English 380 Writing Assignment

Focus the Nation and Thoreau's Walden

Some student responses:

1. Fueling the Mind
2. Finding Focus
3. What difference does it make?
4. Design and Waste
5. Consumer Priorities
6. Focus the Nation (1)
7. Focus the Nation (2)

The Prompt:

Please study the Cal Poly Focus the Nation website to learn what this student-organized program is all about. For an extensive list of informational resources about the issues that concern Focus the Nation, explore this guide.

The assignment will count 10% of the grade.  The notes you take at the events can count for the week’s journal entries.

The essay is due Sunday February  3 at 6:00 p.m. as an email attachment sent to smarx@calpoly.edu

It should be between 750 and 1000 words.  It should relate some of the readings, especially the first chapter of Walden, to issues raised during Focus the Nation.

We will discuss this chapter and Bill McKibben’s introduction to it on January 30, the day before.  In addition to completing those two readings, explore McKibben’s website and the site called “Walden Warming.”

On January 31, attend at least one, and preferably more of the events and presentations on the schedule.  Consider selecting a presentation relevant to your major.  

Take notes in your journal—these can serve as the week’s entries.  In your essay include:

• description of the event, the audience, speakers, any dramatic moments, and your responses. 
• some discussion of  the two questions that Bill McKibben finds at the heart of Walden, questions which he claims are central to the search for solutions to the problems of Climate Change: “How much is enough?” (xii) and “How do I know what is my true desire?”(xv)
• agreement or disagreement with anything stated by McKibben, Thoreau or any of the speakers you hear at Focus the Nation supported with reasons