Gaston 1

Brandon Gaston

Professor Sarah Prasad

ENG 2 - Section 14

21 October 2020

MSE Annotated Bibliography #1

Bidwell, Allie. “Survey: Incoming College Students Struggle With Basic Financial Literacy.”

NASFAA, 9 Apr. 2018, www.nasfaa.org/news-

item/14855/Survey_Incoming_College_Students_Struggle_With_Basic_Financial_

Literacy.

In the article, “Survey: Incoming College Students Struggle With Basic Financial Literacy”

written by Allie Bidwell engages readers in the idea that many incoming college students aren’t

educated with the tools to help them be financially responsible. The author builds credibility with

her audience throughout the article with her use of ethos. For readers, under the title of the article

is the author's name, Allie Bidwell, who happens to be the senior reporter for the articles’

publishing company, National Association of Financial Aid Administrators(NASFAA), which

also stated for readers. By explicitly stating her role for NASFAA, Bidwell is ensuring readers

can trust her findings and suggestions on college students becoming more financially literate.

The publishing outlet speaks for itself as an advocate for student financial aid support, their

services, “provides professional development and services for financial aid

administrators[...]serves as a forum on student financial aid issues; and is committed to diversity

throughout all activities” (Bidwell). Furthermore the author uses logos to logically convince

readers that financial literacy is vital to becoming a financially responsible being.

 Gaston 2

For the majority of the article Bidwell discusses the downfalls of students as it pertains to

their financial literacy entering college. To solidify these shortcomings, Bidwell presents the data

from a survey from EverFi that collected data from a nationally representative sample of more

than 100,000 incoming college students. By providing readers with the data for her claims,

Bidwell has provided readers with logic and reasoning for the issues she discusses. In closing,

Bidwell presents the results of another survey testing students who were financially educated

prior to college, where results found that additional education may have accounted for improved

knowledge and lower stress. All in all, Bidwells use of data and research aid in the reader's

understanding of her claim and potentially persuade them that financial literacy should be a

curriculum requirement at some point in education, K-12.