Paper #2: The Nature of Success: due Monday, Feb.28th!

NOTE: The Conference Schedule is in the post BELOW this one...

English 1213/Paper #2: The Nature of Success

A “Conversation Paper” is a paper that introduces your audience to a conversation going on in our society, and brings in other voices (sources) to discuss it along with your own. To truly understand why a topic matters, we need to see several sides of the story, and we need you to guide us through it, helping us see which side/argument has the most validity, in your opinion.

For this paper, I want you to have the conversation: what does it mean to be successful in our society vs. what do I think it means to be successful? As you try to write this paper, consider some of the following ideas:

• What do you think it means to be successful according to society? Where do we see this (shows, movies, ads, etc.)?
• Is success based more on comfort or happiness? Does one lead to another?
• Is there only one way? Or are there multiple theories?
• What unique challenges does your generation face in becoming successful? Why is it different for you?
• How do older people define it vs. younger people? What advice might older people give you (esp. in 49 Up?).
• What ‘bad advice’ does our society give about success? Hw do we know its bad?
• Who are your role models in finding success today? What did they do at your age, or what are they doing at your age?
• Is college the key to success in our society? Or does it no longer work like it’s supposed to? Is anything a guaranteed ticket to success?

REQUIREMENTS

• Use Humans of New York as one of your sources, citing 2-3 people in the book as support. Discuss how their pictures and stories help us understand the nature of success in our society.
• Find 2-3 other sources that help you discuss any of the above questions (or related ones). You can use ideas and people in 49 Up, or you can find articles, websites, or other films/shows to help support your ideas. But remember, you need to show evidence of how we define it, challenge it, and what you’re responding to.
• At least 4 pages, double spaced (though you can write more!). Remember, you’re trying to introduce your readers to this subject, explain the different views and ideas, and persuade them of your view. You’ll need several pages to do this correctly.
• DUE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28^th BY 5pm