Defining the Purpose of an Education

Defining the Purpose of an Education

Defining the Purpose of an Education
(conceived by Carl Curtis)
We began our semester by reading, discussing, and writing about the purpose of an education.
Think about the essays and consider the theses presented by the authors. For example, in the
excerpt from “The Idea of the University,” John Henry Newman makes an argument for a liberal
arts education while claiming that the purpose of an education is to create free-thinking, dutiful
citizens. Malcolm X discovered a different purpose for his academic pursuits. He relentlessly
sought empowerment and the ability to effect change. On the other hand, the narrator of
Lawrence’s poem “Snake” discovered the disturbing effects of his “accursed education” which
seemingly distanced the speaker from something more primal, more instinctual, and more
spiritual. Likewise, Plato exposed how we, like cave dwellers, live according to illusions or

shadows that are presented to us as reality (which is akin to Dryfus’s understanding that “we
teach our kids what we want them to know, and we don’t teach them what we don’t want them to
know).
Now, continue the conversation that has been started in a formal essay in which you make a
specific assertion about the purpose of an education. Consider how your own views have been
reinforced, modified, or transformed by our class discussions, Angel posts, assigned readings,
and video clips. Include concrete, vivid examples, specific details, and references to the readings
that help develop, explain, and support your claims. Speak from your personal experience and
explain what you think. As with all essays required for this course, the document must have a
specific purpose and convey a controlling idea (a thesis) that your audience might find
interesting, helpful, meaningful, or otherwise significant.
Things to consider:
** Thinks about sentence construction; avoid fragments and run-ons, while looking for places to
combine sentences.
** Include an explicit thesis statement and thesis map.
** Be creative and strive to put your personality into the work.
** Essays should be at least 2 pages in length.