English 1113
Paper #2: The Ugly Truth
INTRO: In each of the essays for this section, the writers explore a topic from a different angle, the one that isn’t ‘touristy,’ and shows us the ugly truth behind these beautiful places and activities. For example, traveling to an ancient temple in the Guatemalan jungle reminds Melissa Johnson that no civilization lasts forever, even her own; likewise, Mosab Abu Toha shows how a city where he grew up and had a normal life can suddenly become a nightmare, where the horrors of history are blindly repeated. The closer we look at a place or an activity (such as Titanic tourism), the more of the ‘ugly truth’ we can see, which helps us understand who we are, and why our society works the way it does, for good and ill.
PROMPT: For this paper, I want you to write about an ‘ugly truth’ that you’ve seen, experienced, or learned about in our daily lives. It should be about something that is normal, that people do every day, but maybe don’t see the other side of. Explain what people normally see, and how people can even enjoy/interact with it, but then explain what they don’t often see, and why that’s just as important. FOR EXAMPLE, many people go to places like Sonic for a cold drink or something quick to eat, and don’t think twice; but if you’ve ever worked there, you know the struggles of what it’s like to be a carhop, or the frustration of having ice cream machines break down, or a co-worker who never shows up to work. Your paper should ask, in some way, “why does the ugly truth matter? What do we learn from seeing inside this activity?” You can also show us the ‘beautiful truth’ as well—the important, powerful things that most people don’t see about a place or activity.
REQUIREMENTS: You should have at least FOUR sources for this assignment, TWO of which should be essays from class. Even though the essays might be more serious than your topic, you can compare ideas and observations about Titanic sightseeing to your own job at Sonic (you might have a boss like Stockton Rush, for example). Use the essays to help us see the conversation and understand why it matters. TWO or THREE sources should be from outside class (we’ll talk about how to find good sources) relating to your place/activity that can help us understand and can give you more to respond to. If you’re writing about the volunteering at a local animal shelter, for example, you can find articles that you can compare your experience to, or help bring out other ‘truths’ people might not know about (facts, statistics, etc). Find your sources FIRST, so you can respond to them in your essay, rather than trying to stick in random sources later.
REVISED DUE DATE: Despite
what the course calendar says, I’ve moved this back a day, so it’s now due in
TWO WEEKS, on Wednesday, July 9th by
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