1. Intro-story leading into reason for paper 2. Sources-synthesis of scholarly writings to flow 3.

Niche-pick a side and give opinion 1. After almost finishing my first year at college I now realize how much work and effort is required of me. As an engineering student my course load seems to be slightly more demanding that that of other students majors. This is partially how the idea of general education came about for me. It got me thinking about the general education courses Ive taken so far and how they seem irrelevant to the big picture of an engineering degree. With less of a work load, meaning no or fewer general education courses, I could focus more on the core engineering classes that will actually prepare me for my future. 2. General Education 51st Yearbook Part 1 Interest in what students should study has always been a matter of great importance to educators, and it must continue to be, whatever educational philosophy lies behind their planning (Raushenbush 168) The third approach to learning, that of the instrumentalist, rejects the views that educators should decide, without reference to the students to be educated, that a particular body of knowledge is most important for all students, that intellectual discipline or any other single way of learning is the only appropriate way for all people all the time, or that any single prescribed order of studies will serve all needs. (Raushenbush 170) Cultural Literacy and the Idea of General Education General education might best be defined as the purposeful attempt to provide a particular group of students with common core of knowledge, skills, and values (Purves 1) The term general refers not to the people who will undergo that education, but to the substance that is imparted (Purves 1) Some configuration of courses should be required of undergraduates seems self-evident on campuses throughout the country. The question before us here concerns prospects: How long is the current commitment to requirements likely to last and how effective are the new courses programs likely to be. (Franklin 198) The effectiveness of an institutes general education program is likely to depend on the strength of a facultys commitment to it and the institutions willingness to provide resources for it and to recognize the work of those who teach it (Franklin 199)

Whether we attribute the origins of the idea of the love of knowledge being it own reward to Aristotle or to Plato and Pythagoras, the fact must be that all education, including general education, is by definition practical. How is it practical is the operative question. Is it broadly or narrowly useful, general preparation for life in the world or for a specific career? Even this polarity hardly exhausts the possibilities of utility (Rothblatt 9) Teaching America: The case for Civic Education

3. When it comes to choosing sides on the matter of general education it is easy for me to say that I am against it. The biggest reason behind my dislike is the fact that I dont want to pay for and spend time on courses that seem to have no foreseeable use in my future plans. After taking four years worth of mandatory courses in high school I feel that was all the general education I needed. Im not saying these fundamental classes shouldnt be offered I just think it should be an option for students to take or not. With less of a workload I could see many students getting better grades and in turn becoming more competitive when entering the work force.