Today, the American people collectively owe over $1.6 trillion in student debt, a number that has only been increasing at a seemingly exponential rate. This isn’t just a recent issue either––In 1995 that number was a “mere” $187 billion (adjusted for inflation) (Peter G. Peterson Foundation). What’s more concerning is the fact that this debt of over $1.6 trillion is being held by only 43.4 million Americans. One of the biggest contributors to these absurd levels in student debt is the rapidly increasing price of college itself. In fact, in the period between 1995 and today, public 4-year university tuition rates have increased by 120% (adjusted for inflation).
As the average price of an undergraduate education has risen nearly 30% in the past 10 years, these unacceptably steep increases in tuition and the overall cost of higher education leave many of today’s students in a dilemma––is it worth going to college for the long-term career benefits, or does the debt associated with college tip the balance in favor of directly-entering the workforce? Especially in light of the life-long negative impacts that student debt can have on individuals who hold student debt, the decision whether or not to pursue higher education is becoming an increasingly financially dependent one.
The magnitude of these annual increases is unacceptable, and action must be taken to reduce the size of these increases, specifically by examining how decreases in funding and increases in budgeted expenses have negatively impacted students’ ability to pay for higher education.
(Sources are currently informally cited, but Chicago citations will be used)
1. No title, although I assume it will be good
2. I’m not sure that you’ve done a particularly good job convincing me that this issue is urgent. Those are big numbers, but *why* are they so bad that we need to do something about them? Maybe include some statistics on the negative impacts in your introduction. I’ve made it sound worse than it is, but I think a statistic or two will be really beneficial in this regard.
3. This is a small criticism, but you don’t advance any solutions in your intro. In your thesis, you carve out a niche that is more about examining why the magnitude of the problem is so large rather than how to fix it. Which is an important argument, but it should not be the whole point of your brief. Other than that, it’s a pretty good introduction, and I feel like I know where your Issue Brief is going, except the obvious carve-out of what you intend to do about it.
1). Comment on the title. How does it offer a way forward on the issue? Does it hint at or echo the paper’s thesis? Make suggestions.
– No title. Maybe it could be called “The Debt that Keeps Rising” or “Keeping Up With College Debt”
2). Does this piece’s title and introduction respond to an exigence?-Does it make the issue pressing or connect to other pressing needs and issues? Make suggestions.
– The numbers that you choose to highlight in the peives begining really sell how this is a problem and not only that it is a problem for now but that it is one that if not solved wil only get worse.
3). Comment on the thesis. Does it set up a clear argumentative claim? Is it advancing a specific policy or practice? Can you imagine how the rest of the argument will unfold?
– I would like to see you maybe propose something in your claim that sets up the rest of your paper
1). Comment on the title. How does it offer a way forward on the issue? Does it hint at or echo the paper’s thesis? Make suggestions.
– No title but the rest of the intro is good:)
2). Does this piece’s title and introduction respond to an exigence?-Does it make the issue pressing or connect to other pressing needs and issues? Make suggestions.
– While this intro does shed light on the issue of student debt, its not clear about what should be done in response to this issue. You did mention that action needs to be taken to reduce the increase of student debt and that we should “examine it”, but how will examining it help and what else can be done that will really make a difference?
3). Comment on the thesis. Does it set up a clear argumentative claim? Is it advancing a specific policy or practice? Can you imagine how the rest of the argument will unfold?
– The thesis is very strong and it is clear what the brief is about/what the pressing issue is, but the direction/course of action for this issue is still unclear. But over all the intro is already very eye-opening and good! 🙂