Assignment:
The Requested Pro/Con Analysis
Given your growing reputation as an expert in knowing and understanding issues related to higher education, you have been asked to author a pro/con analyses for a group of local businesspeople interested in examining the degree to which the local state college is indeed spending its money accurately. The local university has consistently made the case that educational investment in relatively light teaching loads creates an opportunity for better levels of teacher performance due to their ability to serve students at higher levels and potentially pursue their publication agenda. Critics of the system indicate that teachers should be given heavier loads and dollars need to be allocated towards other important learning objectives. Your goal is to examine these two arguments and create a pro/con analysis that includes the following.
Your work should come in the form of a formal APA paper and come in the following components.
· Component 1: Introduction: you will describe the challenges associated with the establishment of teaching loads and issues in institutions of higher education.
· Component 2: Making the case for lower teaching loads – In this section you will make the case based on scholarly support and advisement for maintaining lower teacher loads as a mechanism for improving quality. Be explicit in this section based on the literature that supports this objective.
· Component 3: An argument against lighter teacher loads – In this section you will attempt to make the case against lighter teacher loads as an institutional objective. Describe how these lighter loads may not necessarily lead to higher levels of institutional performance.
· Organization & Conclusion: Offer some thoughts on which of the pro/con statements that you provided you feel most closely resemble what is likely to be the true pathway towards goal attainment. The readers are expecting you to provide a fair and competent analysis, making strong cases for both pro and con. They are, however, looking for your recommendation in conclusion.
· Mechanics
Please ensure in executing this assignment that you make specific references to the readings provided as well as the utilization of at least three outside references which can be used to support your ideas presented. The use of outside sources is important because even though the materials provided for this course are excellent, as a graduate student you are expected to be able to consult a variety of sources regarding a given topic and synthesize that scholarly input into a thoughtful set of recommendations, conclusions, etc.
The essay should be 1850 – words and should include at least three (3) citations. The sections should be clearly marked with headings so that your instructor knows which points you are addressing. Follow the guidelines for APA writing style. The title page and references page do not count towards the minimum word amount for this assignment.
