Antelope Valley College

English 100—Essay #4 Topics

A. Berkley 

1.  Fear, self-interest, pride often move us to act (or fail to act) in ways that conflict with our moral or ethical values, revealing a selfishness or weakness of character that shames us.  To maintain our public image or some measure of dignity, we find excuses and “explanations” for our behavior.  Show how this tendency expresses itself in at least two of the essays we read (Gansberg, Orwell, Ericsson, Galbraith).

2.  People often act with greater cruelty or indifference to the suffering of others when acting as a group (sometimes called “mob psychology”).  Show how this operates, using specific examples from the readings (Gansberg, Orwell, Jackson).   

3.  The common belief is that politicians (as well as others who set out to persuade us) lie.  Whether this is true or not in the individual case, we are ready to believe it because of their use of words chosen for their emotional associations (connotations) to justify unpopular or unfair policies to the voters.  They claim that policies “maintain old traditions,” “ protect the public” from potential dangers, or are the “will of the people” when they seek support, and describe them as burdensome when they wish to encourage the public’s opposition.  Analyze this practice or tendency, using examples from the readings to support your points.

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.