Analysis Of Gerald Graff's Hidden Intellectualism

Words: 1154
Pages: 5
Open Document
Kathleen is a janitor at the local high school as well as the mother of two teenage girls, Abby and Natasha. A few weeks ago, Abby and Natasha were watching their favorite show on Netflix when their mother came home. She asked them the question she always did, had they finished their homework? This time their answer was different, in unison they plainly said, “No”. “Why didn’t you do your homework?” Kathleen said. They replied, “We didn’t want to. It’s pointless!” Kathleen shook her head and said “Your homework is important because it will help you to get good grades. Then you can get into a good college and you won’t have to work as hard as I do because you’ll get a good job.” Abby and Natasha finished their episode and did their homework. …show more content…
With all of this information, you will likely come to the conclusion that the main value of a college is to help its’ students get jobs. But is that really the only value of getting a college education? The debate on what the true value of college education is has been sweeping the literary world. In “Hidden Intellectualism” Gerald Graff argues that colleges need to engage their students by having them look at their own interests through “academic eyes.” Once examining these interests, it is important to question their validity. In “The Dangerous Safety of College” Frank Bruni argues that colleges need to challenge their students’ beliefs so the students can learn to properly argue them to someone with an opposing opinion. In “College is Not a Commodity. Stop Treating it Like One” Hunter Rawlings argues that the true value in a college education is the discovery that the students can use their minds to make their own arguments and even make their own contribution to knowledge. All of these skills play a key role in learning how to become an intellectual. The ultimate value of college is learning how to become an intellectual on and off …show more content…
Intellectuals are people who can take any topic and ask thoughtful questions, argue their opinion, and defend their opinion with evidence (Graff). These skills, mastered by intellectuals, can be seen in everyday activities. For example, when you enter a conversation about who is the best player on a particular team, you have successfully stated your opinion of the best player and can provide evidence to explain and back up why you believe this. Of course, these conversations are not going to be as polished as those of intellectuals in a scholarly setting, but they are the beginnings of an intellectual mindset. If college professors bring the students interests into a writing assignment, then it will further the growth of an intellectual mindset. Before the students are fully aware of what is happening, they will learn how to argue their opinion and use evidence to back it
Show More

Related Documents: Analysis Of Gerald Graff's Hidden Intellectualism

Analysis Of Gerald Graff's Article 'Hidden Intellectualism'

“HIDDEN INTELLECTUALISM” In the article "Hidden Intellectualism," Gerald Graff mentions that many people do not value "smart street" that states "The fact that we associate these street skills with anti-intellectual concerns." Knowledge is beyond academic learning is in everyday life. As Gerald Graff mention in his adolescences experiences, he was always discussing between physically though and begin verbally. The academic issue is a daily obstacle, which people do not value as sports and entertainment…

Words 297 - Pages 2

Summary Of Hidden Intellectualism By Gerald Graff

In Gerald Graff’s Hidden Intellectualism, Graff states that intellectualism does not only exist in the academic world, it also exists in “street smarts”(244). Looking back on his childhood he points out how he did not like academic subjects. He loved sports; reading sports magazines and books written by athletes like Joe Dimaggio. The Chicago neighbourhood he grew up in, anti-intellectualism ruled, and it still does.He was torn “between the need to prove I was smart and the fear of a beating if I…

Words 199 - Pages 1

Hidden Intellectualism In Rose And Graff's Blue Collar Brilliance

The 21st Century Model of Intellectualism Imagine you are driving along the highway when one of your tires go out. As you drive to the side of the road, you have a paining realization that of all the thousands of hours you spent memorizing presidents, finding adjacent angles, and writing theses in school, nothing prepared you for a situation like this. Perhaps changing a tire isn’t the only pitfall of your knowledge; never were you taught how to pay taxes, paint a room, or cook a decent meal. The…

Words 1202 - Pages 5

Summary Of Hidden Intellectualism By Gerald Graff

Andrea, Your brief, descriptive judgement of “Hidden Intellectualism” by Gerald Graff is both considerable and persuasive. First, I agree that his tone is both desirable and understanding in the topic of his chronicle. On the other hand, I would have preferred a clearer introduction to determine exactly where the story was going as he shifted in numerous intervals. Second, he demonstrates the importance of exploring intellectually at one’s personal interest to have some expertise in their area of…

Words 145 - Pages 1

Response: Education and Learning Styles Essay

McKylie Hoff Professor Vieregge English 101 21 October 2014 Hidden Intellectualism Essay In Gerald Graff’s essay “Hidden Intellectualism,” he believes that there is a mistake being made by educators because they are not manipulating the criteria to fit the student’s main focus. He comes across this by using an example of a ”young person who is impressively ‘street smart’ but does poorly in school,” (Graff p. 198) and goes on to say that “schools and colleges might be at fault for missing the…

Words 1558 - Pages 7