, ENG2601 Assignment 3
Semester 2 2025
DUE 4 August 2025
Use this document as a guide and for references to answer your assignment
3 different essays provided
How Tone and Structure Undermine the Argument in “Is College Worth It? Is
This Even the Right Question?”
Introduction:
In academic writing, tone and structure play vital roles in establishing credibility,
clarity, and persuasive power. The article entitled "Is College Worth It? Is This
Even the Right Question?" attempts to tackle a significant and ongoing debate
about the value of higher education. However, despite its formal register, the
article’s conversational tone and fragmented structure ultimately weaken its
effectiveness as a scholarly piece. This essay critically discusses how the tone and
structure of the article diminish its academic merit and dilute the strength of its
central argument. Drawing on the article itself and the video "How to Structure
Your Academic Essay" by Critical Thinker Academy, this analysis highlights how
the author's stylistic choices compromise the clarity, logical development, and
persuasiveness of the piece.
Tone and Structure in Academic Writing:
Academic writing demands a tone that is objective, concise, and analytically
rigorous. As emphasized in the video, a suitable academic tone avoids excessive
informality and personal anecdotes, favoring instead evidence-based reasoning.
Similarly, a clear and purposeful structure is essential for helping readers follow the
argument. Academic pieces typically include an introduction with a clear thesis,
logically organized body paragraphs that build the argument progressively, and a
conclusion that synthesizes the main ideas.
The Impact of Tone on the Article's Effectiveness:
The article opens with an engaging anecdote: ―A few years ago, I attended a career
day at my old high school...‖ While this hook may be appropriate for a blog or
personal essay, it immediately signals a conversational tone. This tone persists
throughout, often diminishing the author's authority on the subject. For instance, the
author writes, ―I mean, I get it. College is expensive and takes years. It‘s not for
Semester 2 2025
DUE 4 August 2025
Use this document as a guide and for references to answer your assignment
3 different essays provided
How Tone and Structure Undermine the Argument in “Is College Worth It? Is
This Even the Right Question?”
Introduction:
In academic writing, tone and structure play vital roles in establishing credibility,
clarity, and persuasive power. The article entitled "Is College Worth It? Is This
Even the Right Question?" attempts to tackle a significant and ongoing debate
about the value of higher education. However, despite its formal register, the
article’s conversational tone and fragmented structure ultimately weaken its
effectiveness as a scholarly piece. This essay critically discusses how the tone and
structure of the article diminish its academic merit and dilute the strength of its
central argument. Drawing on the article itself and the video "How to Structure
Your Academic Essay" by Critical Thinker Academy, this analysis highlights how
the author's stylistic choices compromise the clarity, logical development, and
persuasiveness of the piece.
Tone and Structure in Academic Writing:
Academic writing demands a tone that is objective, concise, and analytically
rigorous. As emphasized in the video, a suitable academic tone avoids excessive
informality and personal anecdotes, favoring instead evidence-based reasoning.
Similarly, a clear and purposeful structure is essential for helping readers follow the
argument. Academic pieces typically include an introduction with a clear thesis,
logically organized body paragraphs that build the argument progressively, and a
conclusion that synthesizes the main ideas.
The Impact of Tone on the Article's Effectiveness:
The article opens with an engaging anecdote: ―A few years ago, I attended a career
day at my old high school...‖ While this hook may be appropriate for a blog or
personal essay, it immediately signals a conversational tone. This tone persists
throughout, often diminishing the author's authority on the subject. For instance, the
author writes, ―I mean, I get it. College is expensive and takes years. It‘s not for
