One. Review 5 traits of successful thesis
1. purpose
2. single sentence
3. argumentative or “groundbreaking”
4. demonstrative
5. visceral
Example of a Thesis followed by 3 Mapping Statments: The cell phone has become a powerful technological tool for reinforcing narcissism. First, talking on a cell phone an arrogant pose that pushes people in your immediate vicinity away and makes others feel unimportant. Second, banalities are elevated to importance because they’re communicated over the cell phone. Third, people have lost their sense of private and public boundaries as they “spill their business” to the world.
One. Define “default setting”
“default setting” can best be defined as ongoing cycle of behavior reinforced by habit and reflex, not critical thinking. As a result, the default setting is often destructive and brings out our lowest selves.
The 12 Default-Settings, masks people put on before they start their day:
1. The Kool-Aid drinker believes without critical examination but in order to feel morally superior by belonging to the “right group.” Sadly, too many professors are Kool-Aid drinkers.
2. Solipsist, a self-centered person who cannot connect with other people in any meaningful way. The student who put make-up on in class and everyone laughed at her but she didn’t notice. Solipsism is a form of emotional retardation.
3. Moral relativist re-interprets events to suit his needs: soccer coach
4. Mindless hedonist: disconnected from meaning, family, friends, he seeks compensation through mindless pleasure-seeking.
5. The victim—suffers from the paranoid belief that the world has it out for him or her. The victim always blames others for his or her dilemma and never takes responsibility.
6. The sycophant—believe kissing up to people (false flattery) will get you what you want
7. The genius surrounded by a confederacy of dunces—everyone is holding you down with their stupidity.
8. The apathetic—nothing can move you like the student who let a fly live in her nose.
9. The predatory devil—everyone has a weakness that you can exploit. That’s all you look for in people—their weaknesses so you can take advantage of them.
10. The misanthrope—you hate the human race because they’ve failed to live up to your expectations.
11. The Snake-Bit—we retreat into a cave because we got hurt and we’ll be damned if we’ll ever get hurt again!
12. Cliché Lovers—people who have no original thoughts so they think they’re cool be repeating the clichés of their time.
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