English 1010:AD1
Fall 2007 J. Ontog
Unit 3 Essay Topics
For this essay
you may:
- Since
September 11, 2001 people of both Arab descent and the Islamic faith have
been under intense media scrutiny. Do some research on one aspect of the
media coverage of those events and discuss the ways in which the images of
these people were affected. You may choose any form of media you wish,
meaning film, television, newspapers, advertisements, or magazines. To help
you narrow your research try terms like “debate over media blackouts of
Osama Bin Laden,” “current media portrayals of Arabs” or “local newspaper
coverage of anti-Arab crimes.”
- What is
“American culture” by today’s standards? How does it differ from the
traditional definition? Keep in mind our media, mainly our TV shows, films,
and music, is our number one export. Create your own definition and then
find one media source to support this definition. In addition to finding
one source that supports your definition, make sure and find one you can use
in contrast to your definition.
Length
Requirements: 750-1000 words
Format: Times
New Roman size 12 font, MLA formatting and headers, proper MLA title page and
Works Cited Page
Source
Requirement: You must use a minimum of 2 references from the text, either those
we have read or something we have not read and 2 outside sources found from
credible Internet sources
Due Date: Nov. 1
Unit 4 Essay Topics
For
this essay you may:
-
Throughout time dominant cultures have forcefully overcome others. One of
the most prominent has been the “westernization” of the entire world. As
America has moved into a twenty-four-hour capitalized nation, the rest of
the world has been forced to do so or fall behind. This has led to
twenty-four-hour news coverage, business trading and other twenty-four-hour
activities. Is this a good or bad thing? Why or why not? What is the effect
of twenty-four-hour news on the world?
-
With the “westernization” of the world, a debate has developed through an
attempt to develop a literary “canon” which represents and reflects what is
in fact “Western” literature. Those works included are supposed to reflect
all “western” values and concerns as well as to be the “best of the best.”
To get an idea of what the western canon has been defined as so far, take a
look at several college-level anthologies for Western Literature classes
(i.e. Norton or Bedford anthologies) Think of some of the pieces you have
read throughout your high school English classes. Define what the canon is
and then demonstrate how at least two pieces either fit or do not fit this
definition.
-
Throughout the semester we have been examining issues pertaining to American
experience, the educational system and other “current” issues. Take one of
your earlier arguments and rework it using research regarding that topic.
If you choose to do this topic, please see me to have it approved before
doing so.
Length Requirements: 1200-1250 words (4-5 pages)
Format: Times New Roman size 12 font, MLA formatting and headers, proper MLA
title page and Works Cited Page
Source Requirement: You must use a minimum of 1 reference from the text, either
those we have read or something we have not, and 3-5 outside sources found from
credible Internet sources
Due
Date: Nov. 29