ENG 215
In Class Essay Topics
White Noise
BRING WHITE NOISE WITH YOU TO CLASS ON THURSDAY 6/16!
Choose ONE of the essay topics below:
1. Using examples from the text, explain the role of the supermarket in the novel. What purpose does it serve to the residents of Blacksmith?
2. Using examples from the text, explain the role of television/media in the novel. Discuss how influences and affects peoples’ lives. You can equate to what we discussed in class about today’s world and the internet.
3. Using examples from the text, discuss the underlying theme of death in the novel. Who is obsessed with and why? How does it affect the daily lives of the characters?
4. Using examples from the text, discuss “the American Mystery” idea which we have gone over at length in class. Explain how those seemingly random pop culture and historical references help to define “the American Mystery.”
You can bring White Noise to class with you in fact it will hurt your grade if you do not because you are required to quote the text directly in order to receive a passing grade! SO DO NOT FORGET THE BOOK! A paper that does not quote the novel directly will fail! Okay? Okay.
You cannot bring in “notes” or cheat sheets or a draft of an essay and you cannot have your phones on your desk.
Does my paper have:
o An introduction that states my thesis, the author or authors of the text I am writing about and the title of those texts
o Body paragraphs that use outside sources and examples from the text to support my thesis
o A conclusion that restates my thesis and does NOT include quotes from the text or any new information
