Write a formal research essay in response to one of the topics below (in bold): · Is Toni Morrison’s (1993) essay, “The Bird Is in Your Hands,” relevant today in 2023? Morrison foregrounds concern about language including racist language, sexist language, “faux media”; what social activist groups are happening today in 2023 that we can relate to themes in her essay? . . . How “power” (“agency”) is exercised in and through language . . . · Seriousness is ruined without laughter’s companionship. Analyze one or two political cartoons of your choice from newspapers and/or magazines (i.e., The New Yorker). This is a straightforward instruction. The cartoon published in the course reader touches on the state of this today regarding decency in discourse (Flake), critical thinking, individual autonomy (Camus), and notions of power and how that power is exercised (agency in Morrison, speaking truth to power in Pinter & Chomsky) . . . The challenge here is to be critical, and to close read (analyze) the ad through a critical lens. Here Berger among others can help. How does the ad support and reaffirm his analysis? · What makes an effective publicity image or commercial advertisement? Consider ones you have seen and how they affected you. The above approach to the political cartoon can work with this topic . . . · What constitutes a civilized community? What constitutes a civilized community? Pinter asks, “what has happened to our shared responsibilities to others? Is all this dead?” . . . Camus’s essay can be useful here; Mills’s “The Mass Society” can be of use; and Morrison’s . . . Define civility, etc., consider its etymological (root) meaning and use this opportunity to assert an argument for or on the nature of a civilized community today . . . Create a unique title for the essay topic you choose. You must consult secondary sources; include at least six secondary critical sources (three of your sources must be journal articles). In addition to secondary sources, you must also include relevant sources cited in the Course Reader pdf. Make the paragraph the unit of composition. Use the active voice. Make definite statements. Avoid tame, colourless, hesitating, noncommittal language. Use definite, specific, concrete language. Omit needless words. Avoid Wiki entries unless you scroll down to the reference section to find credible sources. Scholarly dictionary entries, though important, do not count as secondary sources. Avoid section headings in formal papersMake sure you define terms (i.e., the power of language – what do you mean by power?) Regarding the topic about effective ads—be sure to focus & concentrate on “how” the image sells the product or object · Avoid contractions in formal papers—“can’t”, “won’t”, “isn’t”, “doesn’t,” etc—always write out the word · Avoid embellishing—i.e., “Camus’s amazing essay explores the remarkable role of great writers”; instead, just state it plainly and concisely—“Camus’s essay explores the role of the writer” . . . · A sound approach in your essay’s opening first paragraph is to foreground the overall meaning and significance of the primary text that you are exploring. Often, this takes several sentences, not just one. You can also foreground the principal points and ideas that the essay explores. Then, in paragraphs that follow, you can comment and elaborate in your own words and language with some direct reference to the text to support and contextualize your summary. · Avoid this construction, In John Berger’s “Ways of Seeing,” he writes . . . · An easy revision is this, John Berger, in “Ways of Seeing,” writes . . . · Lastly, essay titles should be concise & precise & contextual. I have attached sample research essay, course reader and some reference resources, feel free to use them.
