English 1A: Introduction to College Composition
Writing Sample: Modern Parents
Please note–
This is just a diagnostic essay; I am asking you to write an academic essay (an introduction, at least 2 body paragraphs, and a conclusion) to the best of your ability. As long as you provide a good faith effort and write something, you’ll receive full credit on this assignment. Please spend about an hour but no more than 2 hours on this writing sample.
Directions:
For your writing sample, please read the background information in the box below and follow the directions below.
Background information for “Modern Parents Writing Sample”
In a recent editorial essay, Johnson, a working mother of four, laments being made to feel guilty for not “being there” every minute for her children. She notes, “The school nurse has taken me to task for not being immediately accessible, and my kids–who live in a world where instant gratification has become the norm–complain about my intermittent unreachability. To which I say, Hey, deal with it! I’m not cavalier about my mothering responsibilities…. I’m an involved parent. We modern moms and dads are not only expected to make sure our kids are perfectly nourished, endlessly enriched, and absolutely safe at all times: now, with cell phones and pagers, we are also supposed to be instantly reachable and immediately responsive…. We cannot and should not orchestrate every moment in our children’s lives for them–partly because the effort turns out to be futile, but more importantly because it prevents our kids from learning skills they need to succeed in the real world. There are times they need to ad lib. There are times they need to wait. There are even times they need to turn to someone else.”
Writing Task:
Please write an essay in which you (1) explain Johnson’s argument and (2) discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with her views. Support your position by referring to the passage and by providing reasons and examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
You may submit your paper as either a Word Document, Google Docs., or a PDF. Click on “Uploading Papers into Canvas” for screenshot directions for submitting
