09 Jul Inequality for all

Topic #1:

The sources listed below all examine how the wealth gap (i.e., income inequality) affects the health of society. Using at least two of these sources as support for your thesis/essay (as well as one source of your own), write a paper in which you examine the wealth gap in the U.S. Note: this is not an economics-type essay. After reading and watching the sources, you would explain to the reader why you think inequality is hurting people in this country. You might think about why the situation is unfair from your perspective. This is the one I chose

Here are some questions to help you get started (and your responses could be the focus of body paragraphs):

• What are the causes of the wealth gap?
• What policies/ideologies/systems that have contributed to the wealth gap?
• What effects does the growing wealth gap have on our well-being and the well-being of those around us and the society that we live in?
• How does the wealth gap limit people? How does the wealth gap prevent people from buying what they need?
• What are some possible policies that could be adopted or strengthened to help solve the problems caused by the wealth gap/income inequality?

Sources (use at least two): 

• Inequality for All (You will find this film in our current module)
• “Radiolab Presents: On the Media: Busted: America’s Poverty Myths”: 
• “It’s More than Racism: Isabel Wilkerson Explains America’s ‘Caste’ System”: 
• Richard Wilkinson’s “How Economic Inequality Harms Societies”:  
• And–one source of your choice.

• Requirements:

  • This essay should be approximately 4 pages longand more than 5 paragraphs.  In my class, if you are shooting for an A, you should go above and beyond the call of duty, so to speak, and stretch out beyond 4 pages for this paper.
  • You will use quotes/paraphrases from the sources as evidence to back up your claims.
  • This essay should include quotes from at least two (preferably three) of the sources connected to your topic.
  • You also need to bring in one or two outside source(s) of your choice.  
  • All sources must be documented following MLA guidelines (See info on quotations, in-text citations, quote integration later on in this unit).
  • This paper needs a works cited page.  Please review the works cited information (This will come later in the unit).
  • According to MLA guidelines, your paper should be double-spaced and in Times New Roman (12 font).