Antelope Valley College

English 100—Essay #2 Topics

A. Berkley

1.  During the years of the Black Liberation Movement, any African American who sought the approval of “whitey” was regarded with contempt and called “Uncle Tom.”  Examine two of the essays we read where the writer adopts a stance that is less militant than the traditional Black Liberation position and analyze and evaluate the behavior of these writers in response to racial issues.

2.  Some people only feel secure in the company of others who are of the same culture as themselves.  Others feel alienated from their roots and adopt “foreign” ways.  Select at     least two essays that attempt to confront this issue and compare and/or contrast their conclusions or the respective author’s ways of viewing this inclination.

  3.  Women today reject, and in some cases resent, the traditional roles they were expected to play.  Compare and contrast two essays from the readings in terms of the ways in which the authors responded to these traditional expectations. 

  4.  Some of the essays reflect a tendency in our culture to relegate menial or submissive roles to women or belittle the value of their occupations.  Select one of the following topics relating to this issue: a) Show how this tendency contributes to the continuing subordinate role of women.  b) How do the menial jobs performed by men in Sanders’ essay  impact them and why?

Suggestions and Guidelines

·        Brainstorm and cluster your ideas.  Save all pre-writing.

·        Limit and focus your topic so that it can be developed and main points be supported by relevant and specific examples and/or references.

·        Give your essay a clearly stated thesis that should appear somewhere within the first paragraph.

·        Your evidence need not be limited to the views and information provided by the readings assigned in class.  You may support your points with readings from outside sources or with personal experiences (if you can show that they are typical).

·        Your essay must include and cite material from at least two essays from the text unless otherwise stated in the topic and must be 2-3 pages in length.

·        Do not forget to include a “Works Cited” page at the end of the paper.  Use MLA style.