Discuss the article-the murders before the marathon

Assignment Help English
Reference no: EM131324365

Any major social cataclysm produces in its wake two responses; First, there is the search for causes: Why did this happen? Who is to blame? And second, there is an appeal to some greater authority to assist in preventing such upheavals in the future.

Can the first year writing course become a place where we engage productively with the dark realities of our time: violence, suicide, war, and terrorism, as well as fraudulence, complicity; and trauma?

--Richard Miller, "The Dark Night of the Soul"

Richard Miller, in his essay "The Dark Night of the Soul," raises important questions about the value of education in the Humanities, and in particular about the value of reading and writing in a world of "violence, suicide, war, and terrorism, as well as fraudulence, complicity, and trauma" (444). This assignment asks you to consider an essay from Boston magazine, written by Susan Zalkind, that examines three murders that have been linked in the media to the Boston Marathon bombing.

It may help you to review the story of the bombing before you read, so that you are familiar with the events of that attack, which may or may not be directly related to the killings discussed in this article. This is a disturbing article for many reasons. Of course, the murders themselves are disturbing. But what happens to a number of other people caught up in this investigation-mostly immigrants from several different countries-is also very disturbing.

At the end of "The Dark Night of the Soul," Richard Miller reconsiders the first four texts he read and wrote about in light of Mary Karr's memoir, The Liar's Club, and asks whether these men knew what Karr knows - namely; how to use writing as a practice for constructing a sense of hope and optimism atop the ruins of previous worlds. Is it possible to produce writing that generates a greater sense of connection to the world and its inhabitants? Of self-understanding? Writing that moves out from the mundane, personal tragedies that mark any individual life into the history, the culture, and the lives of the institutions that surround us all? (441)

Miller here wants writing that moves beyond the individual and personal, "out from the mundane, personal tragedies" to connect with the wider world. He is not only interested in person to person connection (for example, writer to reader), but also to a connection made in writing to larger, less personal forces: "the history, the culture, and the lives of the institutions that surround us all" (441). It will help you to think carefully about what Miller says about Karr, about what he sees in her work that supports his claim.

Write an essay in which you consider whether Susan Zalkind's work in "The Murders Before the Marathon" succeeds in moving beyond the personal tragedies of three murdered men and the people in their lives to connect to something bigger. To do this work, you will need return to Miller's reading of The Liar's Club. What does he mean by Karr's ability to "use writing as a practice for constructing a sense of hope and optimism atop the ruins of previous worlds"? Where in the text does he see Karr doing this work? Do you think Zalkind is doing similar work?

Here are some questions to get you started: Where (and how) in this essay is Zalkind connecting this event to history? To cultures? To the "lives of institutions"? To what extent does Zalkind's reporting and writing build a "sense of hope and optimism atop the ruins of previous worlds"? To what extent is Zalkind "[engaging] productively with the dark realities of our time"? To what extent are you, as a reader, engaging with those "dark realities"? And why does this engagement matter?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/0i8yqyhmv05yciq/the_murders_before_the_marathon.rar?dl=0

Reference no: EM131324365

Questions Cloud

What are the genotypes of the two parents : The resulting seeds were planted and yielded 50 plants with white flowers and prickly capsules, 46 plants with white flowers and smooth capsules, 45 plants with violet flowers and prickly capsules, and 47 plants with violet flowers and smooth caps..
Explain why an options time value is greatest : Explain why an option's time value is greatest when the stock price is near the exercise price and why it nearly disappears when the option is deep-in- or out-of-the-money?
Sales and dividend payout ratio is constant : Consider the following income statement for the Heir Jordan Corporation: HEIR JORDAN CORPORATION Income Statement Sales $ 42,000 Costs 32,800 Taxable income $ 9,200 Taxes (35%) 3,220 Net income $ 5,980 Dividends $ 1,800 Addition to retained earnings ..
Why is the value irrelevant for an american put : Call prices are directly related to the stock's volatility, yet higher volatility means that the stock price can go lower.- How would you resolve this apparent paradox?
Discuss the article-the murders before the marathon : Write an essay in which you consider whether Susan Zalkind's work in "The Murders Before the Marathon" succeeds in moving beyond the personal tragedies of three murdered men and the people in their lives to connect to something bigger. To do this ..
Environmental science final project : Create hour to hour and half long POWER POINT lecture (20-25 slides) using the following topics: Human Population Dynamics, Recent Climate Change, Ozone in the Atmosphere and they Hyrdologic Cycle, Streams and Groundwater, Soil and Land Degradatio..
Before-tax component cost of debt : KatyDid Clothes has a $110 million (face value) 30-year bond issue selling for 104 percent of par that carries a coupon rate of 8 percent, paid semiannually. What would be KatyDid's before-tax component cost of debt?
Create the core features of a shopping cart : For this solution, you create the core features of a shopping cart. The solution should work as follows: The user needs to buy some teabags for his mobile café. He goes to a popular online shop.
Analysts estimate universal forest : Suppose Universal Forest’s current stock price is $69.00 and it is likely to pay a $0.68 dividend next year. Since analysts estimate Universal Forest will have a 10.6 percent growth rate, what is its required return?

Reviews

Write a Review

 

English Questions & Answers

  Poems by edwin arlington robinson

locate the theme for each poem and in your post present the theme that you feel is most important for mankind and why.

  Embodiment of descartes philosophy

In what ways does satan seem to be the embodiment of Descartes' philosophy? How do the devils, Satan in particular, try to make a heaven out of hell, even if they are not actually successful?

  What are some of the greatest barriers preventing our school

What are some of the greatest barriers preventing our schools from meeting the educational goals for ELL students today? What recommendations are offered in your readings that address those barriers?

  What role did religion play in the settlement of north

what role did religion play in the settlement of north america by europeans? how was this infulence reflected in the

  How cinematic techniques helped establish a major theme

Explain how three cinematic techniques and/or design elements have helped establish a major theme in that film Godfather.

  Definitions of the words

Read the passage carefully and give the definitions of the words that are given in bold - cautioned against

  How is humor important

What does Cacciato mean when he tells Paul, "You'll do fine... You got a terrific sense of humor"? How is humor important?

  Identify two or three points that really stood out to you

Identify two or three points that really stood out to you in the list. Why did they stand out? What makes them so unique? Were there any points that you previously did NOT consider as part of public speaking? Give us your feedback!

  Create and clarify a research problem

Create and clarify a research problem

  Her and peter will attend the meeting this afternoon

Most people these days have the recognition that it is important to express ideas as concisely as possible. If I had known you were coming, I would of baked a cake.

  What message is he trying to portray

What makes the satire of Alexander Pope seem relatively light and painless? What message is he trying to portray?

  Recent events in the us airways and american airlines merger

Given the recent events in the US Airways and American Airlines merger, one has to wonder, is the airline industry monopolistic? Which is worse, monopolies or competition? Explain your answer.

Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd