Option 1: Man’s Search for Meaning
In a 5-page research paper, explain the search for meaning in the face of the crisis that Frankl describes in his book. What are the consequences of both failing and succeeding in this search?
Your essay should have a salient introductory paragraph, which can be as long as a page; a thesis paragraph with at least four or five mapping components; no fewer than eight body paragraphs, each paragraph about a half page; and a brief conclusion.
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Thesis with 4 or 5 mapping components
Paragraphs 3-9: Elaborate on your mapping components
Paragraph 10: Conclusion in which you restate your thesis with rhetorical power
Final Page: Works Cited with no fewer than 4 sources
Successful papers will use personal examples to illustrate the major points. Be sure to have a Works Cited page with at least 4 sources.
Option 2: Variation of Essay 1:
Contrast two people. One suffers from the "existential vacuum" discussed in Man's Search for Meaning. The other person, who embraces meaning and higher purpose, is worthy of his or her suffering. Your essay must incorporate ideas and terminology from Frankl's book.
Your outline might look like this:
In your first page summarize Frankl's major points.
Two and a half pages profile the person who, living without meaning, exists in the "existential vacuum."
Two and half pages profile someone whose life is full of meaning.
Last paragraph: Conclusion.
Final Page: Works Cited with no fewer than 4 sources
Successful papers will use personal examples to illustrate the major points. Be sure to have a Works Cited page with at least 4 sources.
Option 3: Groundhog Day
Write an analysis of Phil Connors' journey from damnation to redemption in the context of the existential vacuum and adopting the right attitude as they are presented in Man's Search for Meaning. Your essay must be 5 pages with a sixth page, the Works Cited page, including a minimum of 4 sources.
Option 4: Refution Essay
Using a refutation essay format, argue for or against the idea that Frankl's book is not persuasive for many reasons not the least of which most people cannot be as heroic as Frankl, most of us don't have the same "free will" that Frankl exercises, that in fact "free will" is an illusion, and that there really is no meaning since meaning is, like free will, an illusion.
The Foundation of All Your Essays: Thesis Statement: A meaningful assertion that can be demonstrated with logic and examples.
A Successful Thesis Is Both Demonstrable and Provocative
A Failed Thesis May be Demonstrable but Is Too Obvious
Examples of Failed Thesis
A life without meaning is really horrible.
Without meaning, our lives are drab and empty.
To live a life of meaning, we must give up our fears and superficial desires.
Better, More Successful Thesis Examples:
The existential vacuum discussed in Man's Search for Meaning is both insidious and pernicious because it is so common and thus accepted; we often suffer from it without knowing it; the existential vacuum becomes self-feeding; and it becomes habitual, resulting in a form of learned helplessness.
Now that I have finished reading Man's Search for Meaning I am frightened to the marrow of my bones because now I realize that if I continue with my mediocre, superficial existence, my life will be comprised of three curses: One, I will be compelled to distract myself from the "existential vacuum" by "pissing my life away on nonsense," resulting in addictive, self-destructive behavior. Two, I will lose my individuality as I allow marketing forces to determine my aspirations and desires. Three, I will find that my whole life has been wasted and that the one emotion that defines my existence on this planet is this: regret, a knife that will twist and turn until I take my last breath.
Viktor Frankl would have us believe that we choose who we are by adopting either the right or wrong attitude in the face of suffering, but his thesis is an illusion for what we perceive as a "choice" is actually predetermined mostly by biological and environmental forces beyond our control. Indeed, Frankl's "choice" to be heroic in the face of insurmountable suffering of the concentration camps was not a "choice" at all. Rather, he was programmed to be a good person from his biological code and his family's moralistic upbringing. Thus the idea that we have free will is a fallacy. In truth our lives are governed by determinism evidenced by ___________, ___________, ____________, and ______________.
My friend Fedor is worthy of his suffering evidenced by _________, _________, _________, and _________ while my cousin Xavier is abysmally not worthy of his suffering evidenced by ___________, ___________, _____________, and _____________.
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