Exercise 26: Ungrateful students: time to change, p. 65
Mr Appleby defends the rise in the HECs fees because taxpayers should not have to support tertiary degrees.
The author supports the Minister’s comments that students should not be relying on taxpayers’ funds/subsidies.
Tone and viewpoint: Mr Appleby (categorically, phlegmatically, stridently, unequivocally) defends the government’s plan to deregulate university fees on the grounds that all taxpayers must be treated equally. He bases his support for the rise in HECs fees on appeals / values of equality and fairness. In this regard, he sets up a stereotypical image of a self-indulgent student who he believes is shamefully favoured through the HECs system.
Stereotypes: a view of the advantaged and indulgent student, Mr Appleby expects members of the community to indignantly reject any attempt to provide extra subsidies to this group of the community.
Close word analysis: (reinforcing big picture but being as analytically precise as possible)
Mr Appleby’s quote that they should be “particularly grateful” is designed to arouse/ stimulate guilt among those students who do not appreciate the subsidies/ believe that they are entitled to greater taxpayer subsidies.
The clichéd reference to the “magic pudding”, highlights the fact that there are not limitless funds to devote to tertiary studies and student qualifications.
(Moral) The fact that “you have to take it from other areas” is designed to encourage students to show social responsibility. It seeks to elicit guilt among students who fail think that they are entitled to these fees.
Comparative comments:
In contrast to Mr Appleby who discredits students’ attitudes, Ms Crompton defends the students’ rights to an education.
OR Contrastingly, Ms Crompton defends the students’ right to a universal education on the grounds that the cost of tertiary education will soon become prohibitive/ exorbitant. Unlike the previous author who stereotypes students as ungrateful, Ms Crompton seeks to justify their concerns on the grounds that the fees will lead to intolerable stress. Specifically, the debt is like a “millstone” and will lead to an increase in stress levels.
(Cross reference: Both attempt to monopolise the sympathy of their audience; Mr. Appleby focuses on the taxpayer whilst Ms Crompton foregrounds the students.
(Mrs Crompton seeks to counter the stereotypical impression given by Mr Appleby, on the grounds that students will unreasonably incur a great deal of debt in their life times). Purpose…
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