Prompt

Write a 2,000-3,000 word essay that presents and develops a cohesive argument about at least one element from A Memory Called Empire. Elements include: character, setting, plot structure, point of view, motif/theme, or concept. You may write about more than one element (e.g. if you write about a theme, you will most likely use evidence about one or more characters and/or settings and/or plot points that relate to that theme).

Edit to add: yes, the minimum word count has been lowered to 1,500 words.

A successful essay will present, develop, and support an arguable claim about how and why you are analyzing the novel. Analysis is an act of interpretation, which is a form of argument. Provide evidence to support your analysis and convince your readers that your analysis is persuasive. Body paragraphs should include clear, substantive analysis of evidence as well as explanations about why those details and your analysis support your main argument. Concrete details include passages (aka quotes), dialog, character, plot, epigraphs, theme, etc. Smoothly integrate evidence by embedding quotes and unpacking their deeper layers of meaning.

You must move beyond a denotative reading (e.g. surface) and persuade your audience that your interpretation of connotations (e.g. subsurface, subtext) is compelling. The body paragraphs and conclusion should also endeavor to answer the so what? question. In other words, why is it important that we read your analysis? What insights are you offering, and why do they matter? Spoiler alert: your insights DO matter, so practice articulating your insights and explaining the reasons why your insights matter. See the section below for some tips about developing significance.

Potential Topics

You all have permission to design your own topic based on at least one element from the novel without getting approval first. If youd like to pursue that option, here are some questions to consider:

• What topic in the novel interests you the most? Following the directions up above, analyze at least one element in the novel by focusing on a topic of your choice. Try to build from the conversations that we are having in this class. Please feel free to ask for feedback on your topic via e-mail or during class and office hours.

Other potential topics (we can add to this list as our class conversations about the novel progress):

• How is the concept of the barbarian portrayed in the novel, and why is that important?
• How is the concept of empire portrayed in the novel, and why is that important?
• How is the concept of identity explored in the novel, and why is that important?
• Some possible subtopics include the concept of the self in relation to imago machines/memory lines as well as the concept of the self in relation to the Other. Many scholars have defined what Otherness means, but one super simplified definition is that we often define ourselves by creating an us versus them dynamic. The Other is a fictional category that becomes a container for everything that is not us.
• How is one characters journey portrayed in the novel, and why is that important?

Note: if your analysis engages with concepts of race, gender, sexuality, and/or other identity categories, please use the readings from The Signs of Life to help you talk about those identity categories.

Reminder: No AI Allowed at Any Stage of the Writing Process

Make sure you form your own analysis instead of relying on an AI to brainstorm or develop ideas. I recommend brainstorming on your own with just your class notes and the assigned readings for help. If you get stuck, ask questions in class, or visit Student Meeting/Office Hours, or go to the ARC.

Additional Requirements

• 2000-3000
• Original essay title that is related to your analysis
• Analysis of concrete details from A Memory Called Empire with proper citations.
• You may choose to conduct outside research if needed, but make sure you cite carefully.
• MLA formatting
• Correct grammar, syntax, and punctuation
• Works Cited page

Tips on How to Answer the So What? Question

There are multiple ways to develop significance. Here are some questions to help you generate ideas. You do not need to answer all of these questions.

• Sometimes significance is personal (what something means to you).
• Sometimes significance is about the text (for example, why is a certain characters arc important for analyzing the novel as a whole? Or, what does focusing on one theme help us understand about the novel as a whole?).
• Sometimes significance is about a shift in genre expectations, which sometimes relate to larger trends or concerns in our society.
• Sometimes significance is about what the text demonstrates about American culture. How can analyzing details from the novel help you make a larger claim about an American cultural myth or value? Perhaps youre interested in an enduring myth, or maybe youll be asking: what does it mean to read this novel now in 2026?

Tips for Analyzing Novels

• Keep practicing the semiotic method. Remember that words are also signs with denotations and connotations. Use the practice weve done all quarter to help you select and analyze relevant concrete details from the novel.
• Well be reading selections from Digging into Literature, which you can access through the Bedford Bookshelf subscription or through the Rivera Library Course Reserves. Feel free to read beyond the assigned sections as you select and develop your topic.

