School & learning
School life, learning, college choices and how we think.
Education Should Prepare Students to Read Real-World Data
An explanatory essay arguing that students need practice interpreting costs, enrollment statistics, surveys, and forecasts so they can make informed decisions while recognizing the limits of evidence.
GRE Argument: Does Competition for High Grades Undermine Learning?
An evidence-based argument that competition for grades can motivate effort but may undermine learning when high stakes reward narrow performance, opportunities are unequal, or feedback is limited. It explains how these risks can vary across educational levels.
Mandatory Foreign Study for College Students
An argument that international study can deepen learning, but colleges should make it accessible and strongly supported rather than require the same semester abroad of every student.
GRE Issue Essay on Debate and Progress
An argument that disagreement can improve decisions when it tests assumptions, but that progress does not always require extended debate: urgency, shared evidence, and inclusive procedures determine when discussion helps.
Should Schools Assign Summer Homework?
An evidence-conscious argument for optional, accessible summer learning rather than compulsory packets or no school support at all.
Should Class Participation Be Graded? Fair Assessment for Different Learners
An argument that participation may contribute to a grade only when it measures demonstrated learning through multiple equitable options, rather than rewarding frequent public speaking.
GRE Issue Essay on Choosing a College Field by Job Availability
A model argument that weighs employment prospects against personal interest and broader educational aims, arguing for informed flexibility rather than choosing a major by job availability alone.
Should Facts Be Mistrusted Because They May Change?
An argument that factual claims deserve calibrated scrutiny: evidence can be revised, but the possibility of revision is not a reason to reject it without examining how it was established.
GRE Argument: Should Educators Incorporate Student Interests into Course Planning?
A qualified argument for using student interests as evidence about how to teach and apply essential material, without letting preference replace educational aims.
Personal Discipline and Student Motivation
An argument that student effort matters, but educational conditions can either obstruct that effort or help turn it into sustained motivation.
Should Every College Student Study Abroad for a Semester?
A qualified argument that international study can deepen learning, but a semester abroad should be an option rather than a universal requirement.
Should Parents Be Required to Volunteer at Their Children’s Schools?
A qualified argument that schools should actively welcome and organize family participation, but should not require every parent to volunteer hours on campus.