Sarah Nelson

Mr. Newman
English 101: Rhetoric
19 September 2014
Statement of Scope for the Annotated Bibliography
In Veronica Roths, Divergent, the Erudite faction has more knowledge than the other
factions. The faction also has more power than the rest of the factions. In todays world,
education is crucial to having political power and authority in society. While there have been
people in power with little schooling, most have had years of post-secondary education, making
knowledge synonymous with power.
In this essay I will explore the link between a college education and power. Many people
believe that obtaining a college degree is a risk due to the state of todays economy, it is not. I
will discuss the cost of going to college to pursue a degree. I will also examine the average salary
of workers with a high school diploma, associates degree, and bachelors degree. The paper will
examine why many high school seniors and adults are choosing not to attend or return to college
whether it is based on the belief that a degree will not pay itself off or due to grades. The essay
will also examine the costs of continuing ones education compared to going straight into the
workforce.
This selected bibliography includes articles that discuss the topics of college debt, the
west and knowledge, college preparedness, unemployment rates, and income of college
graduates. The Pisani and Leonhardt articles both examine the connection between a high school
diploma and various college degrees and the earning potential each one has. The Rampell source
examines the unemployment rate for college graduates and getting out of poverty with a degree.
Paulsons article looks at how many students are not academically qualified for college courses
and must take remedial courses for no credit. The Kimball article discusses a book on how
knowledge has defined western civilization. I would need to find more sources on the education
people in positions of power have had and the downsides of attending college. Also, I would
need more information on the wages of workers with little authority and in authoritative
positions. Overall, these sources provide facts on the benefits of college and offer reasons why
college is beneficial, but they do not examine the expenses of the education.

Annotated Bibliography

Kimball, Roger. Knowing Is Half the Battle. Wall Street Journal 26 Feb. 2014, Eastern
ed.: A15. elibrary. Web. 17 Sept. 2014. An English historian, Jeremy Black wrote a book
on the linkage between knowledge and power in politics. Francis Bacon and Rene
Descartes both declared what we believe now to be common knowledge. The West has
become defined by this use of information for power.
Leonhardt, David. Is College Worth It? Clearly Yes, New Data Says. New York Times
[New York City] 27 May 2014, Late Edition (East Coast) ed.: A3. elibrary. Web. 16
Sept. 2014. People believe that college doesnt pay off, however there is a substantial pay
gap because society is not producing enough college graduates or people ready for
college. The pay gap for even a bachelor;s degree continues to rise while those with an
associates dont see much of a difference between people who didnt attend college.
Paulson, Amanda. Less than 40 Percent of 12th-Graders Ready for College, Analysis
Finds. Christian Science Monitor 14 May 2014: n. pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web.
18 Sept. 2014. The NAEP has shown that less than half of high school seniors are ready
for college courses. There are twice as many students in college-prep classes, but about
25% of college students must take remedial courses. This lack of preparedness is hurting
the United States economy.
Pisani, Joseph. Is a College Degree worth It? Hattiesburg America 6 July 2014, sec. B:
n. pag. eLibrary. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. Over a 40 year period, a bachelors degree earns $1
million more than a high school diploma and an associates degree earns $325,000 more.
Adults with a degree earn more money, have a lower unemployment rate, and are less
likely to live in poverty. Those who have jobs that dont require post-secondary education
have more earnings power.

Rampell, Catherine. College Is Still a Good Idea. Washington Post 25 Apr. 2014: A17.
SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. College enrollment is dropping due to the
widespread belief that obtaining a college degree doesnt do much good in todays job
market. However, those with a bachelors degree have a substantially lower
unemployment rate than those with just a high school diploma. A degree is also the way
out of poverty because the poor with a diploma become stuck in the lower income
bracket.