English 151: Diagnostic Essay

Name: ____________________________

Instructions:

• In our class on ____________ we will be writing an In-Class Writing Diagnostic Essay.

• Whenever we begin the process of learning, it is important to gauge where we are in order to better support, learn, and evolve our skills. In this in-class writing diagnostic, you will be responding to the writing prompt or your choice below. This will give both of us an idea of where your strengths are as a writer and inform how I can best support your learning within this course.

• You will be able to write your essay by hand. Do not use the Internet during writing. Do not use your mobile phone or any other electronic devices during the writing. Electronic translators cannot be used; you may bring a print dictionary.

• Your goal is to select one of the writing prompts below and provide a clear argument, at least three points in support of your argument, and ethically and clearly incorporate two (2) quotes and/or paraphrases from one (1) of the articles matched to each Essay Prompt listed below, or from a research source of your own choice. You must acknowledge your use of the research source.

• Use the spaces below to write down any notes and ideas for your essay, or write down your two (2) chosen quotes and/or paraphrases from the articles.

• You will not be able to bring in any other notes besides this assignment sheet; you are allowed to bring in a PRINTED copy of your chosen research source.

Essay Prompts to choose from:

1. Yes or no, and why: parents should lie to their children about Santa Claus existing.

• Eleanor Cummins, “Should parents lie to kids about Santa Claus? We asked the experts”, Popular Science https://www.popsci.com/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-santa-claus

• Ana Swanson, “What psychologists really think about you lying to your kids about Santa” The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/ 2016/12/21/whether-you-should-worry-about-lying-to-your-kids-about-santa-according-to-psychologists/?utm_term=.d6bc2b2223a2

• Yes or no, and why: Film roles previously played by white males, such as James Bond, should be recast with women or non-white actors.

• Tim Stanley, “The name’s not Jane Bond: why 007 can never be a woman” The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/05/25/the-names-not-jane-bond-why-007-can-never-be-a-woman/

• Catherine Shoard, “Jane Bond is just James in a frock. We need a new heroine” The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/25/jane-bond-james-heroine-gillian-anderson

• Yes or no, and why: Online death threats against public figures must be treated as serious criminal acts.

• Brian Busby, “Wanting Justin Trudeau Dead” The Walrus https://thewalrus.ca/wanting-justin-trudeau-dead/ (WARNING: CONTAINS OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE. IF YOU

PREFER NOT TO READ SUCH LANGUAGE, PLEASE AVOID)

• Rhiannon Russell, “Threats or Jokes” The Walrus https://thewalrus.ca/threats-or-jokes/

• Yes or no, and why: Male politicians with facial hair are not trustworthy.

• Dirk Olin, “In Politics, the Mustache Is the Kiss of Death”, The Los Angeles Times http:// articles.latimes.com/1988-10-31/local/me-469_1_facial-hair

• Justin Peters, “Lincoln Had One. So Did Uncle Sam.” Slate.com http://www.slate.com/ articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/04/ beards_in_politics_there_hasn_t_been_a_bearded_major_party_presidential_nominee_in _almost_100_years_why_.html

• Yes or no, and why: Social media activism actually makes citizens lazy and disengaged.

• Noah Berlatsky, “Hashtag Activism Isn’t a Cop-Out”, The Atlantic https:// www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/01/not-just-hashtag-activism-why-social-media-matters-to-protestors/384215/

• American University, “Hashtag activism can effect real-world change”, Phys.org https:// phys.org/news/2016-03-hashtag-effect-real-world.html

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