Find an ethical issue which occurred within the last year or find an ethical issue faced by a fictional character.

TITLE – type the name of the person or article title and the philosophy you are applying.

Example – President Bush – Kant

If you use an article be sure your article was published within the last year.

 

• SUMMARIZE – In paragraph one give a summary of the article/person/character, in case I am not familiar with them.

• ETHICAL ISSUE – State the ethical issue that person faced – Use proper format – Make it bold print and a SHOULD QUESTION.

• APPLICATION – Using the steps outlined in your text, apply each step of Kantian Ethics to the situation. Fully show your application.  
  
•     CONCLUSION (last step in the application) – Choose the best option. If that person were a true Kantian  – what would that person have done. What would the Kantian theory say is the morally right or best thing to do?

• See the sample format below

 

SAMPLE FORMAT – Apply Kantian Ethics 

• What should X do about ________________?

  1.     List possible options.  

  Options

  1.    X could ____________________________________.

  2.    X could ____________________________________.

  3.    X could ____________________________________.

  4.    X could ____________________________________.

   

  Apply Categorical Imperative/Universality

  1.    X could ____________________________________.  Would I want all people, consistently, universally to _____________________?  Yes

   

  Apply universality to all of the options. 

  Apply Respect (to remaining options) Is X exploiting someone (using someone for her own benefit)

  1.    X could ____________________________________.  Is X exploiting anyone (using someone as a means to an end for her own gain)?  No (so this is a good option)

   

  Apply respect to all of the options. 

  Conclusion – If X were a Kantian she could use options 1, 3 or 4 (or some combination of all three if necessary).

  
  

 

Kate Chopin’s Story of an Hour and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper are both great stories that show they were trying to prove that they were more human than women. Both of these stories are personifications of feminist literature. Therefore, I feel that in each story each author was trying to break away from this and prove that they were more human than women. In each story, masculinity/femininity is presented in the characters and their actions and through these presentations, the concept of stereotypes are either endorsed or destabilized. In Chopin’s The Story of an Hour, the main character, Mrs.Mallard, is knowledgeable of the right way for women to behave, her thoughts, emotions and feelings, however are in contrast not so conventional. From the story’s beginning, she is introduced as Mrs.Mallard and referred to as “she” for most of the account. This anonymity and namelessness placed on her symbolizes the loss of individuality and identity of women that patriarchy seeks to keep intact. It is not until paragraph 16 of the story that the reader learns her name. It is when she stated that she has become “Free! Body and soul free!” (Chopin, 1904/2013, pg.1610) that she is addressed by her own name, Louise. It is her sister, Josephine, who calls out to her using her Christian name, Louise, which proves to be the male form of Louis and similarly, Josephine’s name is the male form of Joseph. The irony of the names, reveal that even within a personal femininity the masculine agenda cannot be quelled and patriarchy rules are dominant. Mr. Mallard’s death gives Mrs.Mallard her liberation and frees her from her marriage. However, when she finds out her husband is not dead she soon passes away and this may be symbolic of her ultimate freedom from the strains of patriarchy. Parallel to this plot is Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper. This story portrays a female narrator who meets restriction by her husband from writing, because he disapproves of this desire. As Jane suffers from depression, he represses her creativity and imaginative skills through his efforts to “help” her. Jane states,” So I take phosphates or phosphites- whichever it is- and tonics, and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to “work” until I am well again” (Gilman, 1935/2013, pg.1670). His attempts at “helping” her prove to be futile and in turn portray his wife as a helpless child rather than a women in her own right; she is subdued and dependent. The narrator is trapped in a room surrounded by the yellow wallpaper and by the end of the story she strips off most of the wallpaper with the efforts of trying to find her true identity. I feel that both of these stories are trying to portray that the authors are more human than women because the concepts are both very similar and they both display the conflict of feminism. Both authors, in their own unique way, show that they are trying to break away from that stereotype and want to be considered more human. I think that Chopin and Gilman were both successful in proving their point.

As with most literary works, there are recurrent universal patterns in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Consider the definition of Mythological Criticism:

A central concept in mythological criticism is the archetype, a symbol, character, situation, or image that evokes a deep universal response. The idea of the archetype came into literary criticism from the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung. Jung believed that all individuals share a “collective unconscious,” a set of primal memories common to the human race, existing below each person’s conscious mind. Critic Joseph Campbell identified archetypal symbols and situations in literary works by demonstrated how similar mythic characters appear in virtually every culture on every continent.

For your 1000 word written analysis, you will track the progress of Harry Potter as a Hero Archetype. Please follow our Hero’s Quest Outline and fill in ALL 12 story steps (as listed below). There are no “right” answers to this assignment – follow your instincts and describe what you deem important and necessary!

You will need to write specific examples of Harry’s hero quest, so keep a pen and pad handy as you read the novel. Please refer to specific scenes, characters, events, changes of consciousness and/or circumstance. Please include at least five (5) quotes with page numbers!

