PROFESSOR EWAN'S ENGLISH COURSES
"Read, read, read. Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window."
-William Faulkner
ESSAY: COVID-19
COVID-19 is a historic and alarming pandemic that is sweeping across the entire world and wreaking havoc on healthcare systems and financial markets. Meanwhile, the virus is impacting our own personal lives in a myriad of ways. Seemingly overnight, unemployment is exploding, students are forced to stay home, and hospitals are deeply concerned about their ability to handle an influx of patients. The response from many of America’s political leaders, however, too often appears inconsistent, divided, and uncertain. Needless to say, these are difficult times for not just this country, but for the entire world.
It’s important to remember that this pandemic is impacting every nation and every individual therein. Not one country nor person is completely alone in this mess. We have a problem. As a result of COVID-19, we are seeing an increasing amount of anxiety, confusion, suffering and death. We can sit here until the end of time asking questions and finger-pointing: Who started this virus? Why did it spread so quickly? Why didn’t so-and-so respond more aggressively to stopping the spread? Maybe these are important questions for many of you, and that’s fair. There should obviously be accountability for this, both here in America and on the national stage. But as of right now, I think many of you will agree that it’s far more important for the world to focus on SOLUTIONS rather than PROBLEMS.
These are unprecedented times that call for creative and critical thinking, and that is where you come in. At this point in the course, you’ve learned how to construct a thesis statement with carefully crafted arguments. You’ve learned how to substantiate your arguments with comprehensive research, quoting data and evidence from the world’s best thinkers. Many of you are impressive and thoughtful burgeoning scholars who will one day, not so far from now, go on to serve our nation in a variety of ways, from running essential businesses to serving on the frontlines of our healthcare system. Now, more than ever, the world needs to hear your thoughts and opinions. In summary, we need your SOLUTIONS to this problem.
WRITING PROMPT: SOLVE A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
The globalization assignment asked you to consider a part of American society that you feel can possibly be improved, research how other countries have addressed this topic or issue, and then make suggestions on how America can improve on this issue by adopting some of the practices of the country (or countries) you researched. This assignment is asking you to do something similar, though perhaps far more meaningful and pertinent; each of you will be researching possible solutions for stopping this pandemic and making suggestions for the entire world to follow. Let’s put our minds together and come up with some solutions to beat this fu@%king thing!
In our coming Zoom meetings, we’ll be looking at a number of developments about the virus, from testing measures to mitigation to possible breakthrough treatment options. We’ll debunk myths, demystify misconceptions, and educate ourselves about the latest develops of the quickly evolving situation. All of this should help inform the topics you choose to write about. While I want to give you lots of leeway about researching and proposing solutions, I also want to offer some possible paper topics you might want to explore. Some of the questions I have include the following:
What country thus far is having the most success in combatting the virus? What measures are they taking and why have those measures been so successful?
What are some promising medical breakthroughs from around the world that might help decrease the spread or mortality rates of the virus? Are there any effective treatments that have been completed or are currently undergoing clinical trials? If so, what are some of those treatments (drugs or other therapies)? Are new drugs being developed to stop the virus? Are older drugs being repurposed? Can you find information regarding efficacy studies? What are some potentially dangerous side effects associated with these treatments? Can they be manufactured to scale and distributed in time to save many lives?
If a future president of the United States tasked you with leading America’s preparedness for the next global pandemic, what fundamental changes would you make to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)? Would you create a universal healthcare system? How would you make sure that people have food and medicine during the next pandemic? How would you make sure that during such a crisis, you’re able to help the country’s most destitute? Explain what changes you would make and why you feel they would be successful.
If a future president of the United States tasked you with leading America’s preparedness for the next global pandemic, what fundamental changes would you make to our economic system? Would you create a fund for temporary or permanent Universal Basic Income (UBI)? How would you keep massive parts of our private sector—the cruise industry, airlines, restaurants, bars, etc—from going bankrupt during a future disruption? How would you make sure that people were able to pay rent or mortgages, purchase food, medicine, and other basic necessities? Explain what changes you would make and why you feel they would be successful.
If a future president of the United States tasked you with leading America’s preparedness for the next global pandemic, what fundamental changes would you make to our education system? Should parents be expected and prepared to homeschool their children during the next outbreak? Should all students have free access to the internet and distance learning technology? Should all teachers be prepared to shift their classes to an online format in a moment’s notice? Explain what changes you would make and why you feel they would be successful.
In general, you can write about whatever you want related to COVID-19. You can write a paper, with arguments, making the case that the president failed to address the virus early enough. Contrastingly, you can write a paper about how the president is uniquely qualified to address the virus and is doing a tremendous job. I don’t care what you write about, as long as it’s related to COVID-19, make arguments, and uses research to inform those arguments.
RESEARCH
Like your previous papers, you’ll need to include research in this essay, including quotations and/or data from experts in the field working on this virus (economists, epidemiologists, pharmacologists, immunologists, public policy experts, etc). The sources you use are widely up to you. That said, you should be finding experts writing for our quoted within reputable publications such as major newspapers, magazines, news outlets, podcasts, and notable medical and/or public policy publications. If you have any questions about a source’s reputability, feel free to email me a link and I’ll let you know.