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Leslie D. Hannah Department of English University of Oklahoma
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Unit Four: Defeating or Defending an Accepted Truth The MACRO essay for this unit will deal heavily with the aspect of ethos. There will be no micro essays for this unit; instead, several in-class writings will take the place of the usual micro essays. During this unit, such things normally accepted as Truth will be challenged. Students shall either attempt to defend or defeat that accepted Truth. Capital "T" Truth is defined as a universal truth, one that everyone everywhere will accept as the absolute final word. Many theorists hold that there is no such thing as capital "T" Truth; however, many people of faith hold that there indeed is—the word of God. Yet, even these people of faith are in disagreement over what that Truth is. In the preliminary stages of this unit, we shall discuss and debate things usually accepted as Truth. The foundation of your very system of beliefs may be challenged. This is in no way an attempt to belittle anyone or their faith; rather, it is an attempt to show that not everyone sees the same event in the same way, and with that being understood Truth may indeed not exist. The MACRO essay for this unit will be a defense or defeat of the accepted Truth America landed a man on the moon. This MACRO essay shall require intensive research; a minimum of five sources is required. Of the five, only two may be Internet sources. This should be no problem as this is one of the most heavily documented events in world history. Think of your own high school history books. This chapter of American history has, perhaps, the most pages of any event. It is certainly one of the proudest moments in our nation’s past. However, there are many who contend that it is the most elaborate hoax ever concocted. These conspiracy theorists include people who once worked for NASA during the times of the Apollo moon missions—including astronauts. Readings for this unit include chapters 6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17 from the textbook, Writing Arguments 5th Edition. The MACRO ESSAY for this unit shall be 1,000 to 1,250 words in length and must have a minimum of five sources (only two Internet) with a proper MLA Works Cited page. Things accepted as Truth might include things along the lines of the following examples; many of these are taught as "Truth" in your high school history books. Truth - Helen Keller was a humanitarian. Challenge - Helen Keller was a radical socialist who joined the Socialist party, and she was a communist sympathizer. Truth - Woodrow Wilson was a great leader as America’s President. Challenge - Woodrow Wilson was a White supremacist who often told "darky" jokes while in cabinet meetings. [Leaving alone the now heavily debated theory that Christopher Columbus "discovered" America, Columbus is at the center of many other controversies, such as the following.] Truth - Christopher Columbus came to a tragic end: sick, penniless, and completely unaware that he had discovered a new world. Challenge - In 1499, Columbus made a major gold strike in Haiti. He forced thousands of natives to mine the gold. According to Columbus’ own journals, he died relatively well-off and fully aware that he had indeed discovered a new world. Truth - The country we know as the United States was settled by the Pilgrims in 1620. Challenge - The country we know as the United States was settled by aboriginal peoples approximately 30,000 B.C. Truth - Native Americans scalped people. Challenge - Native Americans had no concept of scalping until learning of it from White settlers who displayed the scalps as war trophies. Truth - A statue in front of the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan depicts Theodore Roosevelt astraddle of a horse leading his "children" into the future. Challenge - A statue in front of the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan depicts Theodore Roosevelt astraddle of a horse, a dominant figure to America’s inferior races. Truth - Andrew Jackson is America’s greatest military leader. Challenge - Andrew Jackson is to the American Indian what Adolph Hitler is to the Jew. Truth - The 2000 Oklahoma Sooners football team was a team of destiny. Challenge - The 2000 Oklahoma Sooners football team got lucky. |