Raina Couch

English Composition II

Professor Thomas

27 November 2019

Annotated Bibliography

My essay will attempt to answer how free college tuition would affect the growth of the

middle-class in America. I want to know how the middle-class in America would benefit from

free college education. How has the current cost of college tuition been an obstacle for the

growth of the middle class? Would graduating dept free make it easier for students to join the

middle class? What effects would this have on the economy as a whole?

“College Affordability and Completion: Ensuring a Pathway to Opportunity.” U.S. Department

of Education. https://www.ed.gov/college, Accessed 24 Nov. 2019.

In the source “College Affordability and Completion: Ensuring a Pathway to

Opportunity” the U.S. department of education discusses the role college plays in America as a

path to the middle- class. This source makes the argument that college education is becoming

necessary in the way high school education became necessary decades ago. The source discusses

how higher education is needed for an increasing amount of jobs. This source then goes on to

discuss the rising price of education and how this affects students and prevents many from

reaching their full potential. Finally, the Department of Education concludes with former

president Obama’s plans to make college more affordable and what needs to be done to make

that happen.
 This source does not list a specific date it was published on, but it can be assumed that it

was published within the last decade. Although the source is not very recent it is still useful for

my topic because the information is still current. This source is relevant to my topic because it

contains information about the college as an important pathway to the middle class. The source

also contains information about increasing average college debt. This source is from the

Department of Education giving it a lot of authority and accuracy. The purpose of this source is

mostly to inform the reader about the importance of a college education and the affordability of

college.

This source will serve an important purpose in my paper by providing useful background

information about the importance of college as a path to the middle class. This source will help

demonstrate how college helps students join the middle class. It will also help show how the

current cost of college prevents many from perusing a college degree.

Deming, David J., “The Economics of Free College.” Economics for inclusive prosperity, Jun.

2019. https://econfip.org/policy-brief/the-economics-of-free-college/, Accessed 24 Nov.

2019.

In “The Economics of Free College” David J. Deming discusses the rising cost of college

and the proposal of free college for all. Deming discusses why making college education free

would be an economic investment. Next, Deming discusses what would happen if college

education became more accessible and if free college is feasible. Finally, Deming concludes by

listing the aspects a free college plan would need in order to be effective.
 This source was published in June of 2019 making It very current. This source is relevant

because Deming discusses the economic effects of free college education which I will discuss in

my paper. This source also contains authority and accuracy, the author is an economist and uses

his knowledge to make a good argument for free college. The author also cites each source he

uses making the information presented more credible. The purpose of this source is to inform the

reader about the economic affects free college would have.

I plan on using this source to discuss the positive affects free college education would

have on the economy in America. This source provides a lot of useful information on how the

American economy would be impacted by free college.

Madland, David. “Growth and the Middle Class.” Symposium | First Principals: Arguing the

Economy, Democracy Journal, Spring. 2011.

https://democracyjournal.org/magazine/20/growth-and-the-middle-class/, Accessed 24

Nov. 2019.

In the source “Growth and the Middle Class” David Madland the importance of the

middle class in the American economy. Madland begins by discussing how economic growth is

led by the middle class rather than the rich. Madland then discusses how the middle class

provides the economy with stability because of constant a demand for goods. Next Madland

explains why a stong middle class promotes stronger trust in the government and causes a better

run government. Madland concludes by describing how to craft a progressive economic

argument.

This source was published in 2011, although it was not published recently it still contains

current information. The information in this source is relevant to my paper because I plan on
discussing the benefits a stronger middle class would have on the economy. The author of this

source David Madland is a published author with publications in The New York Times, The Wall

Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New Yorker. This provides his piece with

authority and shows its accuracy. The purpose of this source is to convince the reader that the

middle class is the backbone of the American economy.

I plan on using this source to provide examples of how a stong middle class grown by

free college education would have positive effects on the economy. I plan on using this source to

discuss specifically how the economy would benefit from free college education in America.

Page, Max. Clawson, Dan. “It’s Time to Push for Free College.” National Education

Association, http://www.nea.org/home/62740.htm, Accessed 24 Nov. 2019.

In the source “It’s Time to Push for Free College” Max Page and Dan Clawson discuss

why a college is a necessity. They discuss the economic benefits of investing on education and

the positive impact college has on students. Next, they discuss free college education and urge

readers to join them in fighting for free college. Finally, they conclude by explaining what they

believe it will take to make higher education free for all.

This source does not show the date which this piece was published but the information

does not appear outdated. This source is relevant because it discusses the benefits of free college

on the economy and students and would add credibility to my paper. The information in this

source is credible and has authority because the authors Max Page and Dan Clawson are both

professors and are members of the National Education Association. This source’s purpose is to

inform readers about the benefits of free higher education and persuade the reader to join them in

fighting for free high quality higher education for all.

on the economy and students. This source will also help add credibility to my argument.

Report of the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2018 – May 2019. Board of

Governors of the Federal Reserve, the Federal Reserve, 28 May 2019,

https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2019-economic-well-being-of-us-

households-in-2018-student-loans-and-other-education-debt.htm, Accessed 24 Nov. 2019.

In the source “Report of the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2018” by the

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Discuss student debt in America in 2018. This source

begins with an overview of student debt in America. Next the source contains important

information about types of college debt and student loans. Finally, the source provides graphs to

visually show the statistics it presents.

This source was published in May of 2019, making it very current. This source is relevant

because it provides statistics about student debt that I can use in my paper. This source has

authority and is accurate because it was published by the Federal Reserve. The purpose of this

source is purely to educate its readers. It does not contain any opinions or arguments.

I plan on using this source to provide information about the current cost of college in

America and the economic burden student loans carry, preventing many from reaching the

middle class. This source will also help add credibility and authority to my argument.

Salgado, Juan. “When Community College is Free.” The New York Times, 19 Sept. 2017.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/opinion/free-community-college-chicago.html,

Accessed 24 Nov. 2019.

community college. Saldago beings by talking about a free college program in Chicago and how

it works. Next Saldago talks about the proposals of politicians to create national free college

programs and other state programs. Saldago concludes by discussing the many benefits free

college has on students.

This source was written in September of 2017 making it current. This source is relevant

because it discusses a specific example of a free college program showing that free college can

work. This source was published by The New York Times and was written by a published author

giving authority to this source and showing that it is accurate. The purpose of this article is to

persuade the reader that free college programs work. The author does this by providing examples

and evidence to support their claim.

I plan on using this source to help provide background about free college programs. This

source will provide useful information about a specific example of a working free college

program and how it has benefited those in it.

Steinbaum, Marshall. “Free College for All.” Boston Review, vol. 42, no. 3, July 2017, p. 81.

EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=pwh&AN=125356436&site=eds-live.

Accessed 24 Nov. 2019.

In the source “Free College for All” Marshall Steinbaum discusses the struggle

graduating college students face finding jobs. Next Steinbaum gives background information

about the student debt crisis and its origins. Steinbaum then compares the student debt crisis to

the housing bubble in 2008. He discusses how hard it is for students to pay off their debt.
Steinbaum concludes by talking about how free college education would help reduce financial

and racial inequality.

This source was published in July of 2017 making it current. This source is relevant to

my paper because it provides useful information about how free college would affect students

and the economy by reducing racial and income inequality. This source is accurate and has

authority because it has been reviewed and put in the EBSCO Host database and the author is a

researcher economist. The purpose of this source is to convince the reader that free college

would benefit students and reduce racial and income inequality.

I plan on using this source to show how free college would expand the middle class by

reducing inequality.