English 28 Researched Argument Assignment
Length: MLA format, double-spaced, excluding works cited page, four to five full pages.
Guidelines:
- You must integrate at least three quotes from three outside (not including our in-class readings) different sources with perfect parenthetical citations and accurate MLA works cited reference page. You should have a maximum of six outside sources. Aim to have a minimum of four and maximum of seven body paragraphs (six to nine paragraphs total, including introduction and conclusion).
- Remember 20:80 of ratio of evidence to development rule—a little goes a long way. You need to work on evaluating and interpreting exactly what evidence shows and proves to make it work for/service the points you are making.
- Look at general paper guidelines and Research Simplified text for proper citation.
Address one of the following prompts:
- Considering Persepolis, to what extent does religious freedom seem to impact other equalities for people under a government’s rule? For example, once the veil is required for women, how does this impact other freedoms for women? You must cite at least one example from Persepolis (a memoir, technically nonfiction) if you choose this prompt.
- Would forbidding wearing a burqa (full head-dress in which only a black screen permits the wearer to see out) be an infringement (contradiction) of equality, or does the burqa cross a line, which a government has a right to protect, in the interest of “providing for common defense?”
- Evaluate and interpret the current government of Ethiopia or Eretria. Do the political conditions seem to have improved or worsened (or a mixture of both) conditions for the average citizen in either of those countries?
- Research aspects of modern day health care in Ethiopia today and compare it with some aspects of American healthcare. What do you conclude based on those findings? Remember to interpret clearly, take a clear stand.
- Why do certain countries seem to be susceptible to violent coups (overthrows) of government while others do not? Discuss and research no more than three countries.
- In Persepolis, Marji experiences discrimination when she heads to Europe. Considering the social and historical circumstances, to what extent does racism seem to be a product of human nature (individual flaw) versus a socially engineered (peer pressure, etc) problem? Look at a concrete example from current history (last 25 years).
- Marji also wishes to eliminate social classes, but is that really possible? By bringing in some concrete evidence, evaluate whether that is indeed possible.
- Abandonment is a theme in both Cutting for Stone and Persepolis. Looking at least two different scenarios, consider the long time and or short term implications of abandonment development of children, with regard to socialization, academics, or interpersonal relationships (etc).
Persepolis shows how a little ten-year-old Iranian girl tries to understand communism versus a monarchy. Satrapi exclaims, “[M]y Grandpa was a communiss” (Satrapi 37 39)! Furthermore, AIDS, if controlled better, would result in significantly decreased infant mortality rates (Zuger). Satrapi admits:
All of the country’s money went into ridiculous celebration of the 2,500 years of dynasty and other frivolities…All of this to impress heads of state; the population couldn’t have cared less. I am so happy there is finally a revolution because the Shah…I’m hungry. I bought you some books. You’ll see why the people are revolting. She won’t tell me about Grandpa. (28)
This quote shows how much resentment there was toward the Shah’s flagrant displays of wealth to impress other countries. People were starving, but the Shah seemed more interested in the opinion of foreign leaders, and not even for the right kinds of things. (etc…--keep explaining until you conclude what this proves, clearly)
Works Cited
Forbes, Kristin J. “A Reassessment of the Relationship between Inequality and Growth.” The
American Economic Review, vol 90., no. 4. Google Scholar. Sept. 2000. Web. 10 May 2011.
Satrapi, Marjane. “The Veil.” The Complete Persepolis. Paris, France: Pantheon, 2003. (3-9).
Print.
Zuger, M.D., Abigail. “AIDS, at 25, Offers No Easy Answers.” The New York Times. 6 Jun.
2006. Web. 10 May 2011.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/06/health/06aids.html?scp=1&sq=zuger%20aids%
2025&st=csef>
