Essay Prompt
Write an essay in which you synthesize the claims of 2 authors from Module 3 based on a common topic, illustrating how each author presents his/her argument or viewpoint, and examining how the authors’ viewpoints relate to one another.

Also in your essay, respond to the authors’ presented ideas with a reasoned, logical, and developed retort. In this section of your paper, it is appropriate to use first-person pronouns (see below for additional direction).

Choose two texts
“On Self-Respect” by Joan Didion, 1961 (pages 1-3)Linkshttps://yale.learningu.org/download/85e1ca3695ab0e000f2c8bf10be1a59d/S574_didion_respect.pdf
“Optimism Within” by Helen Keller, 1903Links https://www.gutenberg.org/files/31622/31622-h/31622-h.htm
“Self-Reliance”Links https://www.gutenberg.org/files/16643/16643-h/16643-h.htm#SELF-RELIANCE from Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1907
“Solitude” from Walden by Henry David Thoreau, 1854Links https://www.gutenberg.org/files/205/205-h/205-h.htm#chap06
“Man’s Rights” by Ayn Rand, 1963Links https://ari.aynrand.org/issues/government-and-business/individual-rights/pov-mans-rights-the-nature-of-government/
Main Goals for Synthesis/Response Essay
– Identify commonalities between two texts through close reading
– Develop an objective, arguable thesis statement that requires integration of sources in the essay
– Provide support for claims made by integrating Module 3 sources effectively
– Construct a coherent, reasoned, objective response to the sources synthesized
– Integrate 2 scholarly sources to support your claims/responses
– Write a minimum of 1100 words (excluding works cited page)
– Include a Works Cited page listing the source(s) used
– Use The Owl at Purdue website for MLA formatting instructions