MAJOR ESSAY ASSIGNMENT ONE:
The Engaged Citizen
QUESTION: What does it mean to be a good citizen of a democratic nation?
The passage into adulthood, which many of you have recently made (at least legally),
marks a passage into a realm where the question of citizenship becomes more important
that it might have been to you as a minor, living under your parents’ roof and rules.
Certain questions arise: What are your rights as a citizen. Do you have certain
responsibilities to others, or to your community? What political and social issues must
you pay attention to? Is there ever a time when a good citizen should break the law?
These are just a few of the things you might want to think about.
Write a 1,250 word (minimum) essay in which, based on your own experience and the
essays we have read, you define for yourself what it means to be a good citizen in a
democratic nation.
READINGS:
“The Roots of Debate in Education” by Deborah Tannen
“Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King, Jr.
“American Dreamer” by Bharati Mukherjee
“The Oblivious Empire” by Mark Hertsgaard
“The Moral Obligations of Living in a Democratic Society” by Cornel West
CRITERIA FOR YOUR ESSAY:
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begin with an anecdote—a short story that captures the readers’ interest
make clear to the reader what you think are the major characteristics of a good
citizen
explain why you believe these traits to be most important
give concrete examples to support your definition
quote or paraphrase from at lest two the essay’s we have read (or from other
outside sources) to support your claims
avoid misspellings and grammatical errors
entertain your readers by telling them something compelling, something that
isn’t so obvious, something they might not have thought about
conclude the essay in a way that gives the readers something important to
think about after they have put your essay down
MAJOR ESSAY ASSIGNMENTTWO:
The Citizen and the Consumer
Question: Have we given up the role of the citizen for that of the consumer?
In the United States today, the word “consumer” has become seemingly synonymous
with the word “citizen.” Conduct an inquiry into contemporary American culture. Look at
your own experience, situations you have observed (field work), and formal research.
Look around you—at your friends, your family, strangers going about their daily lives.
Let your analysis lead you to answer the following question: Have we given up the role
of citizen for that of consumer? This simple question begs several other questions that
you might want to consider in your analysis: Where do you see signs that citizenship is
still alive, and where do you see signs that it has weakened? And if it has been weakened,
what, if anything, does our “consumer culture” have to do with this process? Do you
think we have become to consumer-driven to be good citizens? Have we abandoned the
public good for personal gratification?
Write a 1,250 word (minimum) essay in which inquiry and analysis of multiple sources
and multiple viewpoints leads to your conclusion.
READING:
“Educated Student: Global Citizen or Global Consumer” by Benjamin Barber
“Why Americans Are So Restless in the Midst of Their Prosperity” by Alexis de
Tocqueville
“The Conundrum of Consumption” by Alan Thein Durning
“The Oblivious Empire” by Mark Hertsgaard
“On Dumpster Diving” by Lars Eighner
CRITERIA FOR YOUR ESSAY:
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establish for the reader what is at stake—why he or she should care about your
inquiry
evaluate different forms of evidence that will lead to your conclusion
vary the ways in which you cite that evidence, using direct quote, paraphrase
and summary
make sure that your body paragraphs contain both evidence for your inquiry
and your own critical analysis of that evidence.
bring in at least two outside sources as evidence
use effective transitions between your body paragraphs
avoid misspellings and grammatical errors
conclude the essay in a way that gives the readers something important to
think about after they have put your essay down
MAJOR ESSAY ASSIGNMENT THREE:
Finding Sustainable Solutions
Barbara Kingsolver write: “Globally speaking, I belong to the 20 percent of the world’s
population—and chances are you do, too—that uses 67 percent of the planet’s resources
and generates 73 percent of its pollution and waste. This doesn’t make me proud. U.S.
citizens by ourselves, comprising just 5 percent of the world’s people, use a quarter of its
fuels. An average American gobbles up the goods that would support thirty citizens of
India.”
Focus on one particular aspect of American consumption—food, energy, material goods,
waste, gas/oil—and propose a solution for how we might better use this resource to
become more responsible global citizens.
