Final English exam paper from college.

1. Running head: DROPPED 1
Dropped: The Importance of Males Getting a College Education
Chris Harden
December 16, 2013

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Chris Harden
Professor Johnson
English Composition II E.S. 102
December 16, 2013
Dropped: The Importance of Males Getting a College Education
You’ve probably seen him before, the tall, muscular loner dressed all in black who
answers to no one. He is the cocky, aggressive alpha male’s alpha male that men want to be and
women want to be with. This is the way the American male is typically portrayed in television,
movies, books, and magazines, but this image of anti-intellectualism perpetuates males who
believe that they can survive and thrive in today’s economy without a college education
(Hightower, 2010). Because these men are constantly dissatisfied with life, they become hostile
towards their families and sometimes even society. America is a culture of instant gratification
and many men would rather forego their education for quick and easy unskilled easy job
opportunities. However, men should get a college education to avoid future bitterness and regret,
and to enjoy higher earning, less stress, job satisfaction and stability, and their desired lifestyle.
Males are historically raised to believe that they do not have to follow the rules and this
creates men who are uncouth, selfish, loud, and rebellious both in school and in society
(Guilbault, 1996). A lot of this macho attitude stems from a males’ belief that he does not need
to excel in school because once he graduates high school there will be a good paying job waiting
for him, but many of these jobs are in manufacturing, manual labor and service that may have
paid well fifty years ago but have dismal pay and benefits in today’s economy (Grasgreen,
2013). As a result, many of these men live in bitterness and resentment because they cannot
afford to live the lifestyle they desire and this causes them to be hostile towards family members

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and sometimes even society. In times of recessions and depressions, many men become involved
in riots and other crimes to vent their aggressions and steal property as a way to try and right
what they perceive as a societal wrong for not having what they want (Locher, 2001).
To avoid a life of malcontent, it is very important for men to get a college education
because all of the advantages that come from having a college degree equate to a satisfying and
stress free life.
First, a college degree provides more earning compared to a high school diploma. For
example, a person with a bachelor’s degree working full time in 2008 will have earned $219,000
more by 2018 than a male with a high school diploma job (Hardy, 2012). The man with the
bachelor’s degree can easily support himself and provide for a family if he has one now or in the
future.
Second, a college degree can reduce the amount of stress in a man’s life. With an
increased salary comes the possession of more disposable income, less concerns about paying
bills, and the ability to make more choices about where to go and what to do in life, including
taking vacations. A 2006 study from the Carnegie Mellon University Psychology department
found men with college degrees to have lower levels of cortisol, a stress producing hormone,
compared to men who have less education (Hardy, 2012).
Third, men with a college degree have more job satisfaction and job stability. Many
college degree jobs provide a more comfortable and safe working environment, better hours and
superior health care and other benefits. Also, many high school diploma jobs are being moved
overseas to countries such as China, India and Vietnam while the likelihood of jobs in science,
technology, engineering and math going overseas are slim to none.

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Finally, when the other benefits are combined, it is significantly easier for a man with a
college degree to live the lifestyle he desires compared to a man with a high school diploma. The
college graduate has a better chance of living in a pleasant neighborhood and in a very nice
house with the vehicle he wants to drive. He can go on more vacations to quality locations and
for longer periods than a man with a high school diploma.
All-in-all, it is imperative that men get their college education because no one wants to
live in malcontent, or risk becoming involved in riots or other crimes, and eventually look back
on their life with regret. There are so many advantages that a man with a college education can
enjoy, and any man who chooses to avoid getting his college education just may be a glutton for
punishment.

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References
Grasgreen A. (2013, February). The Rise of Women. News. Retrieved December 16, 2013 from
Inside Higher Ed: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/02/21/new-book-explains-
why-women-outpace-men-education
Guilbault, R. (1996). The Untranslatable Word Macho. In Gaetz, L. & Phadke, S. (Eds.), The
Writer’s World: Essays (p. 587). New York, NY: Prentice Hall.
Hardy M. (2012, January). 7 Benefits of Earning a College Degree: Check Out These Interesting
Benefits to Higher Education. Articles. Retrieved December 16, 2013 from Yahoo!
Education: http://education.yahoo.net/articles/benefits_of_higher_education.htm
Hightower, M. (2010). Where the guys are: males in higher education. Change: The Magazine of
Higher Learning, 5(1), 4.
Locher, D (2001). Types of Rioters. In Gaetz, L. & Phadke, S. (Eds.), The Writer’s World:
Essays (pp. 537 – 540). New York, NY: Prentice Hall.