Essay #2: Power

Part II of the course, Power, extends from March 11 through April 8, in which we examine Power and Class, Power and Racism, and Power, Sexism, and Heterosexism. Your essay on Part II is due the following week, April 15.

The first essay asked you to examine your identity, thus a backward glance, in terms of the pivots of Social Issues: class, ethnicity, and gender. In this essay, we look beyond our own personal experience to explore the larger social context.

Virginia Cyrus begins the section of her book on Power with the following quotation:

Power in its simplest sense means the ability to do, act, think, and behave as we like, to have control over our own lives. Because we are members of society as well as individuals, however, there are substantial restrictions on our ability to exercise this kind of personal power. (161)

Please compose a coherent essay of 4 or 5 double-spaced pages (no smaller than 10 point font) explaining how power has impacted the live's of others, as indicated in the readings. Your goals here are:

Provide a coherent analysis of power as built into American society, using Cyrus, the films, and the class discussions.
Demonstrate a competent working grasp of the readings.

The essay must make at least two references to articles assigned in each of the three sections of Part II of the course, at least six references in all. Your essay should convey a sense of your having contemplated the topic and your having gathered substance from the readings. You must extend beyond your own personal experience and opinions and show a grasp of the reading material of the course. You can use article and page numbers to reference your citations. For example, a reference to housing violence might be simply: (#66, 251).

Your essay counts as 15% of your final grade and will be assessed on these criteria.

Depth: The richness of understanding conveyed.
Content: The substance contained, including the referencing of readings

We will discuss this assignment in class on April 1. Good luck.