Analysis: A Time For Change In College Attendees Independance

A Time for Change in College Attendees Independance In response to the growing independence of college kids, writer Michelle Willins argues that college kids should have less independence in her article, “College Kids Have too Much Privacy.” She effectively builds an argument to persuade her audience by using pathos, a personal anecdote and stunning and startling facts. Willins uses pathos to reach adults by providing series of examples that may apply to parents. She states that, “They can binge-watch “True Detective” rather than attend classes, never disclose their grades, maybe even become anxious or depressed.” This creates a negative image inside of the parents mind because they never know what their child may be doing. It also sparks
an anger inside of them by saying “You have no right, as a parent, to know what or how your children are doing in school.” Parents get angry because this says they can no longer care for or monitor their own children. Parents also have no right to know if their child is suffering. Michelle also built her argument around a anecdote to persuade her audience. She shares a story of an acquaintance who received a phone call from her daughter's former roommate. “Well the truth is, she didn’t attend classes the last two years.” She does this to show that everyday people that you may know, may be skipping classes. It also makes the reader question if their child is doing the same. Willins startles the reader with some intriguing facts. “Only of more than 580 public universities graduated a majority in four years.” This statement shows the reader that many people end up not graduating college. “Roughly 45% of students who enter college every year, won't graduate at all.” That is almost 50% of the people who attend college. This is shocking because statistically stating in a household with two children, one of them would not graduate college. Writing a reaction to the growing independence of college kids, Michelle Willins says they are not ready for that kind of responsibility. She supports her argument by using pathos, using an anecdote and using startling facts.