Make a summary of this for studying, i need to make an essay for the exam in a way that It is clear and good explained all

Counter-Narrative Essaypainting of a woman with outstretched arms Introduction In this unit, we are moving from personal storytelling into more formal analysis and academic writing. In the previous unit, you wrote a personal identity essay that reflected on your own experience and voice. This time, you will engage with the voices of other writers, analyzing how their work functions as a counter-narrative. Counter-narratives are stories that resist, complicate, or challenge dominant cultural ideas. They give voice to marginalized experiences, expose hidden truths, and reframe how we understand identity, community, and history. As Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie reminds us in her TED Talk The Danger of a Single Story, stories are powerfulthey can limit and distort our perceptions, but they can also expand our understanding and humanize others. We will be reading a set of short works in this module that embody counter-narrative strategies: Alice Walker, In Search of Our Mothers Gardens Celebrates the overlooked artistry and creativity of Black women, redefining cultural inheritance and resistance. Gloria Anzalda, How to Tame a Wild Tongue Challenges the silencing of non-English languages and highlights linguistic and cultural survival. Junot Daz, Aguantando Recounts a Dominican boys struggles with poverty, migration, and family separation, challenging mainstream immigrant success stories and exposing the emotional costs of diaspora. Thomas King, Borders Uses the story of a mother and son at a border crossing to critique national identity, colonialism, and Indigenous sovereignty. Nancy Mairs, On Being a Cripple Reclaims the word cripple and redefines disability from the inside out. Tim OBrien, The Things They Carried Blends fiction and memoir to reveal the psychological burdens of Vietnam War soldiers, complicating patriotic and heroic war narratives. Each of these works takes something familiar and unsettles it, showing us what is hidden, overlooked, or silenced in dominant stories. Assignment Write a 57 page academic essay (double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font) in which you analyze one of the texts above as a counter-narrative. Alternately, you may also choose to analyze your own counter-narrative if the essay you wrote for Essay #1 fits the definition of a counter-narrative. Your essay should: Define what a counter-narrative is (in your own words, building on our course discussions). Summarize the text briefly (no more than one paragraph). Identify the dominant narrative the text challenges. Analyze how the author complicates, resists, or redefines that narrative. Use at least two direct quotations from the text to support your points. Demonstrate clear academic writing conventions: thesis, topic sentences, organization, and MLA formatting. Alternative Option: You may instead choose a short text either from the previous unit (your personal identity / reflective essay module) or another short work of your own choosing, provided you can persuasively argue that it functions as a counter-narrative. Getting Started: Steps for Success Review the Assignment Prompt Carefully reread the full instructions above. Highlight or take notes on the key requirements: length, purpose, and the focus on counter-narratives. Choose Your Text Select one of the readings from this module: Walker, Anzalda, Mairs, Daz, King, or OBrien. Alternatively, if you prefer, you may choose a short story from the previous Identity / Reflective Essay unit or another text of your own choosing including your own Essay #1 (but make sure it works as a counter-narrative). Before you decide, skim through your notes or reread the story/essay to see which one interests you most. Reread with Purpose As you reread your chosen text, underline or annotate passages that seem to resist, challenge, or complicate dominant ideas or stereotypes. Write a quick note in the margins: What stereotype or cultural assumption is being challenged here? Draft a Working Thesis Write 12 sentences that answer: How is this text a counter-narrative? What dominant story does it challenge, and how? This doesnt need to be perfect yet its a starting point for your argument. Gather Evidence Choose at least two direct quotes from the text that you will analyze closely. Summarize key parts of the story in your own words, but keep the focus on your argument. Outline Your Essay Draft a simple structure (Intro Summary Analysis Conclusion). Jot down bullet points for what you want to say in each section. Write Your Introduction Start with a hook (a question, quote, or short reflection on why stories matter). Define counter-narrative in your own words. Introduce your chosen text and author. End with your thesis statement. Draft the Body Paragraphs Begin each paragraph with a clear topic sentence. Provide context, quotes, and analysis. Connect each point back to your thesis. Conclude Strongly Reflect on why the counter-narrative you analyzed matters today. Consider the bigger cultural, social, or historical issues your text raises. Revise and Edit After drafting, reread your essay aloud to catch awkward phrasing. Check formatting: 5+ pages, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font. Proofread for grammar, spelling, and MLA-style citations. Sample Outline Introduction Begin with a hook: an idea, question, or striking quotation from one of our readings. Define counter-narrative in your own words. Introduce your chosen text. End with a clear thesis statement: How does this text act as a counter-narrative, and why is it significant? Body Paragraphs (6 or more paragraphs) Summary Paragraph (short): Introduce the texts central story or argument. Context Paragraph: Identify the dominant narrative it resists (e.g., war as heroic, assimilation as progress, disability as tragedy, etc.). Analysis Paragraphs (23): Quote directly from the text. Break down how specific details, images, or passages work to challenge the dominant narrative. Explain why these strategies matter. Connection Paragraph: Connect the text to a broader cultural or historical issue (for example, Adichies single story, or contemporary debates about representation, language, or identity). Conclusion Paragraph Return to your thesis in a new way. Reflect on the significance of counter-narratives in general: Why do we need them? End with a broader takeaway about literature, representation, or human understanding.

