English 202 — Essay 3
The third essay should be 5-7 pages (double-spaced), and should address some question pertaining to Cory Doctorow's Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom or one of the short stories.
- Some possible topics are listed below (you are not limited to these topics, but I would like to know what other topics you are considering):
- What are the effects on society when death and scarcity disappear?
- Do you agree with Dan: is struggle necessary for real success?
- Why does Jules want to protect the Haunted Mansion? Do you agree with his motives?
- In what ways are the members of the Bitchun Society post- or trans-human? In what ways are they still human?
- Does Whuffie capture the essence of money, as Jules claims? If so, how? If not, why not?
- How does a reputation economy protect unpopular ideas?
- In what ways do the Internet and the WWW make use of reputation economies today? Consider, for example, Doctorow's decision to make his novels available for free online.
- What does "Craphound" suggest about technology?
- In what ways does "A Place So Foreign" create a post-human past?
No matter what topic you choose, you will need to develop a thesis, not merely compare or state a fact. You will need to support this thesis with examples from the text (or the film). Outside sources are not required for this essay, but if they are used they must be cited using MLA style.
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