Essay Three is drawn from the book From Inquiry to Academic Writing and is due November 16: Choose One
Writing Assignment Option 1
Develop an argumentative thesis for a 5-page essay that addresses race, gender, and privilege in Chapter 14. Be sure to incorporate at least two essays from Chapter 14 to develop your essay.
Writing Assignment Option 2
Develop an argumentative thesis for a 5-page essay that addresses consumerism and economics in Chapter 17. Be sure to incorporate at least two essays from Chapter 17 to develop your essay.
Writing Assignment Option 3
Develop a thesis that explains how Ursula Le Guin’s short story “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” (should be online) is an allegory of the moral challenges we face as we are drugged by privilege leaving us indifferent about the sufferings of The Other. Successful essays will connect the allegory to modern day social injustices such as the inhumane working conditions of migrant workers or the incarceration system, to name a couple.
Essay Writing Option 4
In a 1,250-word essay, support, refute, or complicate the contention that Chapter 14's essay selections persuasively show that one of America's central, ongoing conflicts is between the advantaged and those who are categorized as "The Other."
Essay Writing Option 5
In a 1,250-word essay, support, refute, or complicate the notion that, according to Ehrenreich and bell hooks (Chapter 13), the poor are stigmatized as being "other" even by liberal cultural critics. Why does this happen? Explain.
Essay Writing Option 6
In a 1,250-word essay replace the Walmart Mythical Narrative (789) with the Walmart Reality. Make sure you have a clear thesis.
Essay Writing Option 7
In a 1,250-word essay, support, refute, or complicate Sally Satel and Scott O. Lilienfeld's contention (796) that neuromarketing is a hyped-up fraud that lines the pockets of its makers.
Essay Writing Option 8
In a 1,250-word essay, support, refute, or complicate Fareed Zakaria's contention (816) that the American-centered Economic Dominance Myth is becoming replaced with a global reality. What is this alleged myth of American dominance? Is it a myth at all? Explain.
Essay Writing Option 9
In a 1,250-word essay, watch the film American Sniper and this Bill Maher debate about the movie. Then support, refute, or complicate Maher's argument that Chris Kyle's use of the word "savages" makes him too ignorant and racist, demonizing the Other, to be a real hero. Consider the notion of a false narrative and how a false narrative or myth, complete with a mythic hero, accompanies the demonization of "The Other." On the other hand, consider the defense of Chris Kyle, that his hateful words are taken out of context. Address these issues in your argument.
Essay Writing Option 10
In the context of the Bill Maher video below, should we describe ISIS as a terror group based on the Islamic faith, or does such a description unfairly demonize peace-loving Muslims as "The Other"? For your research, you might consult "What ISIS Really Wants."
Spotlight on Writing Assignment Option 2
Develop an argumentative thesis for a 5-page essay that addresses consumerism and economics in Chapter 17. Be sure to incorporate at least two essays from Chapter 17 to develop your essay.
Because our textbook has egregiously ignored social media and consumerism to its detriment, we are expanding our essay option to include the growing role of social media and consumerism:
Developing a Newer, Perhaps More Relevant Angle for Your Assignment: Finding the Relationship Between Consumerism and Social Media
In the Black Mirror episode "Nosedive" from Season 3, we see a dehumanizing relationship between consumerism and social media:
One. Consumers are vulnerable to a bombardment of social media ratings.
Two. Consumers live in a hierarchy where desirability, social ranking, and class privileges are all determined by social media metrics.
Three. Consumers find a sort of Faustian Bargain or deal with the devil in that they more they ascend social media rankings the more they become vulnerable, helpless, miserable children dependent on social ranking as a compensation that they have never truly developed as human beings.
Four. Consumers find that maintaining a chipper, perky facade or facsimile of happiness eventually makes them crack.
Five. We find that the exaggerated condition in "Nosedive" is analogous to what is going on today with Yelp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. For example, people present a fabricated happiness on Facebook and other social media sites. Worse, people become dependent, on an addictive level, to the social approval received.
Six. We find that "Nosedive" already mirrors social credit rating system in China.
Sources for Your Essay:
Sample Thesis
In "Nosedive's" near-future dystopia our obsession with social media rankings reveals the power of technology to make us obedient, conformist consumers, sycophantic lapdogs desperate for approval, ruthlessly Darwinian haters of the low social order, and childish ciphers absent of any core identity to define ourselves when the social media rankings crash and vanish into pixel dust.
Second Sample Thesis
Part of being a critical thinker is being able to discern between authenticity and the counterfeit. A second crucial component of critical thinking is being able to rank things in the proper order. However, as we see in "Nosedive," social media rankings have upturned our critical thinking facilities by creating a false world of security, a false ranking system, and an insidious consumer matrix from which many never escape.
Third Sample Thesis
Like the dystopia depicted in Ursula Le Guin's "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas," "Nosedive" is about the ruthless equation of privilege in which one group is afforded high ranking that must be accompanied by a pariah group of low ranking. This privilege system is based on a false ideology in both stories evidenced by _________________, ____________________, _____________________, and _____________________.
