Blog #10

Research Blog #10: Final Abstract, Bibliography, and Link to Your Paper

Present an abstract of your final project and include your complete bibliography of sources.  These two items will be very helpful to other people who want to learn more about your project.  Remember that both also need to be included with your final paper also.  These must be posted online by April 29th at the latest.

The United States prides itself in equal opportunities for all and access to higher education tops the list. There are opportunities and programs that enable less financially privileged students to attend a college or university — government and state funded loans or grants are available, as well as short-term programs that help struggling applicants prepare for a college education. Additional guidance counselors in lower income areas also have been found to help high school students determine the best school. These resources and financial aid make higher learning a graspable goal, but that is only half the battle. Successfully completing a degree is the troubling journey.

College completion rates for wealthy students have soared in 40 years, but the same cannot be said for low income young adults in school, leaning to a yawning gap in graduation rates that could have lasting implications for the socioeconomic divide.

According to “Big Gap in College Education Rates between Rich and Poor,” of the Wall Street Journal, the rift between students of wealthy families and students of poor areas is continuing to grow, without any signs of slowing down. The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education recorded that in 2017, 77% of adults from families in the top income quartile earned at least a bachelor’s degree at the age of 24, which is a 40% increase since 1970. On the contrary, the amount of students earning at least a bachelor’s degree in the lowest income quartile increased only from 6% in 1970 to 9% in 2013. This shows the amount of students receiving a bachelor’s degree at the age of 24 is increasing as a whole, but financially struggling populations are lagging behind. In order to decrease the gap of academic achievement between students belonging to different income classes, academic programs that focus on developing a student’s ambitions while providing psychological and financial support must be implemented especially at an earlier age. 

Works Cited

1.       "Big Gap in College Graduation Rates for Rich and Poor, Study Finds." The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 03 Feb. 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

2.      "The Stewardship of Higher Education : Re-imagining the Role of Education and Wellness on Community Impact." (eBook, 2013) [WorldCat.org]. N.p., 25 Nov. 2016. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

3.      "Why Poor Kids Don’t Stay in College." The Washington Post. WP Company, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

4.      Olsen, Hanna Brooks. "But Seriously, Let's Talk About Millennial Poverty." Medium. N.p., 11 Aug. 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

5.      "More Than 40% of Low-Income Schools Don't Get a Fair Share of State and Local Funds, Department of Education Research Finds." More Than 40% of Low-Income Schools Don't Get a Fair Share of State and Local Funds, Department of Education Research Finds | U.S. Department of Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

6.      Tough, Paul. How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. Print.

7.      McLeod, Saul. "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs." Simply Psychology. N.p., 16 Sept. 2013. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

8.      Armstrong, Elizabeth A., and Laura T. Hamilton. Paying for the Party: How College Maintains Inequality. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2013. Print.

9.      "The Institute For College Access and Success." What We Do | The Institute For College Access and Success. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

10.  How the $1.2 Trillion College Debt Crisis Is Crippling Students, Parents and the Economy. N.p., n.d. Web.

11.  Gorman, Ryan. "How Student-loan Debt Is Dragging down the Economy." Business Insider. Business Insider, 01 May 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

12.  "Why Poor Kids Don’t Stay in College." The Washington Post. WP Company, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

13.  "Home." Learning Environments | 2014. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

14.  Bair, Sheila. "The Real Reasons College Students Drop Out." Fortune. N.p., 07 Mar. 2016. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

15.  Dwyer, Rachel, McCLoud, Laura and Hodson, Randy. Debt and Graduation from American Universities . Print

16.  Collinge, Alan. The Student Loan Scam: The Most Oppressive Debt in U.S. History, and How We Can Fight Back. Boston, MA: Beacon, 2009. Print

17.  "ERIC - Educational Aspirations among Low-Income Youths: Examining Multiple Conceptual Models, Children & Schools, 2010-Apr." ERIC - Educational Aspirations among Low-Income Youths: Examining Multiple Conceptual Models, Children & Schools, 2010-Apr. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

18.  Tough, Paul. "Who Gets to Graduate?" The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 May 2014. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

19.  Weissmann, Jordan. "Smart Poor Kids Are Less Likely to Graduate From College Than Middling Rich Kids." Slate Magazine. N.p., 02 June 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

20.  "Why Are Low Income Students Not Showing up to College, Even Though They Have Been Accepted? - The Hechinger Report." The Hechinger Report. N.p., 03 Nov. 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

21.  Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

22.  "Rutgers Future Scholars." Rutgers Future Scholars. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

Blog #8

Research Blog #8: Case

What is your “case” or chief example to explore in order to illustrate your argument and explain your frame?  Briefly summarize it for us.  How does it speak to the debate you have identified in your proposal?  What research have you got on the case?  What other details might be useful to know?  If there are online materials related to the case (including online articles, websites, or videos), please give those links in your post to help your readers and me learn more.

