AMERICAN STUDIES Freedom, Liberty, and the Individual Project

Instructions: Your task for this unit is a three part assignment. The central focus will be the issue of freedom in America. Most Americans have always prided themselves on our commitment to freedom, often boasting to the rest of the world about the advantages and superiority of our system because of the freedoms we enjoy. On the other hand, many people also feel that freedom comes at a cost, that it is a double-edged sword that can cause problems as well. Additionally, not every person or group would agree about the level of freedom we actually have in this country. Some might argue that the freedom enjoyed by some people in the U.S. is simply not accessible to everyone else. With these issues in mind, each of the following topics needs to be explored in a series of assignments.

1. Literature Essay. Based on the various literature you have read in this unit, you are to choose one author and explore his or her view of American freedom at the time the author was living. Would the author agree or disagree that we deserve to boast about our freedom? Would they claim that we have too much or too little freedom in this country? What specific benefits or problems would they claim exist? Would they propose changes to our system? When you write this essay, do not simply answer these four questions one after the other. Rather, use them to think about the topic as a whole, and then formulate a coherent essay that deals with the issue of the author’s view of freedom in general. Be sure to use specific examples, details, and quotations from the author’s work to support your claims. This essay should be a minimum of 500-600 words.

2. History Essay. Choose a particular historical event or issue that demonstrates how freedom can be a double-edged sword. Having researched the topic, and using specific details to explain your points, in an in-class essay, thoroughly analyze and discuss the ways one could view freedom as both good and bad in the case of this event. This essay should be a minimum of 500-600 words. You will be required to take notes from two sources (either handwritten or using a highlighter) and come to class on the day of the in-class essay with a typed, properly formatted bibliography for both sources.

3. Personal Photo Essay. This assignment is not a literal “essay.” Rather, it involves taking some photos and writing about each photo individually. Your task here is to think carefully about your personal attitudes and feelings regarding freedom in America. Once you have done so, go out and take at least five photos that capture your feelings about freedom in some way, whether your feelings are positive or negative. The photos might be a concrete representation of freedom, or they might be an abstract representation, but try to be creative. The key will be how you justify your photo in writing. For each photo, you are to write a minimum of 100 words clearly explaining why you feel the image in your photo captures at least one aspect of your attitude toward freedom in America. Put your photos and statements together into a neat package that is easy to read. Two rules: first, the photos must be ones you personally took, not ones you cut out of a magazine or printed off the internet; and second, you cannot use a picture of the flag as one of your photos – that’s just too easy. Note: you would be wise to start this assignment as soon as possible and not put it off until the last minute, since you will need time to take the photos, develop them, and then write a statement for each.