Interview two classmates on the topic of whether a college education is a worthwhile investment. Revise the one-paragraph argument that you drafted above so that it includes your classmates’ views on the issue.

Write an essay on the topic “Is a College Education Worth the Money?” Cite the readings in this chapter, and be sure to document your sources and to include a works-cited page. (See Chapter 10 for information on documenting sources.)

Review the four-point checklist earlier in the chapter, and apply each question to your essay. Does your essay include all four elements of an argumentative essay? Add any missing elements. Then, label your essay’s thesis statement, evidence, refutation of opposing arguments, and concluding statement.

Read the short essay that follows. What, if anything, do you think should be added to the writer’s discussion to make it more convincing? Should anything be deleted or changed? Incorporating what you have learned about the structure and content of an effective argument, write a one-paragraph response to the essay.