A Liberal Education? Not According to Cronon. A Critical and Rhetorical Analysis of Cronon's Only Connect. While the term liberal education is heard from the most prestigious university to an inner city community college, the phrase itself has a hazy definition at best. While educators across America struggle with the definition of the phrase, William Cronon uses purpose, structure, and appeals in his essay "Only Connect: The Goals of Liberal education," to define a liberally …showed first 75 words of 1743 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1743 total…world but focusing strictly on subject matter, a critical element is being neglected. Cronon's argument that a liberal education should nurture the human mind is valid. A proper education must maintain a balance between both core subject matter and classes which inspire students "to connect" (162) to those around them. Without such a balance the results of the education system will be individuals without a love for humanity and without a desire to improve the world.