As you venture through the novel, think about what makes Harry a hero: How does his special world compare to his ordinary world? What actions can be deemed heroic? Who are Harry’s teachers and guides? What is his quest? Does his quest change during the course of the novel? Who are his allies or enemies? What challenges or conflicts does Harry need to overcome? How does Harry fit the hero archetype?

Your grade will be based on the thoroughness of your analysis (if you successfully respond to all 12 story steps!), the strength of your quotes/examples, and your thoughtfulness and openmindedness! You may write more than the 1000 word minimum, but please keep your analysis under 1,500 words! Please write in paragraph form – do not post an outline!

To receive maximum credit, please post your analysis via our Turnitin link on our Moodle course page page PRIOR to the whole-class forum discussion. Good luck and enjoy!

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12 Story Steps To The Myth — Please Respond to All 12!!!

Act One

(1) Ordinary World – Something is missing in this world. It’s the hero or hera’s present, everyday situation. It’s described in order to create a contrast. A question is raised.

(2) Call To Adventure – information is put into the hero or hera’s system, often brought by a messenger.

(3) Reluctant Hero or Hera

(4) Wise Old Person (most optional of steps) – Maybe gives message to trust the path.

Act Two

(5) Special World – Hero gets very committed by his will – or not.

(6) Tests, Allies & Enemies – Enmities and alliances are formed. What are the conditions to the quest? How will the hero react?

(7) Innermost Cave – Holds what the hero wants.

(8) Supreme Ordeal (at ¾ point in 2nd Act) – Hero surviving/transcending “death.”

(9) Seizing The Sword – Taking possession. Enjoying the spoils. But maybe something else chases the hero. Often a missing piece is introduced.

Act Three

(10) The Road Back

(11) Resurrection – Another hero’s test. Final proof – better if visual.

(12) Return with Elixir – To share with everyone.

 

Responding to Draft Feedback

 

 

 

 

 

	Prepare: Prior to completing this discussion, you will need to have written a literary analysis draft and have submitted it to review to the Ashford Writing Center.
	Reflect: Review the feedback you received from the Ashford Writing Center and consider how you will apply their suggestions as you develop your draft into a final literary analysis essay.
	Write: Your initial post must be 100-200 words in length and posted by Day 7. In your initial post, please do the following: State the tracking number beginning with “ntp” found at the top of your reviewed paper. Respond to the feedback by offering: A summary of what you learned from their comments; A three- to five-point plan of items you will address or revise for your final literary analysis; and Your thoughts on how you plan to use the services of the Ashford Writing Center in future courses.

 

 

 

Proofing Summary:

 

I’m Stacey, your composition tutor for the Writing Center. I have reviewed your submission and have several

 

suggestions that will help you revise. Please feel free to contact us through a live chat session with any follow-up

 

questions or for any clarification.

 

Below, you will find a revision plan along with margin comments within your paper. Use my suggestions as a starting

 

point for the revision process. Also, please note that I have not edited or proofread the entire draft for minor errors, but

 

rather, focused on overall concerns such as idea development. For a complete look at your grammar and punctuation,

 

please use the Grammarly software available under “Writing Center” in your classroom.

 

For your revisions, I suggest focusing on:

 

1. Prompt

 

Keep in mind that your paper is a literary analysis. A literary analysis

 

involves some summarization , but you should not write a report. A

 

literary analysis focuses on how plot/structure, character, setting, and

 

many other techniques are used by the author to create meaning. For more

 

help concerning the prompt, please see below:

 

Guiding Questions:

 

1. How do we know that the protagonist is impoverished? Is she content with her class? Why or why not?

 

2. How do we know that she is African-American? How does her alienation due to her race also connect with her education?

 

3. The protagonist’s daughter, Dee, who has embraced her African roots, accuses her mother of not understanding her

 

heritage. Why? What is the situational irony at the end of the story?

 

2. Thesis Statement

 

Make sure that you have a strong thesis statement at the end of your introduction. Your thesis statement should 1)

 

contain your debatable claim about the work, and 2) list the specific points you will develop to support your claim. See

 

the example below.

 

In “The Masque of the Red Death,” Poe uses the symbolism of the stranger, the clock, and the seventh room to develop

 

the theme of death

 

Based on the sample thesis, the first supporting paragraph will be about how death is symbolized by the stranger. The

 

second supporting paragraph will be about how death is symbolized by the clock. The third supporting paragraph will be

 

about how death is symbolized by the seventh room.

 

See this link for more information on thesis statements: https://awc.ashford.edu/essay-dev-thesis-statements.html

 

Good luck in your course, and I hope we can help you with your next assignment.

 

 

 

 

 

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                                                                   Everyday Use

 

Joann Smith

 

English 125 : Introduction to Literature

 

Lee Hornbrook

 

April 30, 2017

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                             

 

Everyday Use

 

Prompt: In some stories, characters come into conflict with the culture in which they live. Often, a character feels alienated in his/her community or society due to race, gender, class or ethnic background. The texts below all contain a character who is ‘outcast’ or otherwise disconnected from society in some way, reflecting important ideas about both the character and the surrounding society’s assumptions, morality, and values. Choose a text and consider the questions below as you critically read the text. Then, craft a working thesis that suggests how this alienation is expressed in the text and why it is significant.