Blue Book Exam: Choose One
Choice A: Develop a thesis that explains how Ursula Le Guin’s short story “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” (should be online) is an allegory of the moral challenges we face as we are drugged by privilege leaving us indifferent about the sufferings of The Other. Successful essays will connect the allegory to modern day social injustices such as the inhumane working conditions of migrant workers or the incarceration system, to name a couple. You can compare, for example, Le Guin's story to John Oliver's video on child labor in sweat shops.
Choice B: Compare the dehumanization in Black Mirror's "Nosedive" episode with our current obsession with social media as evidenced in Sherry Turkle's "Connected, but Alone?" video or China's social credit score system.
McMahon Grammar Lesson: Comma Rules (based in part by Diana Hacker’s Rules for Writers)
Commas are designed to help writers avoid confusing sentences and to clarify the logic of their sentences.
If you cook Jeff will clean the dishes. (Will you cook Jeff?)
While we were eating a rattlesnake approached us. (Were we eating a rattlesnake?)
Comma Rule 1: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) joining two independent clauses.
Rattlesnakes are high in protein, but I’d rather eat a peanut butter sandwich.
Rattlesnakes are dangerous, and the desert species are even more so.
We are a proud people, for our ancestors passed down these famous delicacies over a period of five thousand years.
The exception to rule 1 is when the two independent clauses are short:
The plane took off and we were on our way.
Comma Rule 2: Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase.
When Jeff Henderson was in prison, he developed an appetite for reading.
In the nearby room, the TV is blaring full blast.
Tanning in the hot Hermosa Beach sun for over two hours, I realized I had better call it a day.
The exception is when the short adverb clause or phrase is short and doesn’t create the possibility of a misreading:
In no time we were at 2,800 feet.
Comma Rule 3: Use a comma between all items in a series.
Jeff Henderson found redemption through hard work, self-reinvention, and social altruism.
Finding his passion, mastering his craft, and giving back to the community were all part of Jeff Henderson’s self-reinvention.
Comma Rule 4: Use a comma between coordinate adjectives not joined with “and.” Do not use a comma between cumulative adjectives.
The adjectives below are called coordinate because they modify the noun separately:
Jeff Henderson is a passionate, articulate, wise speaker.
The adjectives above are coordinate because they can be joined with “and.” Jeff Henderson is passionate and articulate and wise.
Adjectives that do not modify the noun separately are cumulative.
Three large gray shapes moved slowly toward us.
Chocolate fudge peanut butter swirl coconut cake is divine.
Comma Rule 5: Use commas to set off nonrestrictive (nonessential) elements.
Restrictive or essential information doesn’t have a comma:
For school the students need notebooks that are college-ruled.
Jeff’s cat that just had kittens became very aggressive.
Nonrestrictive:
For school the students need college-ruled notebooks, which are on sale at the bookstore.
Jeff Henderson’s mansion, which is located in Las Vegas, has a state-of-the-art kitchen.
My youngest sister, who plays left wing on the soccer team, now lives at The Sands, a beach house near Los Angeles.
Essay Writing Option 8
In a 1,250-word essay, support, refute, or complicate Fareed Zakaria's contention (816) that the American-centered Economic Dominance Myth is becoming replaced with a global reality. What is this alleged myth of American dominance? Is it a myth at all? Explain.
“The Rise of the Rest” by Fareed Zakaria (816)
One. What are the three tectonic shifts of the last 500 years?
Fundamental shifts in power are what we are referring to when we say “tectonic shifts.”
The first is the rise of the Western world in the fifteenth century, which ushered modernity, science, and technology.
The second, occurring at the end of the nineteenth century, was the rise of the United States, the greatest super power since imperial Rome.
The third shift is “the rise of the rest.” Economic growth has now globalized. The tallest building is now in Taipei and will soon be overtaken by Dubai, we read. Further, the richest man is from Mexico, the largest publically traded company is from China, the largest plane from Russia, largest refinery is from India, largest factories from China, largest gambling casino in Macao.
London is becoming the largest financial center.
This is a huge shift in self-image. We used to be the biggest cowboy in the saloon; in fact, the world saw us as a giant John Wayne.
Worldwide, the amount of people living on a dollar a day has gone down from 40 percent in 1981 to 18 percent in 2004. It should fall another 12 percent by 2015.
We are “entering a post-American world.” However, Zakaria doesn’t mention our worldwide dominance in entertainment, computer games, movies, TV, music, dance, etc.
Two. What is Zakaria’s thesis?
He intends to answer the question: “What does it mean to live in a post-America world?”
There will be less international cooperation to solve international crises because America no longer calls the shots. Everyone will do what they deem is in their self-interests first.
Zakaria points out that while Americans take for granted their own patriotism and nationalism, they are shocked when faced with the same patriotism and nationalism in other countries. We can infer from his statement that power has made us narcissistic over the years perhaps.
