Using the 5 Argumentative Frameworks for the AP Essay

(as described in the AGWR)

The University believes there is a problem with students studying way too much.
This problem is leading to stress, lack of sleep, improper diet, and lack of socializing.
All of these have negative health consequences. The causes of the problem include:
too much pressure to succeed from parents, fear about into graduate school, fear
about getting a good job, and fear of getting kicked out of the University.

Evaluate the following solution ideas according to the 5 frameworks in the AGWR
(causation, coverage, cost/benefit, feasibility, and comparison). Decide which solution
is best. Any additional costs would be covered by increases in student tuition.

1. The University should force students to socialize on the weekends by holding

mandatory Friday night parties in all of the dorms, including free alcohol for
those 21 and over. Cost: $2,000,000 per academic year.

2. The University should offer free yoga and meditation classes, but only to
women since, according to research, they are more likely to participate.
Women have the option to skip one class per week without consequence in
order to attend these classes. Cost: $1,000,000 per academic year to pay for
instructors, yoga mats, and scented meditation candles.

3. The University should shut down all electricity after 10pm in order to
encourage students to power down and go to sleep at a healthy time.
Electricity would resume at 5am. The annual cost savings of $5,000,000 will
go toward scholarships for those students who get into graduate school.

4. The University should lower its GPA minimum standard to 1.0 so that
students don’t have to worry about getting kicked out for a low GPA. This will
lower the University’s ranking, and UCI will be known as an “easy” school,
but students will still be able to find jobs with a degree, though maybe not
one as prestigious. But, hey, research shows that if you aren’t studying much
in college, you probably don’t want a difficult job anyway. Cost: $0.

5. The University should have parents sign a contract when a student is

admitted agreeing not to pressure their child to get good grades. FERPA laws
already prevent parents from accessing student grades without the student’s
permission, so this would just be another step in that direction. Cost:
$100,000 per year for printing, postage, and filing.

6. The University should standardize all meals for maximum nutrition and
make students eat three meals per day if they live on campus. Students have
to swipe their ID cards to indicate they have eaten each meal, or they risk
getting kicked out of the University. Cost: $5,000,000.
5The Best Solution: #5 Parents
Before putting forth the reasoning of my choice, below is a pro-and-con table pertaining
to each alternative:

Table: Pros and Cons of Each Option

Options Pros Cons
1 Parties, to some extent, relieve Free alcohols might cause hangover
the strain and pressures that degrade the next-day productivity;
in addition, vandalism might occur.
2 Yoga, a body-and-mind Women-only policy conveys a sense of
exercise, should greatly reduce sexism. The option to skip classes does
pressure. not ensure quality learning outcomes.
3 Mandated early-bed policy Fully charged electronic devices
ensures sufficient rest for next- provide much leeway for students to
day production. stay late.
4 Easy school caters towards Students basically do not practically
graduation and job search. achieve academic success, as they
might not learn anything meaningful.
5 Eliminate a pressure source from Some students could be obedient, and
students’ pressures, at a believe that turning report cards is the
relatively low cost. “right” thing.
6 Healthy meal ensures strong The cost is high; also, the forceful
bodily conditions to cope with kick-out policy can lead to students’
overstudy. resistance, as they might get want
autonomy in food choices.
This table indicates that the fifth option exerts the least amount of risk arising from
“cons”. Below is the other table regarding CCCFC:
Particulars Description
Causation An identifiable root cause of overstudy hinges upon parental
oppression. Using legislation serves to mitigate parents’ restrictive
measures thereby reducing pressure by a large extent.
Coverage The population size regarding oppressive parents is unknown; but the
legislative effect should comprehensively degrade parents’ intention to
check grades consistently. It, in some ways, fully reduces the threat
arising from oppression.
Cost/Benefit The cost incurred from this approach is only $100,000, substantially
lower than those of other options. It achieves an optimal benefit by
eliminating a source of pressure.
Feasibility It is feasible because of the proceeding example of FERPA laws,
which have manifested effectiveness in preventing parents’ access to
students’ grades.
Comparison This approach can be also used in another context with respect to
international students’ pressures in the U.S. Being obsessed with
children’s academic advancement has compelled parents to
consistently check students’ grades, but they perhaps overlook the
negativity of close supervision.