3 . 2 6 . 1 4

E s s a y # 2 : S o m e t h i n g t o B e l i e v e I n A t t h i s p o i n t , w e a r e w e l l i n t o The Autobiography of Malcolm X, w h i c h d o c u m e n t s t h e m a n y h i g h s a n d l o w s o f h i s s h o r t l i f e , r i g h t u p t o h i s u n t i m e l y d e a t h . A l t h o u g h s e v e r a l t h e m e s a n d i s s u e s a r e p r e s e n t e d t o t h e r e a d e r s , r e l i g i o n a n d s p i r i t u a l i t y a r e c o n s t a n t s t h r o u g h o u t t h e b o o k . W e k n o w t h a t M a l c o l m w a s b o r n i n t o a r e l i g i o u s h o u s e h o l d , w i t h h i s f a t h e r s e r v i n g a s a t r a v e l i n g p r e a c h e r a n d e a r l y c i v i l r i g h t s a c t i v i s t . H o w e v e r , w e a l s o k n o w t h a t , e v e n a s a y o u n g b u t k e e n l y a w a r e y o u n g b o y , M a l c o l m n e v e r f e l t a c o n n e c t i o n t o t h e C h r i s t i a n f a i t h t h a t h e g r e w u p a r o u n d . I n f a c t , a t o n e p o i n t a s a y o u n g m a n , h e c o n s i d e r e d h i m s e l f t o b e a t h e i s t . N e v e r t h e l e s s , M a l c o l m w a s o b s e r v a n t a b o u t r e l i g i o n a n d i t s e f f e c t o n p e o p l e , p a r t i c u l a r l y A f r i c a n A m e r i c a n s , a n d w e k n o w t h a t h e l a t e r e x p e r i e n c e s a r e l i g i o u s a n d s p i r i t u a l c o n v e r s i o n , w h i c h h a s a p r o f o u n d i m p a c t o n h i s l i f e . W i t h t h a t i n m i n d , how important is religion, or belief in a higher power, for individual people or humankind as a whole? Is it necessary? If so (or if not), why? Can a person believe in a higher power or a higher cause, without being religious? Why is (or isn't) this necessary? ,

Those are just some questions to help you get started. You do not have to (and should not) answer or address all of them in your essay.

Remember, in order to have focus and clarity in your essay, you need to think about the topic, the question(s) asked and then decide what your views are on this issue. After you are clear about where you stand on this subject, then you should begin to construct your argument.

Notes: 1. All essays (drafts and final essays) must be typed.

a . 1 i n c h m a r g i n s o n a l l s i d e s b . D o u b l e s p a c e d c . 1 2 p o i n t , T i m e s N e w R o m a n o r A r i a l f o n t d . Y o u r n a m e , m y n a m e , t h e c l a s s t i t l e a n d t h e d a t e i n t h e u p p e r , l e f t c o r n e r .

2. E s s a y s must contain: a . F i v e ( 5 ) p a r a g r a p h s b . A t h e s i s s t a t e m e n t , p l u s t h r e e ( 3 ) s u p p o r t i n g p o i n t s c . 2-3 short quotes from the book. S e e m e i f y o u h a v e q u e s t i o n s . d . a Works Cited page

3. Read aloud and proofread vour essav before submitting it. 4. Submit your essay in the proper envelope ( a n 8 1 ^ x 1 1 , l e t t e r s i z e d ,

m a n i l a / b r o w n p a p e r e n v e l o p e ) .

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Dates to Keep In Mind:

W e d n e s d a y , 3 . 2 6 . 1 4 B e g i n e s s a y i n c l a s s

M o n d a y , 3 . 3 1 . 1 4 B r i n g i n a d r a f t o f y o u r e n t i r e e s s a y f o r p e e r e d i t i n g (3 copies)

W e d n e s d a y , 4 . 2 . 1 4 F i n a l d r a f t , p l u s a l l o t h e r d r a f t s a n d p e e r c o m m e n t s d u e

Online Essay Writing Help: h t t p : / / o w l . e n g l i s h . p u r d u e . e d u / o w l / r e s o u r c e / 6 5 8 / 0 1 /

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