Essay #2
Minimum of 2 sources for your MLA Works Cited page.
Option A
In the context of Alexandra Sifferlin's "The Weight Loss Trap" and Harriet Brown's "The Weight of the Evidence," develop a thesis that addresses the claim that going on a diet is too futile and harmful and that we should give up on the idea of dieting altogether.
Option B
In the context of Jason Brennan’s “Can epistocracy, or knowledge-based voting, fix democracy?”, support, defend, or complicate the claim that an epistocracy is superior to democracy as we currently know it.
Option C
Addressing the complexities and moral contradictions contained in Larissa MacFarquhar’s YouTube presentation “Understanding Extreme Altruism” ( a thumbnail sketch of her book Strangers Drowning), develop an argumentative thesis that supports, refutes, or complicates Peter Singer’s Drowning Child Moral Imperative as he lays it out in “The Drowning Child and the Expanding Circle. ” Singer’s Drowning Child analogy is also used in his essay “What Should a Billionaire Give--and What Should You?”
Essay #3
Option A
In the context of David Freedman’s “The War on Stupid People,” support, refute, or complicate Freedman’s contention that we marginalize average people at our own peril, socially, pragmatically, morally, and otherwise. Is there a "war" on "stupid" people or is the author using hyperbole in an inappropriate manner? Is there not intrinsic hardship in belonging to bottom 10% of intelligence? Do we need to explain such hardship by saying a "war" has been waged? Does Freedman handle these questions adequately?
Option B
Read Jessica McCrory Calarco’s essay “‘Free-Range’ Parenting’s Unfair Double Standard” and support or refute her claim. See Washington Post and Reason’s “The Fragile Generation.”
Option C
Read the online essay "It's been hot before" and write an argumentative essay about the role logical fallacies play in the dangerous denial of global warming and global drought. For another source, you can consult "The 5 telltale techniques of climate change denial." Also, see Netflix Explained, "The World's Water Crisis."
Option D
Read Gabrielle Glaser’s “The Irrationality of Alcoholics Anonymous” and support, refute, or complicate Glaser’s assertion that AA is an overrated, untested program.
Option E
In the context YouTube video "This Will Change Everything You Know" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39RS3XbT2pU) and PBS Newshour "Why We Should be More Like Cats and Less Like Dogs" ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UROaLW8lmc0 ), defend, refute, or complicate the contention that loss of privacy, advertising on "free" social media sites and fake news is part of a system that manipulates us to the point that we have good reason to delete our Facebook account. You may also consult Netflix's "Terms and Conditions May Apply."
Essay #4
You need minimum 2 sources for your MLA Works Cited page.
Option A
Read Jelani Cobb’s “Black Like Her” and write an essay that supports, refutes, or complicates the contention that it is morally objectionable for white woman Rachel Dolezal to fabricate an identity to pass as being black. Also consult the Netflix documentary The Rachel Divide.
Option B
Read David Brooks’ “How We Are Ruining America” and support, refute, or complicate the contention that Brooks has written a misleading, stupid, deceptive, and grossly wrong-minded essay. Look at the terms "gaslighting" and "red herring" and see how they might apply to this topic. We will consider the fallacies of "gaslighting" and "red herrings" in argumentation.
Option C
Read Jon Ronson’s “How One Stupid Tweet Blew Up Justine Sacco’s Life” and write an essay that supports, refutes, or complicates Ronson’s claim that we should be more offended by the social media outrage machine than we should be offended Justine Sacco’s stupid tweet.
Option D (you can add to lesson 2 for Give People Money Book)
Read Oren Cass’ “Why a Universal Basic Income Is a Terrible Idea” and write an essay that supports, defends, or complicates the author’s position that UBI will do more harm than good. For sources, I refer you to Universal Basic Income explained, UBI being used in other countries, UBI explained by Jordan Peterson as a life-purpose problem.
Option E
Read Garrett Hardin’s “Lifeboat Ethics” and an essay that supports, refutes, or complicates Hardin’s argument against liberal methods of helping the poor.
Option F
See Vice News video "What is the Future of Evangelicalism?" and develop an argumentative thesis about the contradiction between a religious group supporting an irreligious president.
Option G
In the context of The Atlantic essay "The Employer-Surveillance State" by Ellen Ruppel Shell, develop an argumentative thesis that addresses the question: Should employers be able to conduct surveillance on their employees? See The Guardian.
Essay #5 Due 12-13-18
You need minimum 3 sources for your MLA Works Cited page.
Option A
Read Ursula Le Guin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,” Chekhov’s “Gooseberries” the Guardian essay, and “Winter Dreams” and develop a thesis that addresses the claim that happiness is a form of deception that results in a squandered life and moral decrepitude.
Option B
Read Brendan Foht’s “The Case Against Human Gene Editing” and write an essay that supports, refutes, or complicates the claim that gene editing poses moral and political problems that we cannot handle.
Option C
Read Paul Bloom’s “Against Empathy” and address the claim that Bloom, trying to sell lots of books, is writing a disingenuous argument, relying more on semantics and trickery than substance, to write a sensationalistic, hyped-up thesis.
Option D
In the context of Evan Osnos’ “Doomsday Prep for the Super-Rich,” analyze the causes behind the wealth tech industry’s obsession with preparing for the Apocalypse.
Option E
Read Barbara Ehrenreich’s essay “Giving Up on Preventative Care” and support, refute, or complicate her thesis that we should resist the preventive care of America’s medical establishment.
Option F
Read Elizabeth Anderson’s “If God Is Dead, Is Everything Permitted?” and defend, refute, or complicate the author’s claim that non-theism is morally superior to theism.
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