READING:
“Six Cents an Hour” by Sydney Shanberg
“Lily’s Chicken” by Barbara Kingsolver
“The Whole Horse,” by Wendell Berry
Within the essay, you must, in terms of content:
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demonstrate that there is a problem connected with the way we as Americans
comsume this resources; use plenty of facts, statistics, examples
explain what you believe to be the causes of the problem
based on existing models, along with your own ideas, propose a solution to
this problem; the solution may involve the actions of individuals,
communities, corporations, or countries—it’s up to you to decide
And in terms of style:
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make sure your body paragraphs are unified and fully developed around one
main point, using a combination of reasoning and evidence
vary the forms of evidence you use as well as the ways—direct quote,
summary, paraphrase—you cite that evidence
avoid comma slices, sentence fragments, misspellings
use smooth transitions between paragraphs
insert commas after introductory phrases
ALTERNATE MAJOR ESSAY ASSIGNMENT THREE:
Service Learning Project
Barbara Kingsolver write: “Globally speaking, I belong to the 20 percent of the world’s
population—and chances are you do, too—that uses 67 percent of the planet’s resources
and generates 73 percent of its pollution and waste. This doesn’t make me proud. U.S.
citizens by ourselves, comprising just 5 percent of the world’s people, use a quarter of its
fuels. An average American gobbles up the goods that would support thirty citizens of
India.”
Focus on one particular aspect of American consumption—food, energy, material goods,
waste, coal, gas/oil. This may be a project you undertake on your own, or you may decide
to work in collaboration with other class members. You can also create your own project,
but you are strongly encouraged to work with organization that already exist on campus
or in the community. Such organizations include:
UK Student Volunteer Center
(www.uky.edu/VolunteerCenter/pages/svcprograms/stag):
Bluegrass Partnership for a Green Community
(www.uky.edu/sustainability/greencities): This new coalition is working to preserve
the “quality of life” in Lexington by reducing waste and pollution and encouraging
conservation. The contact person at UK is Carol Hanley (chanley@uky.edu). BPGC
has established nine teams set up to address separate concerns. Each team represents a
promising opportunity for projects involving a writing class. The teams are as
follows:
Energy Efficient Buildings: develop a proposal for reduced energy consumption on
campus. Contact Larry Porter at larry.porter@kctcs.edu
Transportation: Promote and expand the use of biodiesel and promote student use
and understanding of public transportation. Contact Shane Tedder at
dstedd0@uky.edu
Education: develop and implement workshops for teachers related to sustainability.
Contact Maxine Rudder at Maxine@kentuckypride.conm
Purchasing: develop purchasing agreements that connect local growers with local
restaurants. Contact Charlie Milward at cmilward@lfucg.com
Sustainable Food: create and maintain community gardens. Contact Sue Weant at
msdweant@aol.com
Reduce/Reuse/Recycle: Organize recycling programs. Contact Tom Webb at
tomw@lfucg.com
Water/Storm water: Develop awareness of the importance of protecting local
watersheds. Contact Amanda Abnee Gumbert at Amanda.gumbert@uky.edu
Outreach and Communication: Promote BPGC projects and initiatives. Contact
Anna Hoover at anna.hoover@uky.edu
Greenspace: Projects have not yet been identified. Contact Cindy Deitz at
cdeitz@lfucg.com
Jim Krupa (bio149@uky.edu) is the caretaker of the Matthews Garden at the
corner of Washington St. and Limestone. This is a wild, woodland garden that is
home to over 1,800 native plants and trees. It is, in the phraseology of landscape
architecture, an “urban wild,” probably the most biologically diverse acre in
Lexington. Many potential issues arise: the nature/culture divide, the importance of
biodiversity, natural vs. manmade landscapes, the potential for the garden to become
a Law School parking lot.
Kentucky River Watershed Watch monitors streams and rivers throughout the
state, testing their quality and compiling data. Its membership focuses water quality
monitoring and improvement efforts within the Kentucky River Basin. The basin
extends over much of the central and eastern portions of the state and is home to
approximately 710,000 Kentuckians. The watershed includes all or parts of 42
counties and drains over 7,000 square miles, with a tributary network of more than
15,000 miles.
