Write a draft for a short piece that responds to one of the following prompts:
1. Look at the last paragraph of Didion's "On Morality" (it's a long paragraph) and write a (long) paragraph about morality in the post-9/11 world. Like Didion, start your paragraph with a sentence that begins,"You see I want to be quite obstinate about insisting that we..."
2. As Ericsson categorizes and defines lies in "The Ways We Lie," categorize and define at least three kinds of facts.These facts and their definitions must have some bearing on 9/11. Your examples don't have to come directly from something related to 9/11, but you should make connections between your examples and 9/11. You may open and close your piece with two or three sentences that provide a context for understanding the nature of facts after 9/11.
If you have any uncertainties about either topic, don't hesitate to get in touch with me.
The final version of this piece will be due on Wednesday, May 2.
In class on Monday, April 30 (day 1; last block) you will write a synthesis essay on 9/11. There is nothing you can do to prepare for it except to put yourself in the right frame of mind for writing it. You will have fifteen minutes to read the sources and forty minutes to write the essay. During the reading period, you may take notes and organize the essay, but you may not begin writing the essay. After the essay, we will discuss the argumentative essay on Thomas Paine and America.
On Wednesday, May 2 (day 3; second block), you will write both a rhetorical analysis essay and an argumentative essay. Be sure to arrive early for class so you have the benefit of the full eighty minutes.
On Friday, May 4 (day 5, first block), you will complete another hour-long set of multiple-choice questions.