 

Culture is the way of life of a group of people. These people have similar characteristics such as a common ancestry, geographical location or even religious beliefs. Culture governs all facets of our lives. It determines our worldview on various issues as well as our beliefs, attitudes and moral compass. Culture, therefore, bestows us our identity, and it is important that one retains their culture. Culture is an indispensable part of the human existence. It shapes our lives as well as our value systems and gives us our sense of identity and belonging (See, 1998). Alienation from our cultures makes us lose our sense of identity and belonging, as seen in the reading Everyday Use. As such, it is crucial that we uphold and retain our culture so as to preserve who we are.

 

Is this information from an outside source? If so, remember to include an in-text citation

 

Remember that short story titles are in quotation marks.

 

 

 

Remember that your thesis

 

statements should state a claim

 

(your opinion of the work) and

 

the reasons you feel your claim

 

is true.

 

 

 

 

 

Alienation causes us to lose the sense of our heritage and by doing so, makes us lose our identity. Dee is alienated from her heritage. She has sought to change her name from Dee to Wangero in a bid to honor her African roots (Walker & Christian, 1994). However, by doing so, she distances herself from the heritage of her family. The name Dee has been passed down for generations in her family, honoring the line of strong women that came before her and bestows her her identity (Gale, 2016). She believes that taking on the name Wangero makes her shun the sign of racism and abuse (Walker & Christian, 1994). However, she does not understand that it links her to the strong women that came before her. She is confused about her heritage and does not even understand the new culture that she is trying to adopt. The name Wangero is supposed to be Wangari, but she is not aware (Gale, 2016). In her search for emancipation and connection to her original culture, she loses her sense of heritage and by doing so loses her true identity.

 

Alienation causes us to lose one’s connection with the family. Culture helps us keep our connection with the family. Even with the worldly influences such as education, one’s culture help’s them to interact and feel the bond of family with members of their kin. Alienation from one’s culture causes a rift in one’s family relationships and leaves without the bond of family love. Dee is seen to be distant from her family. Maggie seems nervous and fidgety before and when Dee comes to the home. Mama has to hold her to prevent her from running into the house once Dee arrives (Walker & Christian, 1994). Dee had never appreciated her home and the way of life of her mother and sister. She causes discord once she asks for the quilts and tells them that they do not understand their heritage because they plan to use the quilts rather than preserving them. She urges Maggie to leave the simple life she lives as it is a new age for Black people (Walker & Christian, 1994). All this is because she is alienated from her culture. Her new ways intimidate her mother and sister, and her lack of appreciation of the quilts makes it an issue when she asks for them. Her education and materialistic nature do not allow her to understand the contentedness of her mother and sister in their simple life (Gale, 2016). This makes her not relate well with her family. Alienation has clearly affected the family ties in this family.

 

Is this a proper noun?

 

Do you need to show ownership here?

 

 

 

Alienation can also cause one to lose their understanding of their history, which is necessary for self-discovery. One’s history is essential to their life. It allows us to appreciate where we have come from and the achievements of those before us. It also impacts values that guide us on the road to self-discovery and self-improvement. Dee does not understand the history of her culture nor does she understand the history of her African roots. She does not appreciate that the quilts are living history that connects the user with the previous generations of strong women from the family (Walker & Christian, 1994). The quilts show the resilience of the family to face all obstacles and the achievements of the previous generations. By using them, one connects with these generations. Her African roots are also unclear to her, as is seen by her using the name Wangero, which is in fact supposed to be Wangari (Gale, 2016). Her alienation has made her unable to understand her heritage, and this denies her connection with her ancestors. She, therefore, remains in a state of limbo, unable to achieve self-discovery.

 

In conclusion, one’s culture is vital to their life. It allows one to know who they are and guides one’s life by offering essential value systems that will help them improve the quality of their lives in the future. Alienation causes the individual to lose one’s sense of heritage and consequently lose their identity. It also causes one to lose their connection with their family as well as lose their understanding of their history which is vital to the process of self-discovery. It is, therefore, paramount that one retains their culture. Culture is an indispensable part of the human existence. It shapes our lives as well as our value systems and gives us our sense of identity and belonging (See, 1998). Alienation from our cultures makes us lose our sense of identity and belonging, as seen in the reading Everyday Use. As such, it is crucial that we uphold and retain our culture so as to preserve who we are.

 

Good job on your conclusion. You do a good job of restating your thesis, summarizing your main points, and wrapping up

 

your paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

Gale, C. (2016). A Study Guide to Alice Walker’s Everyday Use. Farmington Hills: Gale, Cengage Learning.

 

See, L. (1998). Human behavior in the social environment from an African American perspective. New York: Haworth Press.

 

Walker, A. & Christian, B. (1994). Everyday use. New Brunswick, N.J: Rutgers University Press