Oral BAC anglais: Lieux et formes de pouvoir

Places and forms of the power

Introduction :

Cambridge university

    A place is a territory, a space which might possess definite borders in the case of a country. In those places, it exists different powers. By definition, the power is the ability or the capacity to exercise control or authority over people, group or nation. Power is exercised through a variety of relationships sustained or accepted.

   For quite a number of years, Anglo-saxon’s countries are known for their high standards of academic education. Nevertheless, tuition fees are increasingly expensive. So, we are going to ask us if the current anglosaxon’s academic system gives equal opportunities for every students ?

      Firstly, we will show the university as a seat of power for a nation and as an elite institution based on knowledge and money.

     Then, we are going to put forward universities such as a selective springboard for some students in order to acquire a personal power.

       Finally, we will discuss about the power granted by education and the purpose of this latter.

I) The university : a seat of power for a nation and an elite institution based on knowledge and money.

     First of all, we are going to see the university as a seat of power for a nation and an elite institution. Reportedly, universities are an important focus of power and knowledge worldwide, especially in UK and in the USA because of in both cases, they have all the best universities of the world with a concentration of smart students. Consequently, it’s like the mind of the state.

       This type of paying education has acquired an international recognition thanks to their academic performance. However, some universities require more than 10 000 euros per year.

Thus, students who belong to a non-wealthy family cannot afford those raising tuition fees.

     Thus, for the students from low-income families who want to go to Cambridge, Harvard or Oxford, they have to obtain scholarships, or they can also have a part-time job in order to overcome their tuition fees. In both cases, students will accumulate enormous loans therefore, it will impact their purchasing power even after school. Nevertheless, as we saw in class with the text : « How I avoided student loans », if we are determined and hard-workers, it’s possible to leave university without debts.

II) Universities : a selective springboard for some students in order to acquire personal power

       Secondly, we are going to put forward universities such as a selective springboard for some students in order to acquire a personal power. First of all, the recruitment for the best universities is highly difficult caused by their international recognition. Besides, they require gifted students with academic skills on one hand and non-academic skills on the other hand.

      In order to be accepted in one of the best university, you have to be clever, very bright in mathematics, physics in one word : in academic skills, nevertheless, if one wants to be accepted, one must admit that we also need non-academic skills. Nevertheless, in order to obtain the best sport team, universities are getting bad students in academic skills as we saw in class in the text : « It’s about academics coach ».

         This type of education is considered as a springboard which allows you to obtain a high degree to be graduated in a well-known university and it prepares you for the career of your dreams. Thanks to this education you will also be versatile.

III) The power granted by education and the purpose of this latter.

       Finally, we are going to discuss about the power granted by education and the purpose of this latter. The purpose of higher education seems to be the building of adults with academic and non-academic skills, furthermore with the ability to think critically.

       Thanks to the university one often become open-minded, efficient, clever, the education gives you the power to choose and to access to your dreams. Nevertheless, in some cases, as we saw in class in the document : « What’s the matter with that kid », the power granted by education can be useless. However, it lead people to find their way of life.

     Eventually, in universities students of the world live together and former students travel in different countries in order to work and thus realise their dreams. In most cases, it promotes important exchanges in the world.

That’s why, it seems obvious enough that we can broaden with the notion : « Spaces and exchanges ».