The Project
Following Barbara Ehrenriech's report of the circumstances for the
working poor, you will conduct additional research, find a smart,
reliable, and useful source (which may include either scholarly or
popular articles), and perform a focused analysis of this issue.
Background
After reading several versions of Ehrenreich's experience in several
chapters and and following Morgan Spurlock's replication of this research,
the basic economics that lead a person to such a predicament may seem
(sadly)
not terribly surprising. But as Ehrenreich suggests in her final evaluation,
there is a complex of issues contributing to the situation—and she
was writing before the recent recession.
You need a method to reach some deeper
conclusions—on the way toward understand possible steps toward solutions.
And just as you will discover many more times in conducting inquiry
in college, this process takes you to the library. Before you go in,
we'll work to frame your particular research question. And in your
research, you'll aim to emerge with a source that will give you a concept,
the context, and/or the vocabulary to crack open your understanding
of the working poor.
This method is a lens analysis. You'll use your
discovered concept/context/vocabulary and view the situation of
the low-wage worker through it. This will force you to comprehend
it in a different way, necessarily chosing a limited focus but in the
process unlocking understanding you could not arrive at on your own.
Along the way, you'll refine your research skills. The research
process always includes challenges that are unique to your questions,
so we'll spend time sharing research experience, offering sympathy
and sharing strategies. You'll emerge with improved resilience,
which is what makes an effective researcher—and is a great aid
toward success as a student.
Project Specifics
Write a 4-5 page analytical essay drawing on Ehrenreich as a starting
point but aiming to offer deeper insight. This may be attained
by focusing the dilemma more clearly or by uncovering an aspect
previously overlooked. You should aim for precision within a tightly
defined area of analysis rather than comprehensive coverage of
this broad issue.
Research
After our collective reading of Nickel and Dimed, we'll
work as a class to determine some likely research questions, which
you can further refine to suit your individual interests.
With these questions in hand, we'll get research assistance from
your FYS Library Mentor, Heather Stewart Harvey. She'll mainly
help you with the skills you need to find those smart, reliable,
and useful sources. You'll bring two likely articles (either scholarly
or popular) back to class to share with the group.
Ultimately, your Lens Analysis need only draw on a single
source (and then may even rely mostly on just a portion of that
source). You can choose this source from those you found yourself
or barter with a member of the class.
You may also
want to look more closely at the context of Asheville or Western
North Carolina or look more broadly by returning
to concepts raised in our History of Work unit.
Workshop Draft: A full (not rough) draft of your
essay is due with 2 copies on Wednesday,
November 16th. We'll meet
that day in the Writing Center for a draft workshop.
Revised: Your revised essay is due Monday,
November 21st. Please bring your revised essay and your workshop draft to class.
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