About nine million community college students and more than 300,000 students in minority colleges have been exempted by the “America’s College Promise Act 2015” (National Conference of State Legislatures). The goal of this law was to offer low-cost or non-cost schooling for community colleges and to help students gain access to post-secondary opportunities (NCSL). Students that have gone through the community colleges have gained post-secondary training and certificates to enhance their competitiveness in the job market. By 2014, Tennessee, Oregon, and Minnesota had created free community college programs and there was promise form 10 additional states that there will be legislation to make community colleges free (NCSL).
Thesis
Should more states provide free community college to high school graduates? Yes. Free community college would reduce the debt of education and enable access to postsecondary opportunities because it provides low-cost for students.
PREVIEW
Free community colleges provide three important advantages. Firstly, students can pursue their education at their own pace. Secondly, free community colleges will open opportunities for people that might have been locked outside to advance their education. Finally, free community colleges will reduce poverty close the American growing wealth gap.
BODY
MAIN POINT (Your first argument goes here)
Free community colleges will enable students to pursue their education at their own pace
EVIDENCE
Students that are enrolled in community colleges embark on other activities such as part-time job and taking care of the elderly (Jepsen, Troske and Coomes)
REASONING (Explain your first argument based on your evidence)
Community colleges have the advantage of accessibility and flexibility which allows students to pursue other avenues
RELATIONSHIP TO THESIS (What do these pieces of evidence have to do with your thesis)
The community college is accommodative that students can plan for their education so as increase their chances in the marketplace
Transition statement – “Now that we have discussed (main point 1), let’s turn our attention to (main point 2).”
MAIN POINT (Your second argument goes here)
Free community colleges will open opportunities for people that might have been locked outside to advance their education
EVIDENCE
The young people that are starting out, older adults looking for better job and veterans have enrolled into the free community colleges (Mason)
REASONING (Explain your second argument based on your evidence)
College education is expensive but free community colleges give students the chance to graduate without any debts
RELATIONSHIP TO THESIS (What do these pieces of evidence have to do with your thesis)
Therefore, the free community colleges provide access to postsecondary opportunities for people that might have missed out because of financial constraint
Transition statement – “Now that we have discussed (main points 1 and 2) let’s turn our attention to (main point 3).”
MAIN POINT (Your third argument goes here)
Thirdly, free community colleges will reduce poverty close the American growing wealth gap
EVIDENCE
Millennium Development Goal 1 is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger (United Nations Foundation)
REASONING (Explain your third argument based on your evidence)
Low-cost education through free community college saves some dollar that the student may use to buy food and invest in other sectors of economy
RELATIONSHIP TO THESIS (What do these pieces of evidence have to do with your thesis)
Free community college provides low-cost education thus the student can save some money to access other opportunities in the marketplace.
CONCLUSION
RESTATEMENT of your question and thesis beginning with, “So, today…”
So, today more than 40% of US college students prefer community colleges.
SUMMARY review your main points
Community colleges offer the advantage of flexibility and accessibility thus enabling students to pursue their education at their own pace. Community colleges also provide opportunity for individuals to go back to school to advance their career. Finally, community colleges offer technical skills that provide access to post-secondary opportunities and employment to student thereby reducing poverty.
FINAL THOUGHT Source #5 (use it here to help make your last appeal on the topic)
In conclusion, community colleges should be free. Community colleges offer education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) thus provide associate’s degrees that bridge the gap for students to complete the last half of their higher education at higher institutions (Scientific American). The community colleges also increase high-tech labor pool. Therefore, providing free community colleges will increase the chances for more citizens and students to advance their careers and livelihood.
Works cited
Jepsen, Christopher, Kenneth Troske, and Paul Coomes. “The labor-market returns to community college degrees, diplomas, and certificates.” Journal of Labor Economics 32.1 (2014): 95-121
Mason, Kyla C. “Obama: Community College Should Be ‘As Free And Universal In America As High School’.” PBS Newshour 2015. Web. 4 Aug. 2017.
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). “Free Community College”. National Conference of State Legislatures, 2016. Web. 5 Aug. 2017.
United Nations Foundation. “The Millennium Development Goals.” United Nations Foundation. N.p., 2012. Web. 5 Aug. 2017.
Scientific American. “Why Community Colleges Should Be Free”. Scientific American, 2014. Web. 5 Aug. 2017
