Definition Paragraph:

This essay will cover the topic of success for college students. Therefore, success in this essay refers to the student's retention and their academic performance. Traditional predictors are disgusted greatly in the scholarly article referred to, as well as in this essay. By using the term traditional predictors it is meant to stand for what normally is a good indicator on a student’s success in college. Emotional intelligence, which is explained in depth throughout the article, refers to a students’ ability to use their emotions rather than their cognition when solving problems. Cognitive abilities refers to the ability to utilize what is learned or attained, also known as common sense, to rule their academic life. The traditional student that is discussed in the study, as well as both in the scholarly article and this essay, refer to a student that graduates from a higher education institution within six years with a bachelor’s degree.

Scholarly Article Summary

In the scholarly article, "Non-Cognitive Predictors Of Student Success In College" the main topic discussed is the success rate of college students. Every one in two students will receive a bachelor degree within six years of enrollment in a university. Many researchers believed that the precursor to success in college as well as life was a students’ high school GPA and an ACT or SAT score. However, in the study done by Larry Sparkman proves differently. Many studies done throughout the years has also semi disproved this theory. Tinito (1993) believed one must be integrated in the university both academically and socially, and must achieve a level of commitment to their career, academic goal, and the institution in order to be successful in college as well as life. The success rate of college students can be defined as a students’ retention and their academic performance. Many studies done in the past show that life success is contributed more to emotional intelligence rather than cognitive abilities (IQ). The emotional intelligence of an individual increases with age and education attainment. The IQ of an individual is not a strong predictor of performance at work nor life. In Sparkman’s study the emotional intelligence of an individual was based on these fifteen things: self regard, emotional self awareness, assertiveness, independence, self actualization, empathy, social responsibility, interpersonal relationship, reality testing, flexibility, problem solving, stress tolerance, impulse control, optimism, and happiness. The finding in the study suggests that students that attain these qualities are more likely to graduate within six years of enrollment at an institution. He also found in his study that white females who are not dating who live on campus their first semester and one or both parents have a four-year degree are the most likely to succeed. Sparkman’s study is viable proof that regardless how intelligent one is, if they cannot put their emotions and dedication into going to school and getting a degree they are more likely to drop out or graduate later than the traditional student.

Scholarly Article Link

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=108&sid=0b79d993-fdf3-4156-a782-abfefda6fee1%40sessionmgr115&bdata=JmxvZ2luLmFzcCZzaXRlPWVob3N0LWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=79547321

Scholarly Article

In the scholarly article, "Non-Cognitive Predictors Of Student Success In College" (2012),  Larry Sparkman claims that the variables of Empathy, Social Responsibility, Flexibility, and Impulse Control help determine the graduation rate amongst students in universities. Sparkman supports this claim by testing participants that were traditional students who initially enrolled as freshmen for the fall semester of 2002 and attended freshman orientation the weekend prior to the beginning of classes. In this study, emotional intelligence was operationalized as 15 components: self-regard, emotional self-awareness, assertiveness, independence, self-actualization, empathy, social responsibility, interpersonal relationship, reality testing, flexibility, problem solving, stress tolerance, impulse control, optimism, and happiness. His purpose is to provide evidence that emotional intelligence is imperative in order to graduate from a university within four years. With the plethora of data as well as the language utilized within the article, Sparkman appears to be writing to a well-educated audience with interest in the success rate of college students.