OVERVIEW

Your task is to compose an essay that summarizes and responds to either Rich’s essay or McIntosh’s essay. Your summary should provide an accurate, objective account of the writer’s main claim, supporting ideas, and pertinent examples. In your response, you will join the conversation through reflection on the topic or critique of the writer’s argument.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Your task is to compose an essay in which you summarize either Rich’s argument about claiming an education or McIntosh’s argument about how white privilege shows up and functions. What is Rich’s or McIntosh’s main claim? What are Rich’s or McIntosh’s supporting ideas and most important examples?

After you summarize Rich’s or McIntosh’s argument, you should respond to it by writing yourself into the essay you chose. Imagine yourself as someone who talks with Rich about education and gender or with McIntosh about race and privilege, explaining your own relationship with these subjects or how you have observed others in relation to these subjects. How do your personal experiences reflect Rich’s or McIntosh’s observations?

Alternatively, how might they counter, complicate, or build on what Rich or McIntosh has to say? Your task is to look at your experience in the way that Rich or McIntosh would, to notice what either of them would notice, to connect your experiences to the theories and topics that each of them considers. To do this, you should include specific and detailed examples as evidence in your essay.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the requirements outlined above:
Your essay should be at least 1,000 words long, though well-developed essays may be longer.
Your essay should follow the procedures for summary and paraphrase that we have practiced in class.
Your essay should include at least one direct quotation, properly formatted according to MLA guidelines.
Your essay should include a works cited entry for the reading selection you summarize, formatted according to MLA guidelines.

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