Why are many young Americans so uncomfortable with the liberal arts? And why do many high school graduates shy away from this particular form of education? Like anything popular, once the liberal arts have been discredited, rightly or wrongly, the consequences inevitably spread. As more and more information is released in error, many liberal arts schools are suffering. To combat this, university officials are speaking out to discredit the invalid claims. Sanford J. Ungar, a journalist and president of Goucher College, is one of those faculty members actively trying to refute the accusations against liberal arts colleges and programs. In his February 2010 article in the academic journal The Chronicle of Higher Education, Ungar gives readers many examples of common misunderstandings about the liberal arts and then explains why these examples are incorrect. Aptly titled, Ungar's "7 Major Misperceptions About the Liberal Arts" is an easy-to-use guide when a person wants to learn more about the liberal arts. These readers, primarily students and parents interested in pursuing higher education, can read Ungar's essay and discover new insights into the liberal arts discipline. As students and parents look to universities, their minds must be open and free from bias. Sanford Ungar's essay can help broaden families' mindsets and even make the decision to attend a liberal arts college. Ungar uses various techniques in his essay that make it effective. Not only does he discredit misperceptions of the liberal arts, but he also approaches his writings with an etiquette that appeals to his readers. In his essay, Ungar uses three main appeals: reason, emotion and ethics...... middle of paper ...... trying to make the point that all forms of education are expensive and that we should not hesitate to do so. a liberal arts degree because that seems like too much. As mentioned throughout this analysis, Sanford J. Ungar's primary goal in his essay, "7 Misperceptions About the Liberal Arts" is to inform Americans that a liberal arts education is not a decision unpopular to take. Although The Chronicle of Higher Education published this article in 2010, it is still very relevant today. I believe Ungar accomplished his goal by adequately refuting every misconception contained in his essay. By equally utilizing the three attractions of reason, emotion, and ethics, Ungar leaves no doubt that the liberal arts is an education that should not be sought after. /CICConferencePresentations/2011%20Presidents%20Institute/make-the-case2.pdf