Sustainable Communities Network is a local coordinator of many projects
concerning education and sustainability. Jim Embry heads it up (Jgembr0@cs.com).
Some of SCN’s initiatives include the following.
Youth GreenCorps is a new grassroots initiative that seeks to engage local youth in
environmental, horticultural and artistic service-learning projects. These include
working with urban gardens, planting trees, creating art installations, distribute
compact fluorescent bulbs, and more. (www.sustainlex.org).
Quality Food Lunch Program at Booker T. Washington Academy: Students
grown their own food and plan lunch menus in the classic mode of John Dewey’s
Laboratory School at the University of Chicago.
Stella’s Restaurant on Jefferson Street, is a new lunch place dedicated to buying
local, organically grown food. Started by UK alumni, Stella’s lives out the philosophy
that Barbara Kingsolver articulates in “Lily’s Chickens.” Owners Les Miller and Paul
Holbrook are committed to working to help UK students better understand the politics
of food and the need for Americans to eat more responsibly.
Bluegrass PRIDE (www.bluegrasspride.com) promotes “personal responsibility in a
desirable environment.”
Kentucky Clean Fuel Coalition (www.kentuckycleanfuels.org). Directed by Melissa
Howell (502-452-9152), KCFC seeks to improve air quality and support economic
development across Kentucky by promoting the use of clean fuels.
The Kentucky Conference for Community and Justice (www.jccjky.org) offers
opportunities to explore service learning projects related to fairness and human rights.
You or a group of you will conduct a service learning project that will work at the local
level, either on campus or in the community, to begin solving this problem. You will
spend a minimum of 10 hours working on the project, and extra-credit will be allotted for
projects that require more than 10 hours.
READING:
“Six Cents an Hour” by Sydney Shanberg
“Lily’s Chicken” by Barbara Kingsolver
“The Whole Horse,” by Wendell Berry
In a 10-page essay, you will do the following:
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describe why you chose this particular project: what did you see that needed
changing?
do some research and put the problem you are working to solve in a larger, cultural
context: does this problem exist in other cities or on other campuses?
describe in detail your experience working on this project
do some research and compare your project to others like it in other parts of the
country
analyze how successful you think your project was (it is alright if it doesn’t turn out
as you had planned; making the effort is what counts)
explore and explain what you have learned while working on this project
make a proposal for how others could undertake a similar project or how it could be
extended into a larger project
And in terms of style:





make sure your body paragraphs are unified and fully developed around one
main point, using a combination of reasoning and evidence
vary the forms of evidence you use as well as the ways—direct quote,
summary, paraphrase—you cite that evidence
avoid comma slices, sentence fragments, misspellings
use smooth transitions between paragraphs
insert commas after introductory phrases
MAJOR ESSAY ASSIGNMENT FOUR:
The Dissenting Citizen
Question: When, if ever, is it morally acceptable and necessary to break the law?
Consider the tradition of civil disobedience in this country by looking at some of the
well-known essays in The Engaged Citizen. Then do some research into an act of civil
disobedience, or a movement involving civil disobedience, in which people your age
played a significant role. Analyze how these protesters followed in, or veered away from,
the teachings of Henry David Thoreau, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Terry Tempest
Williams. Then decide whether you think their acts were successful and whether you
think they were morally justified in breaking the law, or in other ways disturbing the
peace.
READINGS:
“Civil Disobedience,” Henry David Thoreau
“Letter From Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King, Jr.
“The Perils of Obedience,” Stanley Milgram
“Clan of the One-Breasted Women,” Terry Tempest Williams
“Moving Mountains,” Erik Reece
CRITERIA FOR YOUR ESSAY:








establish for the reader what is at stake—why he or she should care about your
inquiry
evaluate different forms of evidence that will lead to your conclusion
vary the ways in which you cite that evidence, using direct quote, paraphrase
and summary
make sure that your body paragraphs contain both evidence for your inquiry
and your own critical analysis of that evidence.
bring in at least two outside sources as evidence
use effective transitions between your body paragraphs
avoid misspellings and grammatical errors
conclude the essay in a way that gives the readers something important to
think about after they have put your essay down