Also America’s narrative, as the principal character in world history, is now challenged by other countries that resent being “bit players.”
American Workers Will Suffer But the 1% Will Continue to Get Rich in Globalized Economy
Essay Writing Option 8
In a 1,250-word essay, support, refute, or complicate Fareed Zakaria's contention (816) that the American-centered Economic Dominance Myth is becoming replaced with a global reality. What is this alleged myth of American dominance? Is it a myth at all? Explain.
Sample Essay Outline
In paragraph 1, summarize Zakaria's essay.
In paragraph 2, your thesis, analyze the effects of globalization on America's middle and working class. For example:
Globalization, as described by Zakaria, will undermine American democracy in major ways, including ______________, _______________, ___________________, and ____________________.
Paragraphs 3-7 are your supporting paragraphs.
Paragraph 8, your conclusion, is a restatement of your thesis.
McMahon Grammar Lesson: Mixed Structure
Mixed construction is when the sentence parts do not fit in terms of grammar or logic.
Once you establish a grammatical unit or pattern, you have to be consistent.
Example 1: The prepositional phrase followed by a verb
Faulty
For most people who suffer from learned helplessness double their risk of unemployment and living below the poverty line.
Corrected
For most people who suffer from learned helplessness, they find they will be twice as likely to face unemployment and poverty.
Faulty
In Ha Jin’s masterful short story collection renders the effects of learned helplessness.
Corrected
In Ha Jin’s masterful short story collection, we see the effects of learned helplessness.
Faulty
Depending on our method of travel and our destination determines how many suitcases we are allowed to pack.
Corrected
The number of suitcases we can pack is determined by our method of travel and our destination.
Mixed Structure 2: Using a verb after a dependent clause
Faulty
When Jeff Henderson is promoted to head chef without warning is very exciting.
Corrected
Being promoted to head chef without warning is very exciting for Jeff Henderson.
Mixed Structure 3: Mixing a subordinate conjunction with a coordinating conjunction
Faulty
Although Jeff Henderson is a man of great genius and intellect, but he misused his talents.
Corrected
Although Jeff Henderson is a man of great genius and intellect, he misused his talents.
Faulty
Even though Ellen heard French spoken all her life, yet she could not write it.
Corrected
Even though Ellen heard French spoken all her life, she could not write it.
Mixed Structure 4: The construction is so confusing you must to throw it away and start all over
Faulty
In the prison no-snitch code Jeff Henderson learns to recognize variations of the code rather than by its real application in which he learns to arrive at a more realistic view of the snitch code’s true nature.
Corrected
In prison Jeff Henderson discovered that the no-snitch code doesn’t really exist.
Faulty
Recurring bouts of depression among the avalanche survivors set a record for number patients admitted into mental hospitals.
Corrected
Recurring bouts of depression among avalanche survivors resulted in a large number of them being admitted into mental hospitals.
Mixed Structure 5: Faulty Predication: The subject and the predicate should make sense together.
Faulty
We decided that Jeff Henderson’s best interests would not be well served staying in prison.
Corrected
We decided that Jeff Henderson would not be well served staying in prison.
Faulty
Using a gas mask is a precaution now worn by firemen.
Corrected
Firemen wear gas masks as a precaution against smoke inhalation.
Faulty
Early diagnosis of prostrate cancer is often curable.
Corrected
Early diagnosis of prostrate cancer is essential for successful treatment.
Mixed Structure 6: Faulty Apposition: The appositive and the noun to which it refers should be logically equivalent
Faulty
The gourmet chef, a very lucrative field, requires at least 10,000 hours of practice.
Corrected
Gourmet cooking, a very lucrative field, requires at least 10,000 hours of practice.
Mixed Structure 7: Incorrect use of the “is when,” “is where,” and “is because” construction
College instructors discourage “is when,” “is where,” and most commonly “is because” constructions because they violate logic.
Faulty
Bipolar disorder is when people suffer dangerous mood swings.
Corrected
Bipolar disorder is often recognized by dangerous mood swings.
Faulty
A torn rotator cuff is where you feel this intense pain in your shoulder that won’t go away.
Corrected
A torn rotator cuff will cause chronic pain in your shoulder.
Faulty
The reason I write so many comma splices is because the complete sentences feel logically related to each other.
Corrected
I write so many comma splices because the complete sentences feel logically related to each other.
Faulty
The reason I ate the whole pizza is because my family was a half hour late from coming home to the park and I couldn’t wait any longer.
Corrected
I ate the entire pizza because I’m a glutton.
In-class exercise: Write a sample of the seven mixed structure types and show a corrected version of it:
One. Verb after a prepositional phrase
Two. Verb after a dependent clause
Three. Mixing a subordinating conjunction (Whenever, when, although, though, to name some) with a coordinate conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
Four. The sentence is so confusing you have to start over.
Five. Faulty predication
Six: Faulty apposition
Seven. Incorrect use of the “is when,” “is where,” and “is because” construction
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