Essay Assignment
For the final essay you will take one of Bradbury's points about our society in Fahrenheit 451 and agree or
disagree with it in your thesis. The rest of your paper should support your view. You should use at least three
outside sources as support.
Example Points for Agreement or Disagreement:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Television is dominated by poor quality content and it is hurting Americans.
Americans do not have time for solitary thought because they are too distracted.
Americans vote based on superficial qualities of candidates and very limited understanding of issues.
Advertisement is everywhere and it is a pernicious white-noise that crowds quality information.
Americans are alienated from each other because of distracting and isolating technologies (Ipods/video
games/television/cellphones/the Internet).
The news does not report on the most important issues but is pandering to its audience who prefers
spectacle over the meaningful.
Censorship in the 21st Century America is the result of complaining special interest groups not the
government.
Americans are deeply depressed because they are saturated in sensation not meaning.
Example Theses:
1.
Though many believe that television is dominated by brain-numbing tripe, it is actually
full of quality programing; even the so called trash-programs (reality TV shows, game shows,
soap operas) can teach us something meaningful about human relationships.
2.
Americans are completely isolated from each other because of their obsession with
creating their own perfect virtual worlds through the new technologies available to them.
3-4 pages
12 point Times New Roman font
Double-spaced
One-inch margins
Time line:
Outline due 5/12
Revised Outline for In-class Draft 5/14
First Draft due for peer review 5/19 (must be typed)
Final Draft due 5/28