For your final, I would like you to choose two colleges and persuade your audience (possibly yourself, a friend, or a family member) to pick one over the other, based on three points of support. I highly recommend that you pick two colleges that are similar; otherwise, your final recommendation may seem obvious if one school is a much more reasonable choice than the other (for example, if there is huge difference in tuition). I also encourage you to look beyond the cost and academics, and instead focus on aspects of student life that interest you. You can examine the food options, the housing, athletics, clubs, other extra-curricular activities, Greek life, safety, health services, community service, convenience of campus design, convenience of location, support services, diversity of student population, or anything else that you might consider. If you do decide to take the cost or academics into account, try to use two schools that are only slightly different in this area.
You are required to cite at least three sources in MLA format, and two of the sources can be the websites of the colleges that you choose
The following websites may also be helpful in developing your paper:
www.collegeboard.com
www.princetonreview.com
www.collegeview.com
www.petersons.com
You are allowed to bring notes (fewer than 250 words, with no full sentences), and a works cited page (you are not allowed to use the actual sources).
Your essay should be between 500 and 800 words and must include in-text citations in MLA format. You will have two hours to write it.
Here is a sample outline, used with the student’s permission