Most of my "cases" or examples come from articles /readings that demonstrate my thesis. My thesis revolves around the idea that the rate of graduation from wealthier students far surpasses the graduation rate in which the poor youth generates. My research includes many articles and readings that use examples of students different obstacles when dealing with financial instabilities and socioeconomic issues. Some examples include commuting an hour and a half to college with very little money to afford the bus. Another example is the lack of guidance students receive when applying and trying to enroll in higher education. One case discussed that a student was denied acceptance to the university because the wrong paper work was submitted to the university. 

-Works Cited-

1.       "Big Gap in College Graduation Rates for Rich and Poor, Study Finds." The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 03 Feb. 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

2.      "The Stewardship of Higher Education : Re-imagining the Role of Education and Wellness on Community Impact." (eBook, 2013) [WorldCat.org]. N.p., 25 Nov. 2016. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

3.      "Why Poor Kids Don’t Stay in College." The Washington Post. WP Company, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

4.      Olsen, Hanna Brooks. "But Seriously, Let's Talk About Millennial Poverty." Medium. N.p., 11 Aug. 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

5.      "More Than 40% of Low-Income Schools Don't Get a Fair Share of State and Local Funds, Department of Education Research Finds." More Than 40% of Low-Income Schools Don't Get a Fair Share of State and Local Funds, Department of Education Research Finds | U.S. Department of Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

6.      Tough, Paul. How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. Print.

7.      McLeod, Saul. "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs." Simply Psychology. N.p., 16 Sept. 2013. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

8.      Armstrong, Elizabeth A., and Laura T. Hamilton. Paying for the Party: How College Maintains Inequality. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2013. Print.

9.      "The Institute For College Access and Success." What We Do | The Institute For College Access and Success. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

10.  How the $1.2 Trillion College Debt Crisis Is Crippling Students, Parents and the Economy. N.p., n.d. Web.

11.  Gorman, Ryan. "How Student-loan Debt Is Dragging down the Economy." Business Insider. Business Insider, 01 May 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

12.  "Why Poor Kids Don’t Stay in College." The Washington Post. WP Company, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

13.  "Home." Learning Environments | 2014. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

14.  Bair, Sheila. "The Real Reasons College Students Drop Out." Fortune. N.p., 07 Mar. 2016. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

15.  Dwyer, Rachel, McCLoud, Laura and Hodson, Randy. Debt and Graduation from American Universities . Print

16.  Collinge, Alan. The Student Loan Scam: The Most Oppressive Debt in U.S. History, and How We Can Fight Back. Boston, MA: Beacon, 2009. Print

17.  "ERIC - Educational Aspirations among Low-Income Youths: Examining Multiple Conceptual Models, Children & Schools, 2010-Apr." ERIC - Educational Aspirations among Low-Income Youths: Examining Multiple Conceptual Models, Children & Schools, 2010-Apr. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

18.  Tough, Paul. "Who Gets to Graduate?" The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 May 2014. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

19.  Weissmann, Jordan. "Smart Poor Kids Are Less Likely to Graduate From College Than Middling Rich Kids." Slate Magazine. N.p., 02 June 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

20.  "Why Are Low Income Students Not Showing up to College, Even Though They Have Been Accepted? - The Hechinger Report." The Hechinger Report. N.p., 03 Nov. 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

21.  Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

22.  "Rutgers Future Scholars." Rutgers Future Scholars. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

Blog #7

Research Blog #7: Frame

What theory, paradigm, or academic concepts help you to make sense of your project?  This is what we call an “academic frame.”  Explain how you are using academic terms and ideas to make sense of your project.  By this point you should have at least six academic sources.  Make reference to the most important in this post to explain your frame for analysis.

1.       Socioeconomic Status- is an economic and sociological combined total measure of a person’s work experience and of an individual’s or family’s economic and social position in relation to others, based on income, education and occupation. Status is an important pre-determinant of whether or not a student who is ambitious enough to attend college will succeed.

a.     Armstrong, Elizabeth A., and Laura T. Hamilton. Paying for the Party: How College Maintains Inequality. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2013. Print.

