Name: __________________ Hour:____

The Individuals Manifesto: An Argumentative Essay We who inhabit the United States of America are faced with a daunting task: we hear phrases such as just be yourself on what seems an almost daily basis, and yet we still feel pressured to look a certain way, act a certain way, be a certain way. This is the paradox of American life, one of the central conflicts that we, the protagonists of the stories of our lives, are faced with. This is a paradox of modern America in both the macro- and microcosmic: this is the problem of all who feel alienated by their individuality in a civilization where the majority rules, where the opinion of the majority is held as right, where if you fall somewhere outside of the lines you can feel yourself and your nature as being inherently wrong. How, then, can we live up to our individual potentials and still be participants in a democracy that expects us to hold an opinion, vote, and thereby take responsibility for our society if even the slimmest majority disagrees with us? For the past several weeks, we have explored the ever-present and all-important concept of individuality. Moreover, we have explored individuality in the context of our modern American democracy. We have read Whitmans utopian idea of democracy in his poetry and essays; we have read about what Emerson contends is the highest form of American individuality; we have read a number of poems, short stories, and video clips that also deal with these ideas. All the while we were reading Ken Keseys One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. Taking what we have read, written, contemplated, and learned over the past several weeks, we must now collect all of the thoughts and notions that have been flying around our heads and put them in one place: an essay. A manifesto.

To prompt you, I pose these questions: What does it mean to be an individual in our society? How, in your opinion, can we maintain our true individuality in this society, and is it possible?
Your manifesto should answer both of these questions to the absolute best of your ability, because these questions, and more importantly your individual answers to them, are vital to our understanding of the world. Build upon the work already done by Kesey, Whitman, Emerson, and the other thinkers weve worked with in an attempt to bring us one step closer to an answer. In other words, pay homage to those who came before us and understand that they gave us the pens they used yesterday so that WE can use them today.

Your manifesto should: - Be 4-6 pages in length double spaced, 12pt. Times/Times New Roman Font, and include at least 5 intext citations from at least 3 different texts (adhere to MLA citation techniques) - you MUST cite Cuckoos Nest -provide an answer to both of the above prompt questions and back your claim(s) with textual evidence -be organized in such a way that your readers will be able to see clear relationships among your claim(s), counterclaim(s), and evidence. -include an introduction that introduces your claim(s), and a conclusion that follows from and supports your claim(s) -pay careful attention to organizational, mechanical, spelling, and grammatical issues throughout Name:_______________

Date:_______________ Rubric:

D-F

Student makes claim(s) Presentation and Student makes strong Student makes good claim(s)/counterclaim( claim(s)/counterclaim(s) and counterclaim(s), but Organization of s) that are fully that are supported and they are somewhat vague Claim(s)/Counterc supported, distinguishable; or not explained fully. laim(s) distinguishable, and somewhat lacking in Little attention is paid to thoughtful; ample and textual evidence and pertinent textual analysis, or more evidence and analysis attention needs to be are abundantly evident. focused on strength of claim(s)

Students claim(s) are very unclear or vague. Counterclaim(s) are either missing completely or are not distinguished from the strength of claim(s). No attention is claim(s)/counterclaim(s), paid to the strength of or more attention needs to either. be focused here.

Organization of Ideas

Essay is clear, logical, and flows extremely well. Student presents information in an exemplary, readable way. Students use of word choice, and transitional phrases enhances the readability of this paper.

Essay is mostly clear, Essay lacks clarity and logical, and flows focus. Information and reasonably well. ideas are presented in a Information and ideas way that is confusing to could be organized the reader. Varied word better to contribute to choice is attempted but readability. Word choice may need work; is somewhat varied and transitional phrases may transitional phrases are need work, or are not present but could use present. more attention.

Essay wholly lacks clarity and focus. Information and ideas are presented in a way that suggest no attention was paid to the reader. Word choice demonstrates little thought and/or transitional phrases are missing.

Paper Mechanics Students paper has no

Students paper may Students paper has a fair Students paper has many spelling or grammar have a few amount of spelling and/or spelling, grammar, and mistakes, is 4-6 pages spelling/grammar/mecha grammar mistakes that mechanical mistakes that in length (double nical mistakes, but the might inhibit readability. are distracting to the spaced), adheres to meaning is still clear. Paper might not meet reader and detract from MLA conventions, and Student cites at least 4 length requirement; paper the papers meaning. includes at least 5 texts in correct MLA might not meet citation Paper does not meet citations from at least 3 format, or 5 or more requirement by citing 0 - length requirement. Paper different texts. texts in incorrect MLA 3 texts, or citation format does not cite texts format. Paper meets does not adhere to MLA correctly, or, at all. minimum length standards. requirement (4 pages).

A Introduction/Con Student introduces claim in an intriguing clusion and thoughtful way in

D-F

Student introduces claim Student introduces claim, Student does not in the first paragraph. but not in the first introduce claim(s) in a Student concludes paper paragraph, or student way that is easily the first paragraph. in a summative introduces claim in the distinguishable to readers, Student concludes paragraph that brings first paragraph but the or is not present. paper with a ideas and claims claim is unclear. Students Students conclusion is summative paragraph together nicely. conclusion brings some either missing entirely, that bring their ideas ideas together but needs contradicts the claim(s), together nicely, and more attention; the take and/or does not attempt to prompts readers to away message is unclear tie all of the ideas continue thinking or vague. presented in the paper about the claim. together.