue by explaining evidence from different studies supporting the
flipped classroom style of teaching. Through his presentation of information
and explanation of his opinion on the matter, Meyer claims that the flipped
classroom style is beneficial to student learning based on numerous studies
and student response. He uses keywords such as permeated and
implemented to explain his claim that the flipped classroom concept is a
new idea, but can be successful if carried out correctly. How are other
universities changing the way their professor teach students to maximize
learning?

Wasting Time on the Internet 101

Ross uses the context of The Atlantic to express his stance to the audience
on the class being offered by a professor at the University of Pennsylvania
about wasting time on the internet. He uses quotes from the professor,
Goldstein, to validate his argument in favor of the class that teaches
students more about how the internet is used in society. Ross uses words like
monumental and dominant to express his approval of the method of
teaching. Could a similar teaching tactic be used in a STEM curriculum
course and has it been done before? What do the students that have
completed the course have to say about what they learned from it?