2.       Fundamentalism- A form of a religion, especially Islam or Protestant Christianity that upholds belief in the strict, literal Interpretation of scripture. A key term in Stewardship of Higher Education. A fundamentalist is a term that is frequently bandied about the news media these days. Casually invoked to describe anyone who seems to hold some sort of vaguely-perceived traditional religious belief. Individuals should be able to practice what religion they want. Like so this than leads to a term egalitarianism.  Everyone should be equal and have equal rights no matter their background, social status or practice of religion.

a.      "The Stewardship of Higher Education : Re-imagining the Role of Education and Wellness on Community Impact." (eBook, 2013) [WorldCat.org]. N.p., 25 Nov. 2016. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

3.       Stewardship- is an ethic that embodies the responsible planning and management of resources. The concepts can be applied to the environment and nature, economics, health, property, information, theology, etc. Both poor youth and colleges have their stewardship. Individuals belonging to a poorer background must focus more on this term than those of wealthier environments.

a.      "The Stewardship of Higher Education : Re-imagining the Role of Education and Wellness on Community Impact." (eBook, 2013) [WorldCat.org]. N.p., 25 Nov. 2016. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

4.       Social Isolate- is a state of complete or near-complete lack of contact between an individual and society. It differs from loneliness, which reflects temporary lack of contact with other human’s Social isolation can be an outcome emotional state that is reflected by those students who come from poor environments and are hesitant to be outgoing. These students are also less likely to succeed and graduation college. 

a.     Armstrong, Elizabeth A., and Laura T. Hamilton. Paying for the Party: How College Maintains Inequality. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2013. Print.

5.       Egalitarianism- of, relating to, or believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities. It is important for colleges to practice equal rights for all. Disadvantaged potential college students lack the resources and financial stability. Colleges seeking our less privileged students and guiding them into the enrollment process and even throughout college will create a more “fair” environment for those who need it. 

a.        Tough, Paul. How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. Print.

Blog #5

Research Blog #5: Bibliography with at Least Five Scholarly Sources

Put together the bibliography of all sources you have found so far, which must contain at least five scholarly sources on your topic, at least one of which must be a book.  You are encouraged to list additional online or popular sources, but you must have five scholarly sources at least – sources you find using library resources discussed in class.  Be sure to enter them in MLA format and to list your sources in alphabetical order.

1.       "Big Gap in College Graduation Rates for Rich and Poor, Study Finds." The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, 03 Feb. 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

2.      "The Stewardship of Higher Education : Re-imagining the Role of Education and Wellness on Community Impact." (eBook, 2013) [WorldCat.org]. N.p., 25 Nov. 2016. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

3.      "Why Poor Kids Don’t Stay in College." The Washington Post. WP Company, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

4.      Olsen, Hanna Brooks. "But Seriously, Let's Talk About Millennial Poverty." Medium. N.p., 11 Aug. 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

5.      "More Than 40% of Low-Income Schools Don't Get a Fair Share of State and Local Funds, Department of Education Research Finds." More Than 40% of Low-Income Schools Don't Get a Fair Share of State and Local Funds, Department of Education Research Finds | U.S. Department of Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2016.

Blog #6

Research Blog #6: Visual

We will discuss how to develop and post images during the class session, and you are welcome to post it then.  Show us at least one visual graphic that can illustrate your project.  Describe the visual and explain its significance. This can be an image found online, a graph that you have prepared in PowerPoint, or any other visual aid that can help other people understand your project.  Ideally, this should be a visual aid you might include in your oral presentation.  You are welcome to include it with the final paper as well, if appropriate.

 

I decided to choose this graph as my visual to represent a large from in our country. The academic graduation rate has started to become a large problem amongst those students from poor backgrounds while those who are from wealthier backgrounds belong to the percentage of students whose graduation rate has steadily increased. As you can tell by the visual diagram, the more wealthier the family the more likely the student graduates in four or five years.

Literature Review # 4

(1)     Visual.  A picture of the book or (only if such a picture is not available or if it is an article) a relevant picture, such as a photo of the author or something related to the subject.  An embedded video (such as of an author interview) can also fulfill this requirement.

 

 

(2)     Citation.  Provide full citation in MLA format.

