Task: Address one of the following essay prompts below. How you argue for your thesis is entirely up to you, but keep in mind that you will lose points, possibly failing the paper, if you simply restate arguments made by others. As always, you must cite the works of others if you are building on their work.
The paper will be graded according to the following rubric:
25 pts: Paper has an introduction that clearly states your thesis, and provides context regarding your topic of choice. Your thesis should be the first sentence of the intro and should be in the following form: “In this paper, I will argue…”
50 points: Paper has (in your own words) a critical interpretation of relevant quotes/text. All quotes/references are properly cited, and any key terms are explained in your own words. Make sure what you select is in support of your thesis.
200 pts: Paper makes two well-supported and carefully crafted distinct arguments in support
of your thesis (100 pts each). Make sure relevant views/texts are described accurately and well cited, and your reasoning is logical and compelling. Make sure to lay out your argument premise by premise, do not skip any steps in your reasoning. Make sure to elaborate, so the reader can follow your line of reasoning. Include examples and properly cited sources to support your argument. Sell your argument!
The two arguments should be broken up into 2 separate paragraphs.
25 points: Paper is organized, clearly written, has excellent spelling/grammar and correct citations. Make sure you include a conclusion (in a separate paragraph) no more than 2-3 sentences.
Essay Questions/Prompts (Choose 1)
What do you think Baldwin means when he says, “As adults, we are easily fooled because we are so anxious to be fooled. But children are very different. Children, not yet aware that it is dangerous to look too deeply at anything, look at everything, look at each other, and draw their own conclusions.” Do you agree or disagree with his claim? If so, why? If not, why not? What important insights do you believe children might be able to share?
Baldwin says, “…one of the paradoxes of education was that precisely at the point when you begin to develop a conscience, you must find yourself at war with your society. It is your responsibility to change society if you think of yourself as an educated person.” How does Baldwin’s claim relate to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave? What part of the allegory do you think Baldwin is referencing and why?
Baldwin says, “What societies really, ideally, want isa citizenry which will simply obey the rules of society. If a society succeeds in this, that society is about to perish.” Do you agree with Baldwin’s claim? If so, why? Or why not? Make sure to include your own examples as part of your explanation. And if you want, you can relate it to our current state of affairs.
