Race/Ethnic Background

Theory in the Flesh

 

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Purpose:

The goal of this writing assignment is to allow you another opportunity to reflect on an aspect of “culture” or “society” from the readings that have caused you some conflict, especially if you have not had time to respond to this particular issue during class discussion. This essay provides the space for confrontation and negotiation of your position within your culture.

 

Project Directions:

For your last essay, your task is to use your own experience and knowledge to investigate any critical issue that you experience both personally and politically. Writers like Cherrie Moraga and Gloria Anzaldua called it writing “theory in the flesh” while Carol Hanisch described it as “the personal is political.” Make sure to conduct some research as part of your essay in order to explore the “social reality” or “political” dimensions of the subject or experience you are describing. This research can include an interview with another person that has a similar experience, online or historical research on the subject, or even a survey if you are inclined to conduct one. Your essay should have at least threecrediblesources and one of the course readings. You may include snippets of your own poetry in the essay in the style of Lorde, Anzaldua, or Moraga.

You should use Lorde as your writing model. Imagine you need to present your essay to a group of people who don’t know or are misinformed about your issue. Her essay exemplifying Theory in the flesh can be seen here:

http://collectiveliberation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Lorde_The_Masters_Tools.pdf

You should include at least three well-cited and relevant sources in your paper. You should use one of the readings we have done in or out of class as a starting point, and you should integrate that outside text into your paper. You should use the MLA format for including quotes and a works cited page.

Your paper should explore the following:

“How do you feel about this issue personally?”

“How does the outside text address the issue? (in other words, what is the poems’ view of the issue and what does the poem try to say about the issue? What does the character in the text do? How does the character confront the issue? How does the issue affect the characters involved? (The way you use the outside text will depend on what text you are using and what you think about that text)

“What does the issue say about the culture?”

“How has your perspective of the issue changed or not?”

“How has the readings in class shaped your view of the issue compared to how the culture has shaped your view of the issue?”

Additionally, your paper should present an informative argument in that you will explore/explain a problem, then ARGUE for solutions or a new way of beginning to address the problem.

 

Criteria for Accepting Assignments

1) Students will turn in major project assignments to BOTH blackboard and MyReviewers, Essays that are turned in after the assigned due date will receive a grade penalty.

 

2) Be sure that all documents:

  • are typed;
  • use 12 point font size;
  • use Times New Roman font;
  • are double-spaced;
  • follow MLA style requirements for all other formatting issues (see the Purdue OWL for guidelines);
  • have been spell-checked and edited for grammar and syntax problems;
  • are properly uploaded as a WORD .doc or .docx or .pdf file (you can download Microsoft word for free by using your Lee College sign in at the Microsoft webpage).

 

(Assignments not uploaded as a WORD DOC or DOCX or PDF file will receive a zero and be ignored. In other words, absolutely no txt, zip, .pages, or other files are acceptable. If you need help formatting, come see me during office hours).

The essay should be 600-700 words long. Make sure to spend at least 3-4 hours writing at home. Spending an hour per page is very common plus an additional hour for revision.