Cogito ergo sum—the essay or SPEECH
“Why I . . .” What do you do/like/think about, and why, or why not?
Your task is to write an analytical/explanatory/personal essay that will examine why you either do or do not do something, like something, or think about something. Your work will be evaluated according to its ability to convey a message clearly and succinctly. As this is a NONFICTION literature based essay, you may include your own examples but you are expected to incorporate facts and analysis from published sources. There is no page limit or to this 50-point writing adventure.
PHILOSOPHICAL LITERATURE
ESSAY -- Compare the journey that McCandless goes on to the journey in another novel or movie (you may use Waking Life). Compare not only the main character and his reasons for the journey, but how he changes, how the characters he encounters change or change him, and the obstacles encountered, and the lessons learned.
OR (over)
Your Philosophy of Life
ESSAY – Write an essay using at least three published articles on a topic, events from your life, people you’ve with whom you’ve agreed or disagreed, things you’ve heard or read, to illustrate how you developed a particular philosophy on up to three of the topics below. Include analogies to explain/illustrate theories. What is your philosophy of life? Consider: What do you value? What do you fear? What do you aspire to? What do your morals prohibit?
People
Right and Wrong
Crime and Punishment
Love/Hate
Heroes/Saviors/Idols
Money Sex Power
Material/Spiritual
Paradoxes
Conflict
God
Death
Most important things
Complications
Luck
Fate
Sin
The Devil
Urges
Regret
Guilt
Lust
Envy/Jealousy
Men/Women
Perversion
Pain
Trust
Lies
Joining/Quitting
Truth
Reality
Goals
Groups
Alienation
Desperation
Helplessness
Marriage
Career
Health
Vanity
Beauty
Desire
Resentment
Past, Present, Future
Religion
Denial
Violence
Reality
Illness
Weakness
Willpower
Faith
Logic, Emotion
Angels/Devils
Miracles
Accidents
Signs, Omens, Symbols
Animals
Racism
Law
Freedom
Self Destruction
Self-Love
Bitterness
Emptiness
Betrayal
Disregard/Neglect
Indifference
War/Peace
Murder/Birth
Nature
Cities
Poverty
Youth/Old Age
Modern Life
Destruction/Creation
Myths/Legends
Language
Civilization
Anarchy/Government
Intentions/ Results
Dreams
Philosophy
Society
History
Travel/Journeys
Learning/Growth
Stagnation
Oppression
Depression
Other:______