Essay 3 – Fall 2021 – Racism and Identity in America

Due for peer review: 11/10
Final draft due:
Required Length: 850 words minimum
Sources: You must use at least 4 sources. More may be used if desired. At least 2 of those must be articles not discussed in class.
These essays must be written third person. This is because third person is the preferred academic format and you need to train yourself to eliminate all “yous” and personal pronouns of any sort. Maintain academic distance from your topic! The essay must be 850+ words. . You may write more than 850 words, but do not write less or your grade will be lowered. The amount of points lost will depend on how short the essay is and is at my discretion. Consider the following as a guideline: the amount of points deducted will not exceed the percentage of words missing from the required word count. If you wish to contest the amount deducted for length, you must email me a copy of your essay so that I can see the actual word count minus header and works cited.
Be sure to use textual references (this means actual quotations and/or paraphrases from the articles) to back up your ideas. Be sure your sources are reliable and remember that you may not use Wikipedia or blogs as sources. You must follow MLA format for in-text citation and the works cited page. Refer to your handbook for information on MLA citation. Please remember that failure to cite properly can result in a plagiarism charge. If you are having problems, ask me or visit the Learning Center for help. Not using sources or omitting the works cited page will result in a penalty of 10 points off the essay grade.
Choose one of these topics:
(1) Define diversity and discuss if America is really “diverse” or whether this a myth created to make society seem “Politically Correct”? Remember, this requires more than just an opinion. Use sources to support your ideas and do not use first person.
(2) When racism is discussed, it is usually done in relation to unfair treatment of African Americans. Are other groups, be they racial, ethnic, or religious, victims of discrimination and bias in America? To examine the problem closely, choose one group (other than African Americans) and examine the historical background and current situation of that group in America.
(3) How should schools approach teaching about politically or racially charged topics? Be sure to include three examples of “problematic” topics. For example, should they be avoided, approached in a politically correct way, or simply as a part of the social science curriculum? You can certainly offer any ideas you have on the subject, but remember to keep it academic. Be careful of personal bias and use of hyperbole (over-exaggeration).
Chose one of these three topics and write an argumentative using at least four sources to support your argument. Create a dialogue between you and the sources. Do this in a point by point format.