Wise Essay Assignment and Due Dates

Tim Wise Essay Assignment and Due Dates

In each essay this semester include three citations from Wise: 1 block quote, 1 in-text citation, and 1 free paraphrase. (3 for the entire essay which should be between 3-4 pages long, not including the works cited page.)

The essays this semester are to be typed. Please include an outline with the essay. Read 1 scholarly article on the theme: "privilege." You do not have to cite it, include it in the bibliography section of your essay.

Use the 3-part thesis to develop the thesis for this essay. (See handout). The three part thesis is the complete thesis vs. the open thesis (WLTC 81).

Find a scholarly article to augment your research on "privilege." Ask the librarian for the password for the library database. Email this article to yourself as well for Tuesday.

This is a Definition Essay. Choose one question to write the essay.

Essay Questions

1. The word "privilege" is used multiple times in Tim Wise's book White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son. How does the author define the word and what examples does he use to support his claim that privilege is not earned, it is inherited, that privilege by its very nature, like capitalism, means there is a clear divide between those that have and those who have not?

2. Choose 3-5 salient arguments which illustrate the point that one's "privilege" affects all aspects of one's life. If one is among the "anointed" then life is good, if not, what then according to Wise?

3. Look at Wise's writing: style, tone, language used or diction. Analyze his examples used to illustrate his definition of privilege--describe their variety. One student looked at privilege in education and how privilege effected a child’s self-esteem and academic achievement. Identify other themes. Who is Wise’s audience? What are the strengths of his argument(s), what if any are its weaknesses?

4. Wise uses his life to illustrate "privilege." Describe how he does this and its effectiveness.

Use Writing Assignment 10 (Part 1 & 2) in WLTC to help with this essay assignment, specifically (124-126). Also read the essays on pages 127-128. The definition is the focal point of the essay. Include the title of the book and its author in the introduction.

The essay is due Tuesday, March 15, 2011 via Internet. We will meet in A-232. The final draft is due Thursday, March 17, 2011. I’d like a printed copy and an emailed copy. Make sure you paste the essay in the email and identify the assignment.