memo

To:
From:

Dr. Karen C. holt

Lexi Morgan

Date:

10/8/2014

Re:

Why should someone consider going to graduate school?

PURPOSE: Graduate school has been a complicated decision for several potential students.
Most see it as a money-sucker over a great source of post-secondary education.
However, This argument will explore and answer the following questions:
What is the average acceptance rate of graduate school?
What are the most significant benefits of a graduate degree?
What arguments are against extensive schooling?

BACKGROUND: As ambitious as I am, graduate school has always been an obvious option.
However, there may be reason why someone like me should reconsider. The only thing I
know about graduate school is that, especially for law school, it is difficult to be accepted
and even harder to finish. By the end of this line of research I plan on finding a personal
answer on whether law school is a good fit for the determined English major, and help
others struggling with this decision find clarity.

SIGNIFICANCE: Several college students consider going to post-secondary school, but

do not understand the full idea of it. Many do not take the time to research the possibility,
and therefore decide not to attend. However, graduate school can be extremely beneficial
when applied correctly.

DESCRIPTION: The database sources from EBSCOHost are the most reliable that I found.
The authors are extremely credible (dean of students, college board, etc.), and provide a
significant amount of information to support the sustained argument. I will be using these
sources as my primary source.
I also plan on interviewing my high school senior English teacher. She has earned
several graduate degrees, and they have helped her pursue the goals she had set with an
English profession. This will be done via email.
I also plan on interviewing other students considering graduate schoolwhy they
are going, and what they hope to get out of it.
The rest of the cited sources will help explain the reason why graduate school can
give one an advantage, as well as addressing the opposite side.

memo
OUTLINE:

Introduction

Writer's
postition

Opposing
views

Thesis: When considering post-secondary schooling, one should research the

time, benefits, and cost of graduate school.
Pays off
expands career opportunity
initially will "pay itself off"

expensive
time consuming
difficult to be accepted

you earn a substantial amount more than with a general bachelor's degree
furthers education, allowing for greater occupational opportunity
Response to
opposition exapnds knowledge and experience

Graduate school has several benefits, when you are going for the right reasons.
Conclusion

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Bridges, Frances. "Why You Shouldn't Go To Grad School." Forbes. n.p., 17 Feb. 2012.
Web. 2 Oct. 2014.
Frances Bridges gives multiple reasons why graduate school, in her
experience, was not a smart idea.

memo
Hines, Barbara B. "Why Graduate School?" Black Collegian 37.3 (2007): 48-50. EBSCO
Host. Web. 2 Oct. 2014.
Barbara Hines describes valid reasons why graduate school is a wise choice
and some of the benefits that come from the extra schooling.
Jacobson, Jennifer. "Why So Many People Leave Graduate School Without a PH. D."
Chronicle of Higher Education 47.38 (2001): A10. EBSCO Host. Web. 2 Oct.
2014.
Jennifer Jacobson gives us a look at why there are graduate school dropouts.
It also can be seen as an example of what paths not to cross in school.
Maki, Amy O. "Why Include Graduate School?" Black Collegian 39.2 (2009): 62-63.
EBSCO Host. Web. 2 Oct. 2014.
Amy Maki provides more reasons why graduate school is beneficial.
Martin, Don. "Ask 7 Questions Before Applying to Graduate School." US News. US
News, 20 Apr. 2012. Web. 2 Oct. 2014.
This article provides valid questions to consider before paying for and
attending graduate school.
---. "6 Reasons Why Graduate School Pays Off." US News. US News, 29 June 2012.
Web. 2 Oct. 2014.
Dr. Don Martin also gives a list of reasons why, even though it can be quite
expensive, graduate school begins to pay for itself.
Rovaris, Dereck J., Sr. "Why Graduate School?" Black Collegian 37.1 (2006): 65-71.
EBSCO Host. Web. 2 Oct. 2014.
This article provides several more reasons why graduate school is
constructive.
Stiffman, Eden. "Importance of grad school." The Hill. The Hill, 3 Aug. 2012. Web. 2
Oct. 2014.
Eden Stiffman provides the reason why most find graduate school important.

TIMETABLE AND SCHEDULE:

Assignment:
Read and annotate sources
Collect information for
chart/graph/table
Find quotations for paper
Have several examples
Interview a teacher
-make sure to ask questions
towards both sides
Rough Draftwork on it!!!

Day:

Oct 9
Oct 10
Oct 11

Time:
2:00-3:00 p.m.
TBD

Oct 17

10:00-10:30
a.m.
TBD

Oct 18-22

TBD

memo
-have it complete for
revisions
Start revisions of paper
-be thorough
-check the paper multiple
times
-use different colored ink
FINAL DRAFT DUE

Oct 23-25

TBD

Oct 27

9:00 a.m.

REQUEST FOR APPROVAL:

Graduate school provides many opportunities for the future and is extremely beneficial. I
am requesting permission to research this idea, and to interview people on their personal
opinions. By the end of my research, I plan on holding a strong argument for the positive
side of post-secondary schooling.