Sign In
Not register? Register Now!
Essay Available:
Pages:
3 pages/β‰ˆ825 words
Sources:
2 Sources
Style:
MLA
Subject:
Law
Type:
Essay
Language:
English (U.S.)
Document:
MS Word
Date:
Total cost:
$ 12.96
Topic:

Affirmative Action in College Admissions

Essay Instructions:

To answer this prompt fully and to receive full credit, you must read and cite information from Chapter 5 of "We the People" as well as ONE outside source of your choosing. TWO TOTAL CITES required (-15 for each one not included), but more citations are welcome. You may use either MLA or APA format. Please use in-text citations and create a properly formatted works cited for the bottom of your post. Please note: Your works cited (or any header/title) does NOT count towards your word count! These are not questions you can simply answer off the top of your head without reading the textbook and doing outside research. The relevant pages of Chapter 5 for this assignment are pp. 173-76 ("Affirmative Action").
On October 31, 2022, the Supreme Court heard two cases on affirmative action in college admissions, one involving Harvard and another, heard the same day, against the University of North Carolina. A group called Students for Fair Admissions brought both cases (https://studentsforfairadmissions(dot)org). You may recall reading about these cases in an earlier assignment in this course. They were referenced as the top case(s) to watch in this article: 9 Key Cases Supreme Court Will Hear in 2022-23 Session | The Heritage Foundation. NO DECISION HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED IN THESE CASES YET.
Affirmative action (which some opponents sometimes label as "reverse discrimination") remains a controversial topic in American politics and American life. Before you move forward, please watch these two short videos explaining affirmative action in our country and discussing the pros and cons of affirmative action in college admissions: https://youtu(dot)be/gJgQR6xiZGs and https://youtu(dot)be/ZhUOw0KidZg. (Really, watch them. There might be an exam question or two from these!)
Affirmative action is defined by your textbook as "government policies or programs that seek to redress past injustices against specified groups by making special efforts to provide members of those groups with access to educational and employment opportunities" (Ginsberg et al., 2021, p. 173). One argument against affirmative action is that it disrupts a system of merit so that less-qualified applicants who represent minorities are selected over more qualified non-minority individuals. What do YOU think?
You should answer the following two questions in a well-written response of at least 350 words. Your initial response is due by Friday, April 28th at 11:59 p.m., and two replies of no less than 100 words each are due by Sunday, April 30th at 11:59 p.m. NOTE: This has been requested all semester; this week I will take off points if you DO NOT do this--You MUST respectfully reply to at least one classmate who disagrees with you.
1. Is affirmative action justified in college admissions? Or, has our country reached a place where affirmative action is no longer needed? (Be sure to check your textbook, the videos linked above, and your outside research before you answer this question!) Explain your answer.
2. After considering the issue, including looking at outside sources, how do you think the Supreme Court will rule in the Students for Fair Admissions cases? Explain your answer. (NOTE: Do not guess on how they will decide or say "I can't predict". There are plenty of articles out there discussing the composition of the Court and how the justices are likely to vote which will determine the outcome of the case.) CITE YOUR SOURCES.
You must answer both questions for full credit. This has to potential to be a very sensitive topic. Please respect your classmates' opinions and reply respectfully or you will lose points. Also, remember two outside sources are needed and must be cited (worth 15 points each) and you must reply to one classmate with whom you disagree (see red text, above). Please refer to the discussion board grading rubric in the module, "Other Important Course Documents" if you have any doubts about grading. Many of you lose points each week for simple grammar errors.

Essay Sample Content Preview:
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course
Date
Affirmative Action in College Admissions
Is Affirmative Action Justified in College Admissions? Or, Has Our Country Reached a Place Where Affirmative Action is No Longer Needed?
Although American society has made significant efforts to eradicate inequalities against minorities in the country, the truth is that traces of these social ills persist in the contemporary era. This recognition confirms and justifies the need for preserving affirmative action in college admissions. According to Ginsberg et al., affirmative action has demonstrated its effectiveness in redressing past educational, social, and financial injustices meted on the American minorities (174). The authors indicate that this approach has assisted many disadvantaged learners in accessing and pursuing life-changing career opportunities. As learned in this course material, affirmative action counterbalances many concealed inequalities that diminish the probability of minorities receiving admissions to lucrative universities.
The reality in modern American society confirms that eradicating affirmative action would rescind significant achievements and reignite racial discrimination in an obscured form. The persistent nature of racial prejudice in the United States proves that the country is yet to reach a place where affirmative action is no longer fundamental. Such a view presents affirmative action as the solution to inequalities (Ginsberg et al., 174). For instance, states that have departed from this approach, such as California and Texas, have presented concerning experiences that illustrate why affirmative action should remain and requires increased support (Torres). Statistics reveal that these changes triggered an immediate decline in Hispanic and African-American students in institutions such as UT-Austin by up to 5% and 40%, respectively (Torres). The race-neutral options integrated by these states were counterproductive to the needs of the minorities, disadvantaging them further despite facing many other historical injustices that persist, including unequal employment opportunities and increased financial constraints compared to the dominant white population. Such drawbacks prove that affirmative action is critical in the United States.
The numerous benefits of affirmative action far outweigh all its alternatives and extend beyond minorities to improve the overall image of American society. The supreme court has pronounced itself many times during its rulings in cases such as Gratz v. Bollinger by upholding the importance of affirmative action in rewriting past injustices and creating a future where all communities have equal opportunities in all sectors (Torres). The courts recognize that education is the foundation for promoting fundamental national objectives such as diverting representation in schools, workplaces, and leadership. Without conscious support for minorities to overcome disadvantages and compete with the majorities on equal ground, America will never achieve these visions. As a result, the country should continue supporting affirmative action due to the widespread benefits that it brings to the overall society.
How Do You Think the Supreme Court Will Rule in the Stude...
Updated on
Get the Whole Paper!
Not exactly what you need?
Do you need a custom essay? Order right now:
Order

πŸ‘€ Other Visitors are Viewing These MLA Essay Samples: