FYS Unit -C- Essay Prompts

In-Class Exam Essay
        Your task will be to review the controversy over globalization. You will need to be aware of disagreements about how to define it as well as disagreements over the causes, over the effects, and over policy. You should also consider related sub-issues that we've discussed in units A and B (immigration, farm subsidies, job market, sports, and entertainment) and now be able to fit those sub-issues into the larger framework of global trade. The best way to prepare for this is to read the assigned reading and keep track of the differences of opinion between each author.
        You won't know the exact question until the day of the exam, but you do know that it will have to do with the definition of and controversy over "globalization."

Definition Essay(s)
        Find a recent issue in the news, and find a key term in that issue whose meaning is debatable.
        By "recent," I mean after July, 2007. And by "issue," I mean something about which there is clearly more than one point of view. And by "key term," I mean a word or phrase whose precise definition is important for those conversing about or debating the issue.
        For example, in the debate between pro-life and pro-choice positions on abortion, the meaning of the word "life" (i.e., when life begins) is crucial to the arguments of both sides. In this class, you've read debates over the meaning of the words "globalization" and "fair trade." More recently, in the Senate hearing for the new attorney general, the candidate Michael Mukasey was asked whether "waterboarding" falls under the definition of torture.
        Your job is to write two essays about your chosen word. In one essay, you argue that the word should be defined one way. In the other essay, you argue that the word should be defined another way. In other words, for this assignment, you have to practice arguing two different positions (perhaps opposing ones.) Your goal in both essays is to be as convincing as you can about why the word should be defined that way rather than another way.
        As with all of the essays that you write for this class, you need to establish exigency for your topic, demonstrate awareness of the context (i.e., what's at stake), and have a clear thesis that you support with reasons and evidence.
        Each essay should be one to two pages double-spaced. In addition, before the essays, you must write a paragraph summarizing the issue, why there is disagreement over a definition, and what's at stake. By what's at stake, I mean that I want you to consider what happens if we define it one way versus if we define it another way. Although you are prefacing your essays with this paragraph, I want you to write both essays as if you were only handing in that one essay and not the preface or the other essay.

Note: For this assignment I want you to practice another way of citing sources. So, instead of the MLA style, please practice the Chicago style. For this, you must use the footnote/endnote function in the "references" menu of the new MS Word and in the "insert" menu of the old MS Word.

Technicalities for Definition Essay:
     1. Page Length -- "1-2" pages means at least one, and less than two. It does not mean almost one and more than four.
     2. Papers should have one inch margins and be in 12 point, Times New Roman font.
     3. Double spaced.
     4. In the upper right corner, put in this order single spaced: your name, the name of this assignment (e.g., "Definition Essay"), FYS 100-43A, Dr. Steven Thomas, and the date.
     5. Centered, above the first paragraph, in bold face, have your own title. No separate title pages please!!!
     6. Cite sources properly using the Chicago style. See here if you have questions.