"Essay" Three

As we've been discussing, our main goal for this last essay is have the experience of reading a serious non-fiction book related to the topics of our course work. You'll also look at at least two articles (or an article and a film) and course text that connect to it.

Instead of writing one formal essay, you'll do a series of in-class writings in which you describe what you're reading, think about the questions it asks and the arguments it might make.

Carry your book with you over the next month. Work on finding blocks of time to read. Take notes. When you come to the end of chapter or a section, take a minute to write down the most important ideas and examples from what you've read. Notice what challenges you face as you read. We're building this skill just as you're building your writing.

Outline of In-Class Writing: 

You are responsible for making up writings that you miss. Your grade for essay three will be based on your ability to show that you have read carefully and worked to make connections to the ideas we've been discussion all semester.

*Note* You want to make your final decision on your book this week. If you are waiting for a book, start with one of the articles or course texts related to your topic - see the handout for suggestions. Many of the article can be googled if you include the author's name and the title.

Begin each in-class writing with an update as to how far you are in the reading.

Monday, November 18th

- What un-googleable questions is your book asking? Think about the categories we discussed: interpretation, ethics, and policy/solutions.

- What key terms from our list relate to your reading and how? Are there new key terms from the reading we need to add to the list. Think about what makes something a key term: not just a new vocabulary word, but something that relates to a concept about work.

- What detail (a story, a fact, an example) stuck with you from the reading most and why? What will you remember from the reading in a year or five years?


Monday, December 2nd

- Update me on your readings. How far are you in the book, what course text(s) did you (re)read and what other articles?

- Choose one short passage (between a paragraph and a page or so) from your readings that you found particularly surprising, upsetting, inspiring, or interesting. Summarize the passage in your own words, using indirect citation. Then talk about why you selected it. What specific things were you surprised to learn? How do you think it relates to the text as a whole?

- Describe the connections you found between the book, course text, and articles. Are the situations they describe similar? Do they take place in similar or different contexts (time, place)? Do they make similar or different arguments about the issues discussed?

- Find three arguments you MIGHT make about the topic of your book, articles, and/or course texts: one interpretive argument, one ethical argument, and one policy argument. Which of these arguments do you think your authors are making or would agree with?