White Privilege, White Poverty: Reckoning with Class and Race in America
Overview
This assignment calls for you to write a critical essay in response to one of the readings provided on Bb in full text. See bibliographic info to these essays below. The essay needs to be between 750 and 1000 words and should reflect careful thought, writing, and attention to form. Going over 1000 word limit is ok.
Writing Your Essay
The analysis essay is a form of expository prose, a kind of writing in which you argue several points. The topic of your analysis is your critical response to the ideas in one of the articles. To begin, examine several or all essays attached to this assignment (Blacksher & Valles, Buchanan, DiAngelo, Tatum) and then decide on the one to which you will respond. Then, reread the chosen article several times, noting the thesis and the subpoints in the reading. You can also note aspects of style that affect the strengths and weaknesses in the article, and how well the article develops its main and subpoints. You may need to do additional research about each of the authors before you begin formulating your analysis. For example, learn more about DiAngelo's arguments by researching other works by this author or by locating other sources on white fragility concept.
You then need to formulate your critical response to the article. Consider whether you agree with the main point, the persuasiveness of the arguments, the arrangement of the subpoints (organization), clarity, the intellectual level of the writing, emotional and/or logical appeals, and the writing style.
Then begin to outline your essay, deciding on your thesis, and the supporting subpoints you will develop. Consider also how you will organize your essay. It is usually best to begin with an introduction in which you seek the reader’s attention, state your thesis, and preview the subpoints. Then, develop your subpoints which will be the main the body of your essay. Finally, plan a conclusion that restates your thesis, reviews the subpoints (briefly), and ends with an effective closing. You will probably need to revise your outline several times, and keep going back to the article.
Once you have a good outline, begin writing your essay. It is recommended that you write several drafts and take time between each one in order to effectively refine your essay. Although your audience is the professor in COM 332, consider that, overall, you are addressing a college educated reader. Strive for clear organization, clarity, and developing 2-3 subpoints in support of your thesis. You need to show whether you agree with the thesis in the article, and explain the basis for your agreement (or disagreement).
Additional Research Required
To support your analysis, you must cite at least 2 scholarly sources. These have to be in addition to sources you read as part of the course. So citing course readings is strongly suggested but will not count towards the 2 source requirement.
White Privilege, White Poverty: Reckoning with Class and Race in America
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White Privilege, White Poverty: Reckoning with Class and Race in America
In the landscape of American sociological discourse, "White Privilege, White Poverty: Reckoning with Class and Race in America" by Erika Blacksher and Sean A. Valles emerges as a compelling contribution that undertakes a deconstruction of the interplay between racial privilege and economic deprivation. The authors, drawing from their respective fields of sociology and philosophy, navigate discussions surrounding racial and economic inequalities. Their work is characterized by a theoretical framework, allowing for an exploration of the coexistence and co-dependence of white privilege and white poverty. Through an examination of this text, this critical analysis aims to assess the essay’s intellectuality, examining its strengths, such as the comprehensive support and persuasive argumentation. It also acknowledges its limitations, including the need for greater specificity and improved accessibility.
An important aspect of the essay is its thesis that focuses on the interplay between race and class, unraveling the complexities that often elude mainstream discourse. Authors Erika Blacksher and Sean A. Valles challenge the prevailing oversimplified narratives that have long held sway in discussions surrounding racial and socioeconomic disparities in the United States. Their argument reveals that white privilege and white poverty are major aspects of social structure. This assertion necessitates an examination that the conventional perspective these phenomena not as mutually exclusive categories but as co-dependent elements within a broader framework of structural inequality (Bridges, 2019). As such, the authors focus on concepts that compels the reader to move beyond distinctions and embrace a comprehension of power dynamics It also motivates an individual to focus on historical legacies, and systemic structures that contribute to the perpetuation of racial and economic disparities (Blacksher & Valles, 2021). In this exploration, the authors reveal sociological landscapes, drawing from an expansive intellectual reservoir in sociology and philosophy. Erika Blacksher and Sean A. Valles bring a wealth of experience and expertise to this topic. Blacksher's work in the fields of sociology and public health lends credibility to her contributions, while Valles, a philosopher with a focus on bioethics and social justice, brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective. Their backgrounds make them well-qualified to talk about the complex issues addressed in the essay. By critically deconstructing and rebuilding the narrative surrounding white privilege and white poverty, Blacksher and Valles challenge their readers to engage with a complex conceptual framework, ultimately urging a reevalu...