Beau Anderson provides two samples of student comment on the college Here. Opinions about the college experience are often subjective. We also know that the two students are offering evaluative “claims”: the college is either good or bad. Evaluative arguments require special kinds of arguments typically based on comparable criteria.
The first student does not elaborate on why Tunxis “sucks” or why she was disappointed.
The second student provides a little more information, promoting the notion that Tunxis delivers rigor. It’s good because it offers rigorous learning environments. The warrant for this argument is that rigor is good and that rigor qualifies as legitimate criteria. But we still need more examples of what that rigor looks like.
This may be what bugs the first student, that after departing the rigor of the university, she found it at Tunxis and hence was disappointed. One conclusion we can draw, subjectively, of course, from the first student’s remark is that a “real” college would be one that offers underwater basket weaving as an elective with a major course ability being: holds breath for at least 25 seconds while yanking fruitfully on rattan.
Note to First Student: we want to do a good job. Come by my office and let’s solve the problem.
Note to Second Student: you forgot the “n.”
Thanks, Beau, for the fun.