ESSAY PROMPT:

In a 3–4-page paper, identify two passages that share a common theme focused on “mindfulness” or “meditation”, as introduced in “Enlightenment Engineer”.  You may expand the concept of “mindfulness” or “meditation” and need not stay anchored to the precise definition and application provided by Shachtman in “Enlightenment Engineer”.

Feel free to use quotes from “Enlightenment Engineer” and/or “Digital Natives”.  If you wish, one piece may be of your choosing (but not both).

Explore the ways that your chosen passage 1) conveys its theme, and 2) how this theme is similar and/or different from the other piece’s theme. 

Theme can be defined several different ways:

1. the message the author is trying to convey to the reader
2. the main idea of the work
3. the moral of the work

It may be helpful to review the chapters that we’ve read so far as well.

EVALUATION:

A significant portion of the evaluation of Essay #1 will hinge on the following two criteria:

1. A clear and effective thesis that drives and organizes your entire essay; your thesis statement should have at least two sub-points (see power-point link below for clarification).  For extra assistance in writing a thesis, I strongly encourage you to review and study the following information, found on-line:

http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/

2) the organization of your ideas into paragraphs with main ideas, and the organization of your paragraphs into a logical and cohesive argument. 

LATE WORK POLICY:

Assignments/Essays lose one letter grade each day they are late; after three (3) days, no late work will be accepted.  Consult syllabus for relevant due dates of rough draft and final submission.

FORMAT OF PAPERS:

1. All major assignments must be typed, double-spaced, and formatted according to MLA documentation styles.  Points will be deducted for failure to format you paper correctly.  MLA guidelines can be found in any writing handbook (i.e., The Writer’s Harbrace Handbook). 
2. You must use size 12 point font, Times New Roman (current font).
3. Use only black ink.
4. Use standard margins (roughly one inch from the top and bottom, and 1.25 inches from left and right).
5. Do not use a cover page or report cover.  Please head the first page of your assignment in the following manner (top left hand corner, double-spaced):

Your Name

Instructor—Dr. Taylor

English 1110

                   Date (Month, Day, Year)

          All subsequent pages should have the following header:  Taylor 2

          This header should be in the upper right corner of each page other than the first.