COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE BETTER THAN UNIVERSITIES
OUTLINE
1. Introduction
1.1 General Statement
Community colleges, sometimes called junior colleges, are the most
common type of colleges. Community colleges are a two-year educational
establishment where people obtain degrees in their desired field. They are
well established around the globe, from Canada to the Philippines.
Community colleges are not as hyped over as normal four-year
universities. They actually have better advantages given in their
establishment.
1.2 Thesis Statement
Community colleges are better than four-year universities.
2. First Main Idea (Pro Argument 1):
Cheaper tuition fees.
2.1 Topic Sentence
Firstly, the tuition fees for community colleges are cheaper.
2.2 Supporting Details
2.2.1
Community college fees are definitely cheaper if you compare it to
a four-year university. Community college tuition nationwide
averages less than $3,000 per year, a fraction of what you would
pay at a university (Rogers, n.d). It is indeed better for middle to
low class families in which are in need of the money for other
things.
2.2.2
International students can also benefit from the low tuition
expenses. They can pay less in expense while still obtaining their
degrees. Often, international students are charged a significantly
higher tuition fee at four-year schools than their American
counterparts (Pranabudi, 2013).
2.2.3
Students attending community colleges are financially at ease, as
they don’t have to take loans. With these low fees, they wont feel
the financial burden of paying debt. Two­year schools offer
students the chance to start their careers sooner and with less or no
debt (Couch, n.d). Macy Williams in her article stated that she was
able to save a lot of money and was financially comfortable when
studying in a community college.
2.3 Concluding Sentence
Hence, the low expenses in community college fees makes it affordable
for people of all walks of life.
3. Second Main Idea (Pro Argument 2):
Easy transition for students.
3.1 Topic Sentence
Second, the straightforward transition in community college makes
students easier in adapting to new surroundings.
3.2 Supporting Details
3.2.1
For a high school graduate or an international student, adapting to a
new environment is not the easiest task. With a small campus and
small sized classrooms in community colleges, transitioning is no
problem. These students may find the smaller campus and classes
of a community college are more comfortable right after the high
school years (Chen, n.d).
3.2.2
Community college students get more personalised attention from
their professors to their counsellors. Teachers at community
colleges are charged with connecting with students rather than
putting half their time into research and publishing, which often
requires putting a student assistant in charge of the actual teaching
(Rogers, n.d).
3.2.3
This is beneficial to international students, mostly to those who are
not fluent in English. More accessible professors make it easier for
international students to speak with their professors regularly,
increasing their understanding of the course material.
3.3 Concluding Sentence
Therefore, adapting is made easy for students who attend community
colleges.
4. Third Main Idea (Pro Argument 3):
Flexibility
4.1 Topic Sentence
Other than that, flexibility is given to community college students.
4.2 Supporting Details
4.2.1
Community colleges are diverse in their admission process. With
the wide range of people with different backgrounds. Community
colleges are in intent to cater students that have jobs and families
of their own (Education Corner, n.d)
4.2.2
This flexibility provides classes to students with a busy schedule.
With classes in the evening, on weekends, and even online,
community colleges offer the flexibility to help you proceed with
your education while doing the other things you need to do in your
life (CCC Apply, n.d)
4.2.3
Students get to explore in multiple subjects and courses that are
provided in community colleges before determining their desired
career path.
4.3 Concluding Sentence
Thus, community colleges provide an adjustable schedule for their
students.
5. Counter Argument
Nonetheless, it is important to consider opposing perspectives in relation to this
subject matter as it is claimed that attending community colleges are disadvantageous
too.
Topic sentence (a):
In this regard, two of the most common arguments are the lack of campus-life
experience and inflexibility of credit transfer.
5.1 Firstly, in community colleges, the students will not get the chance to
experience the campus life as compared to the university students. This is
because
most
of
community colleges
usually do
not
provide
accommodation for on campus housing or dorms (Lovejoy, 2014). Unlike
community colleges, universities have fraternities and sororities in which
the students will be able to bond over.
5.2 In addition, credits may not transfer for students that attend community
colleges. They might have to retake some of the subjects if they want to
join the university. This is because some of the universities consider that
the credits are more or less equal to a semester course. “Even though I had
already taken a linear algebra class at my community college, I had to
retake it at Brown because the school considers two quarter-based classes
equal to a semester-based course” (Pranabudi, 2013).
6 Refutation:
Topic sentence (b):
However, the disadvantages can be refuted because community colleges have
their own lifestyle in their campus and the students can initially check the
transference of credits before applying to a particular university.
6.1 Community colleges do provide a college lifestyle; it is just slightly
different compared to the usual university lifestyle. The difference is that,
without the accommodation, students bond over in classrooms. As stated
in the pro-argument, community colleges have smaller campuses and
classrooms. Even though they do not have accommodation or dormitories,
they find other ways to interact with each other in social activities such as
sports. Hence, the definition of a campus-life may not be exactly the same
as those at the university, but it is a campus-lifestyle nonetheless.
6.2 Aside from that, the students also should check if their credit hours are
able to transfer before they join any particular university because some
community colleges do have such facility.
Concluding sentence:
Therefore, while some may feel that there is a lack of campus-life experience and
inflexibility of credit transfer, community colleges have beneficial aspects that are
given to their students.
7 Concluding Paragraph
7.1 Summary of the Arguments:
Community Colleges provide the same level of education that is alike with
the university but rather with cheaper tuition fees. It also simplifies the
students’ transition process in adapting to a new surrounding. Asides that,
community colleges offers flexibility in their scheduling and admission for
their students.
7.2 Calling for Action:
If the students are not mentally and physically prepared to experience the
university life, they should start small by attending the two-year
community colleges before pursuing their studies in the four-year colleges
or universities.
7.3 Proposing Solution:
Moreover, students can easily apply for the community colleges because
their admission policies are a lot more lenient as compared to the
universities. Through this, they get to explore their area of interests in a
wide field of careers before they can land a job.