| Assignment Objective
Interact with assigned reading and demonstrate skills reviewed in modules (thesis, topic sentences, logic, argumentation). Demonstrate research skills by finding evidence online in the databases or in Google Scholar to support your points. |
| Required Components
Write a (minimum) 4 page double-spaced essay* with an introduction, conclusion, and body paragraphs with examples and evidence from the reading and elsewhere supporting your points. You MUST use sources, one of which must be the related reading（The Tyranny of Dead Ideas）, and you must have a Works Cited page. (*The Works Cited page does not count as one of the 4-5 pages). I encourage you to find source material in the library databases indexed here (Links to an external site.) Links to an external site.. · an introduction (with the research question and/or thesis) · strong topic sentences · supporting detail from sources · conclusion · a Works Cited page (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. detailing the works you actually cited (quoted or paraphrased) in your essay. Miller’s Introduction should be one of your sources and you must have 5 additional sources on your Works Cited page. More explanation here of Works Cited page in MLA format. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. · Make sure to have a good balance between websites and articles from the research databases.
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| Prompt
You have read about the ideas that Matt Miller thinks are dead in the introduction to his book, The Tyranny of Dead Ideas. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. What ideas do you think are dead? Assert one or more ideas that you think are dead. You can focus all your attention on one, or you can present several ideas you think are dead. These can come from any subject that exists on earth: history, politics, religion, science, etc. There is no correct answer. This essay may include personal experience, since that is often what points us in the direction of dead ideas! Please try to enjoy this essay if possible! 🙂 Certainly, you can use the idea you shared in the discussion thread, and even use your exact words although you may need to reorder them as you expand your ideas and insert a thesis. Some brainstorm starters: I don’t know why ___________ still exists. Why are people convinced that __________? Why is our society built around ___________ when things have changed… It’s useless to ___________ because… (These sentences may get you thinking about ideas that you feel are dead. You are not so much concerned with the “why” as the idea itself.) |