Choose one work where it seems to you that the theme is addressed most clearly and coherently. What similarities do you see in the author’s/poet’s views?  How do they differ from each other?

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In this essay we return to a topic that has arisen with some frequency in our study of Colonial and Nineteenth Century American Literature: Dualism.

Read the definition of “moral dualism” found here, paying particular attention to the philosophical and theological meanings of the term:

Native American Mythology                                      Puritanism

Transcendentalism                                                        Rationalism/Empiricism

Poe’s Concept of the Bi-Part Soul                            Hawthorne’s Anti-transcendentalism

Melville’s Anti-transcendentalism                          Walt Whitman’s poetry

Then, as a prewriting exercise, ponder how themes of moral/spiritual dualism are addressed in all of the readings in ENGL 2131. You will likely find examples in almost everything we have read, but here are some reminders on where to look:

Native American Mythology                                      Puritanism

Transcendentalism                                                        Rationalism/Empiricism

Poe’s Concept of the Bi-Part Soul                            Hawthorne’s Anti-transcendentalism

Melville’s Anti-transcendentalism                          Walt Whitman’s poetry

Now choose one work where it seems to you that the theme is addressed most clearly and coherently. What similarities do you see in the author’s/poet’s views?  How do they differ from each other?

(Unit One: Native Americans, Puritans, Colonials, Edgar Allan Poe; Unit Two: Emerson, Thoreau, Melville; Unit Three: Hawthorne, Douglass, Whitman, Dickinson)

Formulate a thesis about the most significant similarity or difference. Probably the best way to approach this is to ask yourself WHY the difference or similarity exists.  What is its source?

Write an essay of 750-1000 words in support of this thesis, using specific examples (QUOTES) from the three works you identified.

Document this essay in MLA FORMAT. If you have questions about this, you can e-mail me, make an online appointment with the Writer’s Studio, and/or review the guidelines found here:

Do you believe children today still experience this type of epiphany from their daily experience within a technologically infused society? Consider the role of technology and the impact of the vanishing “nuclear family.”

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Both James Joyce’s “Araby” and Annie Dillard’s “The Chase” portray the coming of age of two young protagonists.  Joyce’s “Araby” portrays the coming of age of a young boy who lives in an impoverished town.  Though he navigates through his young life filled with dreams and aspirations of beauty and promise, he eventually encounters disappointment at the bazaar.  Similarly, Dillard presents what she believes to be a prescription for living fully.  During the chase, Dillard discovers a dichotomous view of life.  She views adulthood from a child’s perspective and reveals her epiphany.  But she also encounters a powerful disillusionment.

Your assignment is to focus on the theme of innocence and the impact of epiphanies.  Both of these young protagonists experience an important awareness that is critical to their transformation from childhood to adulthood.  But they experience this necessary insight through interacting with life. Do you believe children today still experience this type of epiphany from their daily experience within a technologically infused society? Consider the role of technology and the impact of the vanishing “nuclear family.”

 

Your answer to the bolded and underlined question becomes your thesis statement.  Take a clear stance for or against children experiencing a powerful epiphany in the modern age. Then support your stance with clear, relevant quotes from both stories. You might consider some of the following elements of society:

 

Family—How is the role of family leading to or detracting from childhood epiphanies?

Friends—Are friends still a crucial element in a child’s life? If so, how?

Influential people or role models—media personalities, neighbors, teachers, coaches, etc.

Social sites—How have these replaced, if at all, children’s games that often led to discovery

and new insight? Has the internet removed much of the necessary romanticism or fantasy play crucial to a child’s development?

Games—How have video games enhanced or removed a child’s ability to experience life and gain

new awareness?

Conversations—Have phones removed a child’s need for privacy or have they provided an outlet?

 

Develop your topics in coherent paragraphs.  You are encouraged to provide outside sources as support for your ideas.  If you include research, follow MLA format when including parenthetical citations.  Also, include a Works Cited page (even if you do not include research).  Use the concepts you have learned in both the feedback included in your previous essays and the lessons on proper use of grammar and citation of outside sources to write a clear, well-developed essay.  You must also attach an outline to the final draft.  Remember that anything short of five to six pages will adversely affect the overall grade of your masterpiece.  This is your chance to exhibit your insightful critical thinking skills.  Be creative with this assignment and analyze Joyce’s “Araby” or Dillard’s “The Chase” from a unique perspective.  Strive for originality and profundity.

