, ENG1503 PORTFOLIO EXAMINATION SEMESTER 2
DUE DATE: 1 OCTOBER 2026
QUESTION: ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Task: Write a 500-word argumentative essay responding to the statement:
“Getting a university degree is well worth the cost.”
Take a clear position for or against the statement. Use the provided sources to support
your argument and include relevant examples from personal or professional experience.
Integrate the evidence into your discussion in your own words and provide full Harvard-style
references at the end. Only use the sources provided in the question.
(3 ESSAYS PROVIDED)
Getting a University Degree Is Well Worth the Cost
A university degree is often viewed as an important investment in a person’s future. Many
students choose popular fields such as accounting, computer science, medicine,
engineering and architecture because they believe that higher education can provide better
employment opportunities and higher earnings. Although obtaining a degree can be
expensive and may require students to take educational loans, the long-term financial
benefits can make the cost worthwhile. Therefore, getting a university degree is well worth
the cost when the qualification provides useful skills, improves employment opportunities
and allows graduates to earn higher incomes.
One important financial benefit of university education is the possibility of earning more over
a person’s working life. Mohd Nahar and Nur Nadhira (2020) examine the economic
benefits associated with Malaysian university degrees and explain why tertiary education is
increasingly viewed as a pathway towards middle-income status. Students are not only
interested in obtaining academic qualifications; many also expect their degrees to improve
DUE DATE: 1 OCTOBER 2026
QUESTION: ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Task: Write a 500-word argumentative essay responding to the statement:
“Getting a university degree is well worth the cost.”
Take a clear position for or against the statement. Use the provided sources to support
your argument and include relevant examples from personal or professional experience.
Integrate the evidence into your discussion in your own words and provide full Harvard-style
references at the end. Only use the sources provided in the question.
(3 ESSAYS PROVIDED)
Getting a University Degree Is Well Worth the Cost
A university degree is often viewed as an important investment in a person’s future. Many
students choose popular fields such as accounting, computer science, medicine,
engineering and architecture because they believe that higher education can provide better
employment opportunities and higher earnings. Although obtaining a degree can be
expensive and may require students to take educational loans, the long-term financial
benefits can make the cost worthwhile. Therefore, getting a university degree is well worth
the cost when the qualification provides useful skills, improves employment opportunities
and allows graduates to earn higher incomes.
One important financial benefit of university education is the possibility of earning more over
a person’s working life. Mohd Nahar and Nur Nadhira (2020) examine the economic
benefits associated with Malaysian university degrees and explain why tertiary education is
increasingly viewed as a pathway towards middle-income status. Students are not only
interested in obtaining academic qualifications; many also expect their degrees to improve
