Week 1: English 1A Essay 1 Overview
Introduction
Considered one of the greatest comedians of all time, George Carlin once said in an interview that he knew he would be a comedian when he was in the fifth grade. He was the class clown, he knew how to get laughs, he was naturally cynical, and his talents did indeed eventually sync with his career aspirations.
If only the rest of us could be so fortunate. Probably over 99.99 % of us must undergo the terrifying and difficult task of trying to find a career that suits who we are at the core of our being. All of us want to find that balance, that sweet spot if you will, between our need for a handsome income to pay the bills and a job that speaks to our spiritual and emotional needs. None of us want to be a cog in a machine or work some dead-end soul-crushing job for the rest of our lives.
A popular adage for young people is "Just follow your passion." Really? Just follow our bliss and greatness will follow? Is this really true? It sounds so simple.
Computer science professor and best-selling author Cal Newport questions this advice, and his skeptical position is the topic for our first essay assignment.
Essay #1 for 200 Points and Due on September 14: Is Following Your Passion Bogus Career Advice?
The Assignment:
In a 1,200-1,500-word essay (about 5 double-spaced pages with a 12 Arial font) that adheres to current MLA format and provides a minimum of 4 sources for your Works Cited page, write an argumentative essay that defends, refutes, or complicates Cal Newport’s claim from his online article “The Passion Trap” that the career advice to follow your passion is dangerous and should be replaced by the craftsman mindset. Be sure to have a counterargument-rebuttal section in your essay.
Two Small Building-Block Assignments, both worth 25 points each:
Write an introductory paragraph for your essay. Due date: August 31.
Write a counterargument-rebuttal paragraph for your essay. Due date: September 7.
Suggested Essay #1 Outline:
Writing an Introductory Paragraph
I recommend one of four approaches for your introductory paragraph.
Approach #1: Write a paragraph in which you write an extended definition of what Cal Newport means when he critiques “The Passion Trap.” Then transition to your thesis paragraph in which you agree, disagree, or both agree and disagree with Newport’s claim.
Approach #2: Write a personal paragraph about your struggle to find a career that you are passionate about on one hand and is practical for your long-term financial needs on the other. Then transition to your thesis.
Approach #3: Write a paragraph about someone you know who started a career with minimum interest and passion but over time as the person became more skilled at this career the person’s passion sprung from the added skills and expertise.
Approach #4: Write a paragraph about someone you know who pursued his or her passion and how this resulted in a Big Nothing Burger, a complete flop, because the person’s pursuit of passion was done blindly.
Paragraph 2: Your Thesis: Support or refute Cal Newport’s contention that the advice to “follow your passion” is not only useless but dangerous and will hurt your career goals. In your thesis give 4 reasons for supporting your argument.
Paragraphs 3-7 are your supporting paragraphs.
Paragraph 8 is your counterargument-rebuttal, in which you anticipate your opponents’ most compelling argument against your thesis and give rebuttal to their main point.
Paragraph 9 is your conclusion, an emotionally powerful restatement of your thesis.
Your final page is a separate page. It is a Works Cited page. It is done in MLA format. It is okay to use an MLA Works Cited generator such as Citation Machine, Scribbr, EasyBib, or Purdue Owl.
Other Recommended Sources for Your Essay:
In addition to addressing Newport’s “The Passion Trap” for your essay, you are encouraged to consult the following:
One. “So Good They Can’t Ignore You” (book summary) by Cedric Chin
Two. “On Passion and Its Discontents” by Cal Newport
Three. “Don’t ‘Follow Your Passion’” by Janie Kliever
Four. “Why ‘Find Your Passion’ Is Bad Advice” by Terri Trespicio
Five. “The Career Craftsman Manifesto” by Cal Newport
YouTube video “Follow Your Passion Is Bad Advice” by Cal Newport.
Following Your Passion Is Bad Advice
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