Define 3-4 of the basic principles of Stoicism, in your own words. Support each principle with at least 2 quotations from Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and/or Seneca. Each author must be referenced at least once in your essay. Develop the quotes with explanation and connect each principle to your personal experience.

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Now that you’ve read the work of three Stoic philosophers, define 3-4 of the basic principles of Stoicism, in your own words. Support each principle with at least 2 quotations from Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and/or Seneca. Each author must be referenced at least once in your essay. Develop the quotes with explanation and connect each principle to your personal experience.

What is a principle anyway? In this context, “principle” refers to a basic rule or lesson that all three Stoic authors seem to teach. For example, one principle may be that we should not desire fame. You may use this one though there are a lot of principles discussed in these texts, so I’d rather that you come up with 3-4 on your own.

Write on some aspect/topic that Pollan discusses in “An Animal’s Place.” Use “An Animal’s Place” as one of your sources. Your paper should include an introduction that ends with a thesis, TWO well developed paragraphs discussing the problem(s), TWO paragraphs discussing/outlining your solution

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There are many problems in the world. Some of these problems could be solved easily; some are very complex, and require intricate solutions, or multiple solutions. A problem/solution essay asks you to choose a problem, critically think and evaluate differing sides of the issue, and provide a viable solution. Too often problems are ignored or are not properly analyzed to provide practical and needed solutions. In this essay, you will have several options on which to focus your attention. The essay “An Animal’s Place by Pollan will be your central focus. There are many options to explore within the essay. As you read and discuss different topics in class discussions, pay particular attention to some of the questions stated below.
—You will write on some aspect/topic that Pollan discusses in “An Animal’s Place.” This means you must use “An Animal’s Place” as ONE of your sources. Your paper should include an introduction that ends with a thesis, TWO well developed paragraphs discussing the problem(s), TWO paragraphs discussing/outlining your solution(s), and a strong concluding paragraph.
Is factory farming a problem? If so, what can be done about it? Does factory farming cause other problems? If so, what are they? What can be done? Is factory farming the main or only reason for these other problems? Should animals have rights? What does Pollan have to say about animal rights? Vegetarian or Vegan lifestyles have become very popular. Is not eating any kind of meat a solution? What impact does mass meat production and consumption have on the environment? Is it a driver of climate change?

Examine how 1 essayist engages with, responds to, redefines, or alludes to other authors or pieces of writing. How does the essayist respond to what has been said? How does the essayist construct a conversation or debate between texts and/or people, and what is the purpose or result of this engagement?

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Intertextuality: Examine how 1 essayist engages with, responds to, redefines, or alludes to other authors or pieces of writing. How does the essayist respond to what has been said? How does the essayist construct a conversation or debate between texts and/or people, and what is the purpose or result of this engagement? How does the essayist represent himself or herself in contrast to, in response to, or as a part of other authors or texts? What is the purpose or result of this intertextuality, and how does it affect the reader’s interpretation of the essay?

Write a fictional conversation you would have with Marcus Aurelius. Your story should be narrated in first-person perspective and have a clear setting; concrete description of the place, the characters, and surrounding objects

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Much like Benjamin Hoff in The Tao of Pooh writes a fictional conversation between himself and Winnie-the-Pooh, write a fictional conversation you would have with Marcus Aurelius. Your story should be narrated in first-person perspective and have a clear setting; concrete description of the place, the characters, and surrounding objects; physical action with plenty of precise active verbs; and dialogue correctly formatted with quotation marks and signal phrases. Your fictional conversation should build up to an overall point; it should not be trivial or aimless. It can be set in modern day, Ancient Rome, or any other time and place.

Develop an outline for the 1,000-1,200 word proposal argument essay and include a clear thesis statement and plan of support. Write a proposal argument in which you address the question, “What needs to be done to address the opiod crisis in the United States?”