Please write about a strategic proposal to transition Pierce college from PC to Mac

Essay 2: Analyzing a Belief FINAL

Due Sunday by 11:59pm Points 100 Submitting a file upload File Types docx and pdf Available until Mar 16 at 11:59pm

NOTE: To turn in all essay assignments, you have to UPLOAD a Word Doc or PDF FILE to Canvas, which means your file needs to be downloaded to your computer and then uploaded to Canvas (as opposed to auto-turning in through Google Docs). If you upload a PDF, it needs to be a text-readable PDF and not an image PDF.

***As a reminder, if TurnItIn finds that your essay is over 25% plagiarized or uses AI (Grammarly counts as AI), you will receive a ZERO for the assignment.

Essay 2: Analyzing a Belief Assignment Guidelines

Rubric

Essay 2: Analysis of a Belief

Essay 2: Analysis of a Belief

Criteria Ratings Pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeThesis and Focus

Your essay must have a strong thesis statement that clearly explains:

1. What belief you originally had

2. What changed that belief

3. Why the change matters

Your essay should stay focused on this idea from beginning to end.

15 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeBrief Overview

1. Clear description of the belief

2. Background on family, culture, experiences, or environment

3. Shows how the belief shaped your behavior

15 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeUse of Research

Your research should:

1. Connect to your belief

2. Support your reflection

3. Be blended smoothly into your writing

Full credit looks like:

1. 13 relevant sources

2. Sources are quoted or paraphrased correctly

3. Research supports your point (not just dropped

10 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeTurning Point

1. Clear description of the moment

2. Explains why it mattered

3. Shows how it challenged the old belief

15 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReflection and Insight

You must explain:

1. What you learned

2. How you changed

3. Why it matters now

Full credit looks like:

1. Deep reflection, not just storytelling

2. Explains personal growth

3. Shows maturity and self-awareness

15 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeExamples

1. Clear, detailed examples

2. Examples connect to the belief

3. They support your main point

10 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeOrganization

Your essay should follow a clear structure:

Introduction

Background

Turning point

Reflection

Conclusion

Full credit looks like:

1. Smooth transitions

2. Paragraphs have clear focus

3. Ideas flow logically

10 pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeMechanics

1. Few or no grammar errors

2. Correct punctuation

3. MLA formatting

4. Professional tone

10 pts

Total Poi

continue on with this essay What is love? Many say bring people closer together with this kind of connection, but what happens when you have the opposite of love. Indifference not hatred, indifference is more dangerous than the act of hatred towards someone. What is indifference, and how the victim sees others after experiencing indifference. One person’s voice can make a difference for the victim both in bad and good ways. To start off indifference by definition is to not show, or feeling no interest. In Elie Wiesel’s “The Perils of Indifference” Speech he says What is indifference? Etymologically, the word means no difference. A strange and unnatural state in which the lines blur between light and darkness, dusk and dawn, crime and punishment, cruelty and compassion, good and evil. In that quote he asks where is that line we draw between hate and indifference. Indifference can be worse than hatred as it can be easier to forgive someone if they were to act on hatred than if someone acted on indifference because hatred happens with emotions but indifference is a lack of emotions. Now continuing on how the victims live or even survive after experiencing hatred, indifference, or unjust. There are times when indifference happens like the WWI and WWII even slavery at times because people didn’t treat them as humans. There is so much injustice and suffering crying out for our attention: victims of hunger, of racism, and political persecution, writers and poets, prisoners in so many lands governed by the Left and by the Right.

Contrast facts on the top ending with their similarities