Core 110
Essay 3: Analysis
1. “People
who like rap music are hoods and lowlife.” “The blue hairs can’t drive;
their licenses should be revoked.” “You
know what women with short hair are."
No one should take offense when the fans of the Atlanta Braves do the
Tomahawk chop. People who do are crazy.”
“Of course she aced the math test, she’s Asian.”
Even
though racism, hatred and violence still exist in our world, our generation
recognizes diversity more than any other generations.
We’re used to living among different people.
Read
the comments above and write about your own views on diversity.
Is your generation more accepting of diversity?
What evidence can you find to support your views?
2.
Cellular phones, the Internet, email, on-line shopping, e-business,
debit cards, cash machines, automated grocery stores – all of these
improvements to life may be leading us away from human interaction. Is having
little contact with people a positive aspect of the 21st century?
As society grows more and more high tech, what will happen to human
relationships? Will we be able to
talk to one another anymore?
3. “A student in my class today was spitting tobacco juice in a soda
bottle,” Golden said staring at Watkins. “Spitting in a bottle! I wasn’t
imagining it. I can’t take much more. I
mean they sit there with their baseball caps pulled down over their eyes,
their feet up on the chair in front of them, looking smug and disinterested as
if they’re daring me to teach them something.
They’re all so apathetic and bored, with their ‘done there, been
that’ attitude. I had a student
in class this morning with those headphones on, that watchamacallit, the Sony
Man, sitting there – while I’m talking – with headphones on!
The nerve! They make no effort to stifle their yawning; I can see their
dental work half the time. They wear their pants so I can see their underwear.
Some of them sleep in class. They’re
taking $20,000 naps, for Christ’s sake! What’s wrong with these kids?!”
Professor Golden from Parallel Lives despairs
about the students of today. Are
his views correct? Do students
behave as Golden has described them? Why?
What do you think? Although we
hear lamenting by parents and educators, are students really unconcerned about
and disinterested in their own educations?
React to Golden’s remarks using your views and those of others.
4. Police used stun grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas on Arizona fans
who set fire to at least three overturned vehicles and tore down street signs.
They were reacting to their loss in the NCAA basketball tournament
against Duke. “Police did not do enough to stop drunken, marauding fans who
set large bonfires and broke into campus following Maryland’s loss to Duke
in the Final Four,” exclaimed the town's mayor. In an incident closer to
home, several thousand people jammed the streets after Penn State’s loss in
the NCAA Tournament, hurling firecrackers, tossing bottles from balconies and
trying to topple lampposts. Twenty people were arrested.
Is this March Madness or March Mayhem?
Why break out violently when a team loses a game?
Are these reactions basketball’s problem? Do football fans react in
the same way? What’s the cause? Immaturity?
Substance abuse (drugs, alcohol)?
What should be done? What are your opinions?
As with any essay, yours should include an attention-grabbing introduction, an organized body, and a strong conclusion.
Due
Dates
Friday, October 19
- First Draft Due
Monday,
October 22 - Conferences (You will receive your first draft
during the conference.
Friday, October 26
- Responding Session.
Wednesday, October 31
- Final Draft Due