Essay #3 Assignment

Essay #2: Cultural Criticism/Commentary/Academic Essay

3-5pp.

(E.g. Nickel and Dimed, A Place to Stand, “The Achievement of Desire,” “Hunger as Ideology,” College for Sale)

Your topic must be a “thorny” one–one that is complex and for which there is no easy answer or solution.  If you cannot see the value of arguments on various “sides” of the issue, or if you are not personally conflicted about the issue, select another topic.  Writing this essay should help you clarify your ideas on the issue and help you to recognize the difficulties involved in  finding any answer(s).  Do not select a topic for which you believe you know the “truth” and have a “ready answer”; instead, allow your paper to be driven by inquiry.  Ideas must be developed, explored, examined, analyzed, researched, and complicated.  You must try to construct fresh insight about the material studied.

In crafting the essay, pay careful attention to your narrative strategies (thinking about the texts we’ve read in class and the “moves” these authors have made):

• choices in narration–utilizing first or third person or mixed narration
• setting(s) as establishing a context for your essay
• incorporating research–finding material that both supports and tests your thinking
• providing a clear sense of the intention and overall meaning of your piece while avoiding didacticism