The purpose of this exercise is to guide you through the process of critical thinking, to assess your ability to apply ideas and concepts from our readings, and to give you an opportunity to improve your writing skills. Instructions: View Against All Odds: The Fight for a Black Middle Class, and then craft a critical essay using the questions below to guide your writing. Remember to answer each question fully, providing details and rich explanations of your views. Please carefully proofread your essay before submitting.
The essay you submit should be about 1000-1500 words (Times New Roman or Arial, 12 pt font, double space, standard margins, APA or ASA format), and must incorporate relevant concepts and theories from your Inequality Reader. Required Text Inequality in the 21st Century. 2018. David B. Grusky and Jasmine Hill, eds. Boulder: Westview Press. Refer to specific authors, specific readings, and specific concepts from the assigned readings in this unit. Don’t forget to use in-text citations and create a references page.
Please note that the Grusky and Hill book is an edited volume. You should cite and reference the authors of the chapters, rather than the editors of the volume. Please number your responses and organize your essay into paragraphs. Pay attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Submit your Evaluation Criteria: Projects will be evaluated using the following criteria: Following directions and completeness (25%); incorporation of relevant concepts and theories (25%); critical thought (25%); grammar, spelling, and punctuation (25%).
Response to Against All Odds: The Fight for a Black Middle Class
1) Using a maximum of two sentences, state the main idea or the thesis driving this documentary.
2) Briefly summarize the documentary. What evidence is used to support the theories/arguments put forth? In other words, discuss the arguments put forth using the language and main concepts from the documentary. Explain with specific examples.
3) How did the documentary relate to material covered in the class? Explain how the ideas from the documentary connect to ideas and theories that we’ve discussed so far. Be sure you make specific references to authors, concepts, and theories from our readings, citing the chapters you discuss. You must incorporate at least 5 of the assigned chapters from the unit.
4) Did you enjoy the documentary? Hate it? Explain. Here is your chance to vent (or let me know that this is the best thing you’ve ever watched)! Tell me why you think this is a masterpiece or disaster. Did the filmmaker make points that you agree with? Disagree with?
5) Write three discussion questions about this documentary. What would you like to ask the filmmaker? Do you have any questions for any of the people in the documentary?
