No Pay ? Many Interns Say, "No Problem"

                                                 - Jennifer Halperin

Summary

In this essay, Jennifer Halperin writes about internships and how they help an education. She explains why internships are hard work, yet all who have interned seem to find it very useful. It is thought that since the intern is not being paid, he or she will not enjoy the work. Yet, Halperin shows how most interns are grateful for the opportunities they had during the internship. "Lack of pay doesn't seem to dissuade students from applying to many of these internships, particularly ones that offer the chance to gain useful professional skills and experiences" (Halperin). Students find internships helpful and a great experience for their future career.

An internship is when a college student chooses to work at any company in their field of study while still attending school. This internship can either be paid or unpaid. Studies show that many interns enjoy working hands-on and countless hours for the experience, not the money. Others agree that an internship company should pay their interns for the time they worked. In this article, Halperin interviews several interns to contrast their opinions and views of the industry.

In the short story, "No Pay? Many Interns Say, "No Problem" by Jennifer Halperin, this very issue is discussed. Halperin uses strong examples to convince the reader that many interns don't care about the money. Halperin states that, "a lack of pay doesn't seem to dissuade students from applying to many of these internships" (Halperin).

Question Answers

A. Comprehensive :

Q.1. According to Halperin, what factors make internships attractive to college students and recent graduates? Why is she surprised by the results of her survey?

ANSWER : Halperin says that the appeal of internships lies in the chance they provide to gather professional skills and experience that students can't get in the classroom. Halperin was surprised by the results of her survey because she thought students would be more frustrated by lack of financial compensation.

Q.2. Halperin notices a "common theme" in her discussions with "recent and about-to-be graduates" (3). What attitudes about Internships do they seem to share?

ANSWER : Halperin notices that many students would prefer an internship to be paid, but that they value the opportunity to gain real-world experience and connections over monetary compensation.

Q.3. According to this essay, what can limit access to internships?

ANSWER : Halperin says that internship accessibility can be limited by location as well as whether or not the intern has someone else who can financially support them through working in an unpaid position.

Q.4. This essay presents the results of an informal survey of attitudes toward internships. Summarize the advantages and disadvantages of internships that were revealed in the survey.

ANSWER : The survey revealed that even unpaid internships tend to be worth it for interns because of the real-world experience and connections they can gain through an internship. Some internships eventually lead to promising jobs.

On the other hand, internships are often inaccessible to those who cannot afford to work for free. Some employers may fail to give their interns the guidance they were hoping to receive and instead pass on menial tasks for them to complete.

B. Purpose and Audience :

Q.1. Why do you think Halperin wrote this essay? In what sense is it part of a larger discussion?

ANSWER : Halperin wrote this essay to argue that internships are more beneficial than many believe. She wrote this in response to the debate she noticed happening around her regarding internships, and went into her study expecting more negative results. She wants to convince the reader that there is still value in internships, even those that don't provide monetary compensation, and that it is up to the intern to determine what they get out of an internship.

Q.2. For the most part, Halperin quotes or summarizes the statements of others. However, she does take a position on the value of internships. How would you express this position?

ANSWER : Halperin's position is that even though there are circumstances under which an internship can be a waste of time, it is up to the intern to find worthwhile internships and to make the most of their time in these positions.

Q.3. Who is the intended audience for this essay? How can you tell?

ANSWER : This essay is directed at readers who are skeptical of the value of internships (particularly unpaid ones), which is evident through the way she addresses opposing arguments. She acknowledges that not all of them are necessarily worthwhile, but emphasizes that it is up to the intern to do their research. She also shows that she herself was skeptical before and shows her surprise in finding such positive opinions on internships.

C. Style and structure :

Q.1. Halperin's evidence consists almost entirely of the results of an informal survey. Do you think this evidence is sufficient? Is all of it relevant?

ANSWER : This evidence is not quite sufficient, especially since it is unclear how Halperin obtained it. Considering her position as an internship coordinator, it's not unlikely that she just reached out to past students she worked with. Her sample size seems too small to make a real generalization about internships as a whole. The evidence she does use is relevant, but there is just not enough of it to feel completely convincing.

Q.2. In paragraph 3, Halperin writes the following about those she surveyed: "I thought many would express frustration over having done work for which they weren't compensated monetarily." How could you revise this sentence to make it clearer and more concise? What other sentences could you revise? Give specific examples.

ANSWER : This sentence could be reworded as: "I thought many would express frustration over having done unpaid labor."

Other sentences that be reworded include
‌ "After reading the Times piece, I took an informal survey of several recent and about-to-be-graduates, some of whom are still looking for jobs, on whether they thought unpaid internships were worthwhile or fair, or should be illegal." (paragraph 5,)

‌Reword as: "After reading the Times piece, I took an informal survey of several recent and about-to-be-graduates, asking them whether they thought unpaid internships were fair."

‌"And unpaid interns go a long way toward breaking the stereotype that today's youth are emotionally spoiled, demanding of praise and tangible reward at every turn." (paragraph 12.)

‌Reword as: "And unpaid interns go a long way in breaking the stereotype that today's youth are spoiled, demanding instant gratification."

Q.3. Is Halperin's essay structured inductively or deductively? Explain.

ANSWER : Halperin's essay is structured inductively; she does not start with a hypothesis that she seeks to prove, but rather comes to her conclusion after looking over the data she has gathered.

Q.4. How would you characterize Halperin's tone? Is this tone appropriate in light of her overall purpose?

ANSWER : Halperin's tone is quite formal throughout most of her essay, yet also hopeful. She seems to be hesitant to fully endorse internships, she admits that it would be nice if they all provided compensation. She ultimately seems determined to paint them in a positive light, however. Her cautiously hopeful tone is appropriate for the points she is making

Q.5. How does Halperin use her personal experience and opinions? Why do you think she places this material where she does?

ANSWER : Halperin includes her personal experiences and views primarily in the essay's introduction and conclusion. The placement of her personal information in the introduction helps the viewer to understand why she decided to write this essay; they are able to see that what she is talking about is a debate she deals with in her daily life. The body of the article is devoted to sharing the information she's gathered, and at the end, Halperin reflects on what she takes from this information. Placing these insights at the beginning and at the end gives Halperin the opportunity to show where she stood both before and after she gathered the information she discusses.