WRI 100 and HON 110: College Writing

Writing Sample Prompt A

In his 2018 New York Times article “The Fourth Great Awakening,” David Brooks offers a distinction between two forms of literature: myths and stories. Myths are stories set in a “timeless” world that contains supernatural creatures and heroes who must triumph over external forces. Parables are stories that take place in “normal time and reality,” and that generally feature “ordinary human characters” whose struggles are internal and concern questions of morality and human relationships.

Keeping this distinction in mind, please read the following excerpt from the Brooks article and respond to the questions below:

All of a sudden, we are surrounded by myth. As parable-based religion has receded from the public square, heroic myth, and the competitive virtues it celebrates, has rushed in to fill the space.

I’ll just mention three forms that are immensely popular today. The first is mythic movies: “Avengers,” “X-Men,” “Star Wars,” “Transformers,” “Justice League” and the rest. The Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Extended Universe franchises alone have grossed about $20 billion at the box office worldwide.

I regularly run into people (men, mostly) who are deeply immersed in these mythic worlds, who can entertain you with long disquisitions on the merits of different characters, the moral lessons of each film, whether “Black Panther,” say, is an accurate rendition of injustice today…

…There are many virtues to the mythic worldview — to stand heroically for justice, to be loyal to friends and fierce against foes. But history does offer some sobering lessons about societies that relied too heavily on the competitive virtues.

They tend to give short shrift to relationships, which depend on the fragile, intimate bonds of vulnerability, trust, compassion and selfless love. They tend to see life as an eternal competition between warring tribes. They tend to see the line between good and evil as running between groups, not, as in parable, down the middle of every human heart.

We’re spiritual creatures; our lives are shaped by the moral landscapes and ideals we inherit and absorb. I’d say our politics and our society are coming to resemble the competitive mythic ethos that is suddenly all around.

In response to this passage, write an essay in which you first explain what Brooks sees as the relationship between myth, parable, and society. What’s the connection between the types of stories as he defines them and what he sees as the new trend in “our politics and society”?

Then, argue whether you agree with his views, disagree with them, or accept them in part.

Organize your essay around a thesis that declares your central points, and offer supporting reasons, examples, and evidence for the claims that you make. Feel free to use examples from either your education or personal experience.

WRI 100 and HON 110: College Writing

Writing Sample Prompt B

Read the below passage, adapted from Marie Kondo’s 2016 New York Times essay “How to Choose Happiness”:

The Japanese word “tokimeku” means “to spark joy.” Someone who is adopting my method of tidying must take a possession of hers and ask: “Does this spark joy for me?” This question is the sole basis for choosing what things to keep in one’s home and what to discard.

But can we apply this notion of sparking joy on a larger scale?

We live in a disorganized and chaotic world, much of it outside our control. I read recently that more than 80 billion articles of clothing are produced each year, but only a negligible few are recycled. As people’s buying habits shift and technology moves most everything to the cloud, people have been valuing experiences over material things. Some have even pointed out that we may have reached a critical point in terms of mass consumption — we’ve reached peak stuff.

Though it sometimes may seem like our things are threatening to take over our world, we can focus our energy and determination on choosing what makes us happy, and ultimately change our lives. Asking ourselves whether something sparks joy seems like such a simple process — so simple that many people wonder whether it can really be effective. The strength of the “spark joy” standard, however, lies in its ambiguity.

Continually assessing whether the belongings in your life spark joy allows you to hone your judgment. Over time, your ability to identify what is worth keeping will extend from your home to your career to your relationships. You will be able to discern what makes you happiest and most contented in other aspects of your life.

I don’t mean to suggest that tidy homes full of satisfied people who act in accordance with what sparks joy will cure all of our planet’s ills. Yet I believe that people who are pleased with the course and direction of their lives and who have seen what their own determination can achieve can help create a kinder, better world.

Understanding and appreciating the concept of tokimeku in the midst of a confusing and disorderly world will allow us to clarify our ideals, and help us gain confidence in our ability to lead productive lives and develop a sense of responsibility to those around us. From there, we can act with focus and certainty while improving our lives and our beautiful — if still very messy — world.

In response to this passage, write an essay in which you first explain Kondo’s claims about tidying up one’s home and life. Then, argue whether you agree with her views, disagree with them, or accept them in part.

Organize your essay around a thesis that declares your central points, and offer supporting reasons, examples, and evidence for the claims that you make. Feel free to use examples from either your education or personal experience.