Armstrong, Elizabeth A., and Laura T. Hamilton. Paying for the Party: How College Maintains Inequality. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2013. Print.

(3)     Summary.  Provide a brief summary as to what the reading is about.

Paying for the Party by Elizabeth Atmstrong and Laura Hamiltonis a book containing a lot of research, which describes college’s efforts to lure full-pay students and shifted their institutional priorities to the benefit of the affluent and the detriment of everyone else. The book describes those low income prospective college students and their chances of succeeding while attending a four year college. It does not work out as much as these hopeful students would like.

(4)     Author(s).  Give some information on the author(s).  What makes him/her knowledgeable on the topic?

Elizabeth Armstrong is a sociologist with research interests in the areas of sexuality, gender, culture, organizations, social movements, and higher education. She is now a professor at the University of Michigan. Laura Hamilton is an associate professor of sociology at the University of California. Her interests include gender, sexuality, family, education, social class and mixed research methods. Based on these women’s backgrounds it is obvious to trust their word and readings. They understand higher education along with the correlation of social class.

(5)     Key terms.  Define at least two key terms or key concepts used in the piece.

Socioeconomic Status- is an economic and sociological combined total measure of a person’s work experience and of an individual’s or family’s economic and social position in relation to others, based on income, education and occupation.

Ethnographic Research- Relating to ethnography. The study of people in their own environment through the use of methods such as participant observation and face-to-face interviewing.

(6)     Quotes.  Give three quotations pertaining to your topic, with page reference.

1.       The cost of college education today is so high that many young people are giving up their dream of going to college, while many others are graduating deeply in debt.

2.       Eighteen isolates were from less privileged families, including all working-class and lower-middle class women on the floor and a few middle-class women. These women were less likely to have the funds, time, social tastes, and knowledge necessary to successfully engage in college social life

3.        the American way of college rewards those who come not just academically but socially prepared, while treating working-class students more cruelly, and often leaving them adrift.

(7)     Value.  Explicitly explain how this material helps you to explore your research question.

This book captures the strikingly different pathways women undergraduates can take through public universities. It also exemplifies the struggles that those not financial stable have to face. On the contrary, it describes the easier and more convenient life style that those who come from wealthier environments have. 

Literature Review #3

1.       Visual.  A picture of the book or (only if such a picture is not available or if it is an article) a relevant picture, such as a photo of the author or something related to the subject.  An embedded video (such as of an author interview) can also fulfill this requirement.

 

2.       Citation.  Provide full citation in MLA format.

Tough, Paul. How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. Print.

3.       Summary.  Provide a brief summary as to what the reading is about.

This book is about a new way of thinking that has been spreading across the country. Conventional wisdom about childhood development over the past decades has been misguided. Discussed is how society and high schools have been focusing on the wrong skills and abilities in our children, and we have been using thw wrong strategies to help nurture and teach those skills.

4.       Author(s).  Give some information on the author(s).  What makes him/her knowledgeable on the topic?

The author of this book is Paul Tough who is an author, speaker and journalist. He is a contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine and a speaker on various topics including education, poverty, parenting and politics. He has written many books including Helping Children Succeed, How Children Succeed and Whatever It Takes. He is very educated on topics of parenting and poverty making him a very helpful source for my paper.

5.       Key terms.  Define at least two key terms or key concepts used in the piece.

Elasticity- The ability of an object or material to resume its normal shape after being stretched or compressed; stretchiness or the ability of something to change and adapt.

Environmental influences- The aggregate of surrounding things, conditions, or influence; surroundings; milieu.

6.       Quotes.  Give three quotations pertaining to your topic, with page reference.

1.       fog of wishful thinking, euphemisms, and well-intentioned egalitarianism”, encourage low-IQ low income students to attend colleges that are too intellectually demanding; when those students discover that they don’t possess the intelligence necessary to do the work, they drop out

2.       By the fall of senior year, Kewauna was consumed with the process of applying to college. But she was starting from scratch in learning about the system.

3.       I’ve always wanted to be one of the those business ladies walking downtown with my briefcase

7.       Value.  Explicitly explain how this material helps you to explore your research question.

A large idea of this book is the idea of egalitarianism. Egalitarianism is the idea that all individuals should be given equal rights and opportunities. This idea fits into my paper very well because I demonstrate how colleges need to focus on demonstrating egalitarianism by implementing programs such as Rutgers Future Scholars.