Essay Two

Heading:
Name
WRIT 1310-3
Ms. Tohline
Date Handed In

Typed, Double-spaced, preferably TNR 12 pt font
Minimum length - 1 1/2 pages
Focus: Content and description


Option One: Public Figure
For this option, choose a public figure whose image has changed over time, and discuss the two (or three or more) different ways that they have been seen. What changed about their appearance, their attitude, their speech, their actions, etc. to cause the public to view them differently? Your goal here is to show an understanding of how we INTERPRET public behavior and appearance – to show that certain details about an individual can change how they are understood by a viewing public. You can choose the details you want to focus on, but your descriptions should be clear and should paint a detailed picture of the person being analyzed, and the reasons behind your claims about that person.

Option Two: A Person Familiar to You
In this option, describe two (or more) sides of a person who is familiar to you in some way. Your goal here – much like above – is to examine the way that appearance, words, and actions are part of the impression a person creates. You might talk about someone who appeared one way when you first met them, then turned out to be different. Or, you might choose to discuss someone that you and another person saw differently (like the example of the Story of Miss M that we read in class Tuesday). You can choose the details you want to focus on, but your descriptions should be clear and should paint a detailed picture of the person being analyzed, and the reasons behind your claims about that person.
Option Three: Online Identities

For this option, you are studying the way we present ourselves in online forums. You can either
(a) Examine the way someone presents themselves online, and compare that to the person that they appear to be in a real-life situation OR
(b) If you’re feeling creative, invent a profile for a person – either real or imagined. In this case, you would use your essay to explain the choices that you make in the profile, and how those choices help to create the kind of identity you are attempting to manufacture
The goal here is to understand how, in an online world, we carefully control the details of our self-presentations in order to maintain a certain image. You can choose the details you want to focus on, but your descriptions should be clear and should paint a detailed picture of the person being analyzed, and the reasons behind your claims about that person.