McGraw 1 Jody McGraw Benton Summary 14 October, 2011 Summary on Benton For Benton so loved the idea of a liberal

arts education that he gave his time and effort to create a paper, so that whoever heeds his advice shall not fail but have eternal gratitude in their college education. By using similar phrasing from a well know verse in from the most famous book in the world, The Bible, an author can catch a readers intrigue and attention. Thomas H. Benton accomplishes this in his article The 7 Deadly Sins of Students as he compares the subject matter of the title to the more general seven deadly sins found referenced throughout culture. However, more than just pointing out and detailing the sins, that, over time, become habits [of students] Benton challenges the professors, in authority of said students, to prevent these behaviors from forming within their pupils (Benton 1). Through his variety of literary methods, Benton layers ideas on top of each other to create an attention-grabbing article. Benton, in fact, intended to grab the interest of a more scholarly crowd professors. Seen in both the location of the publication and through the style of the paper his intended readership becomes more obvious. The Chronicle of Higher Education, while students may be striving towards that in their own lives, it is more likely a publication for those who have already attained that higher education. Those who Benton advises, The behaviors in students often reflect the deeper drives of their teachers. (4). While allotting the majority of the page space to the faults of students Benton designates at least a few strong words aimed to the Chief of sinners [of the classroom]: the professors (4). By criticizing his audience Benton is only

McGraw 2 pointing out the potential each professor has to educate their students, not only on their respective specialties, but rather on the importance and purpose of the education they are receiving, A liberal-arts education, most of all, fights unmerited pride by asking students to recognize the smallness of their ambitions in the context of human history, and more [thus combating the deadly sins] (4). However, Benton is placing the blame on all educators, without excluding himself. The first line begins his list of self flaws, So I have some experience observing my students sins, and perhaps even more experience committing them. (1). This personal insight to his own life allows Bentons readers not only to trust his opinion but also to understand his point of view and humor. Bentons wit continues into the tone of the piece. While a student reading his insight might become annoyed and self-conscious with his statements, the professors reading it are able to find the undertone of good-hearted mockery. His support is based in actual fact and observation he has made through his years in the classroom, but the examples he gives to demonstrate the sins are on the exaggerated side of truth. Gluttony, as an example, is shown through the scene where he saw, a student eat an entire an entire rotisserie chicken, a tub of mashed potatoes with gravy, several biscuits, and an enormous soft drink during the first 10 minutes of a lecture. (2). If students were to read this they are offended by his ridicule of their peers but the educators are able to relate with Bentons anecdote adding to his credibility and appeal. Even Bentons use of the commonly know Seven Deadly Sins can be seen through a comic eye as he plays down the seriousness of the phrase, they dont seem like sins at all, even if one accepts the religious significance of the term. (1). Bentons intended audience catches on to the laughs he places throughout the paper at the same time noticing the shift to the more sermonizing tone as Benton preaches on the true meaning of a liberal-arts education.

McGraw 3 Despite his bits of comedy, his moments of sincerity, and periods of self reflection, Benton captivates his projected audience and gets them to listen to his opinion. What could be taken as offensive content is dulled down through his self-guilt of having committed the same sins as both the students and professors have. He takes those personal experiences and forms a cautionary tale of what can happen if a student is guided in the correct manner. He urges the professors to take his findings of college and student life and to inspect them; possibly resulting in a desire to rectify the path many of their students are currently on. With another scholar being taught the ways of a liberal-arts education, Benton has fulfilled his purpose, his objective for writing about the sloth, greed, anger, lust, gluttony, envy, and pride of those sinful college students.

Response to Benton

McGraw 4 The creativity Benton used while writing his The Seven Deadly Sins of Students entertained me as I read his article. Reading it through the standpoint of a college student although I knew it was intended for professors I felt comfortable and appropriate reading it - I was not upset with the way he portrayed me and my peers; even in my few weeks in the college setting have I seen some of his examples in real life. The purpose of his writing being the foreshadowing of what can and does happen to students appears easily throughout the pages and serves as a welcomed advice column to students such as myself. The question Benton asked his students, Are you better than your parents? really caught me off guard. While I never necessarily thought of it that way, I would have to say that a large percentage of students Ive met in the university setting are here to further their lives ahead of their parents, myself included. While I do not believe this is a negative sentiment (rather a nave, hopeful one at best) Bentons belief that it is needed for students to face reality and it is the schools job to do that appeals to me. I hope that I can leave the university with a realistic view on what my future holds for me. Mocking students, their insecurities and faults, could have made the Benton article difficult to bear through; however, while his cunning use of humor and sass he was able to bring up debatable material and have the reader go along with his own views. Writing about the obvious truth is sometimes difficult; you have to get people to agree with you and stay with your paper for the entirety. Bentons mix of ridicule and ethics are a potent pair that leaves at least this reader (me) wanting to read more of his works while still absorbing the advice from what I am currently reading. With this, Benton achieved his goal: making the audience listen to what he had to say and take information away to apply in reality, and he achieved it in the finest way. Works Cited

McGraw 5 Benton, Thomas H. The 7 Deadly Sins of Students. The Chronicle of Higher Education 14 April, 2006: Web.