Idol our culture collectively worships
For this writing project, write an argumentative paper in which you select one idol our culture collectively worships and argue if this is a positive or negative statement on society.
Instructions:
In David Foster Wallace’s speech, “This is Water,” Wallace speaks to Kenyon College graduates about how to critically approach the so-called “real world.” More specifically, our ability to choose is a common motif found in his speech—what and how we choose to think about our world. Wallace uses this premise to argue that people, whether religious or not, are always choosing something, someone, or some entity to worship. Worship of things like sex, greed, money, etc., thus becomes defining qualities of American culture, producing a nuanced representation of core values and beliefs.
For this writing project, write an argumentative paper in which you select one idol our culture collectively worships and argue if this is a positive or negative statement on society. Please keep in mind this paper is not a religion paper, nor is it a paper that defends or attacks the existence of polytheistic or monotheistic belief systems. Instead, try to focus on some of the secular idols that Wallace suggests and synthesize the results of your research in a clear and engaging way. To help strengthen your argument, you will incorporate at least 3 credible sources to help provide evidence supporting your argument. Be sure to evaluate all sides to the issue to develop a well-rounded position.
If you are the kind of writer that needs organizational guidance, refer to Chapters 13 & 38 in your textbook for an overview of how to organize a basic argument.
Helpful Tips:
• To be arguable, a position must reflect one of at least two points of view.
• A well-balanced argument discusses the other point of view and ultimately reasons why your point of view is stronger or better supported. This is called a rebuttal, and it involves intimately knowing your topic’s points of contention (major differing points).
