Mr. Chase
Room 213
Change Agent Essay Assignment – “Norma Rae”
Directions: Write a well-organized essay that includes an introduction, several
paragraphs, and a conclusion. Use evidence from the document(s) and media in the body
of the essay. When organizing your essay, it is best to devote one or more paragraph for
each document. Support your response with relevant facts, examples, and details from the
document/media. Also, include “outside” information, examples, and evidence to support
your response whenever possible. Remember to avoid using the word “I” when writing in
the first person.
Task: Professor Bill Coplin states in Chapter 12 of his text “…conquer your fears of
rejection, ignore the apathy of the world around you, and fight for a better community, a
better America, and a better world…Change agents always start small but end up large.
You can too.” In your essay you will discuss, the text by Bill Coplin, an excerpt from a
speech, “What’s Your Life’s Blueprint” by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the movie
“Norma Rae”. You will explain how each document relates to the concepts of change
and justice and how the characters; Norma Rae and Rueben each exemplify the qualities
and characteristics of a change agent.
Begin your response with a quote from an outside source that introduces a central theme,
issue, or idea of the film “Norma Rae”.
2nd paragraph - explain the meaning of the Martin Luther King speech and discuss how it
relates to the film “Norma Rae” and to the essay themes of change and justice. Please
refer to specific characters and include specific scenes and movie dialogue to support
your answer.
3rd paragraph - explain how change agent rule #1 Face Down Fear is portrayed in the
movie. Please refer to specific characters and include specific scenes and movie dialogue
to support your answer.
4th paragraph - explain how change agent rule #2 Use Different Change Agent Styles is
portrayed in the movie. Please refer to specific characters and include specific scenes and
movie dialogue to support your answer.
5th paragraph - explain how change agent rule #3 Recognize and Overcome the Forces
of “Foolish Freedom” is portrayed in the movie. Please refer to specific characters and
include specific scenes and movie dialogue to support your answer.
In your conclusion, discuss the importance of change agents in our society. Also describe
and discuss a specific need or problem in your school, local community or State and
explain what you have done in the past and/or what you are prepared to do now, to raise
awareness and help remedy the situation.
"Don't allow anybody to pull you so low as to
make you hate them. Don't allow anybody to
cause you to lose your self-respect to the point
that you do not struggle for justice---how ever
young you are. You have a responsibility to seek
to make your nation a better nation in which to
live. You have a responsibility to seek to make
life better for everybody. And so you must be
involved in the struggle for freedom and justice."
"What's Your Life's Blueprint", address by Martin Luther King, Jr. to
students of Barrett High School in Philadelphia, PA.