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In Module/Week 2, you must develop an outline for the 1,000-1,200 word proposal argument essay that you will write in Module/Week 3. Your outline should include a clear thesis statement and plan of support. Be sure to consider all essay parts identified in “The Elements of Argument (Planning A Proposal Argument)” in the textbook readings, and include at least the minimum requirements listed in the chart below for this week’s assignment.

The research sources for this essay have been provided for you in Blackboard. Any additional sources that you may choose to use must be credible academic sources. You must integrate a total of 4 quotations, summaries and/or paraphrases from 3 credible sources to support your thesis statement and provide opposing arguments.

Write a proposal argument in which you address the question, “What needs to be done to address the opiod crisis in the United States?”

Choose any piece of literature (book, short story, comic, poem, play), a film, or a television show that you’d like to learn more about. Explore symbolism in the work. How does the use of symbolism amplify the story’s themes, characters, etc.? Compare any two works. How do the themes coincide? How are they different?

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Choose any piece of literature (book, short story, comic, poem, play), a film, or a television show that you’d like to learn more about. However, the work MUST be a piece of FICTION.  If you’d like, you can even use some of the short stories we discussed in this class.

  1. Keep in mind, this is a persuasive paper. Meaning, this shouldn’t be a book or film report, rather this is an analysis with a clear thesis. In order to focus your topic, consider exploring some of the ideas below:
  • How does the protagonist function as the classic idea of a quester?
  • Explore symbolism in the work. How does the use of symbolism amplify the story’s themes, characters, etc.?
  • Compare any two works. How do the themes coincide? How are they different?
  • Investigate the work’s historical context.
  • Research the author’s purpose and technique behind the work.
  • Does the work function as an allegory? How so?

If you can think of a better idea that you’d like to explore, please feel free to do so.

3. Develop a rough thesis and paper outline to guide the rest of your research and ideas.

In the film, the MNU states that “the responsibility for co-existing starts at home. Staying inside your designated residential region will help keep order intact. Territorial integrity helps individuals feel safe, secure, and empowered.” What degree of authority/control/influence, do you feel, should governments have over a population?

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1.Compare the themes explored in both District 9 and “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” . Use specific examples from both works. Discuss the parallels of the treatment of the “other” in our own society. How do we make people the “other” in our own society?

  1. Wikus, the human, is given a less conventional name than the alien Christopher, a seemingly very common name. Why do you think the director chose this method of naming the main characters? Thinking back to when we dissected the name Arnold Friend in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” consider of Christopher’s name once again. (Hint: Saint Christopher is the patron saint of travelers. Also, look at the name itself: Christopher = Christ + of). What types of allusions might be made to this name? (Hint #2: When looking at possible allusions to his name, what does Christopher do andpromise to do at the end of the film?)
  2. In the film, the MNU states that “the responsibility for co-existing starts at home. Staying inside your designated residential region will help keep order intact. Territorial integrity helps individuals feel safe, secure, and empowered.” What degree of authority/control/influence, do you feel, should governments have over a population?
  3. After viewing the first selection ofDistrict 9and reading Emily Asher-Perrin’s article “The Urge to Flee the Theater: What District 9 Taught the World” consider the concept of being an “other.” Using specific references from what you’ve seen in the film and evidence (in-text citations) from the article, discuss how the protagonist (Wickus) brings this concept to the forefront.
  4. What is the importance of storytelling (in all forms) to the development of cultural and personal values? Does this science fiction story provide any insights and revelations about the world in which we live?

What have you learned from either society or through your education that you now believe differently about because of your experience? After reflecting upon the assigned readings/videos and performing library research, write a 3-5page MLA-compliant essay.

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Assignment: What have you learned from either society or through your education that you now believe differently about because of your experience? After reflecting upon the assigned readings/videos and performing library research, write a 3-5page MLA-compliant essay.

Thesis: Your thesis statement should clearly state the issue you learned and in what ways you have changed your opinion because of your experience. You should briefly state your reasons.

Evidence: To build your argument, use at least two sources from our in-class readings, as well as at least one reference (quotes or paraphrases) from your research.