This semester, we introduced you to academic writing by way of a course theme: namely, in Angela Davis’s words, “are prisons obsolete?” Perhaps a more accurate way to phrase this would be, “should prisons exist?” For your final essay, I ask you to answer that question for yourself.
This is a response paper, and thus I ask you to respond to the question (again, “should prisons exist?”) with your own ideas and opinions. This essay is very much an “I say” paper.
In writing your response, engage with Davis’s argument in Are Prisons Obsolete? This might take the form of quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing, or any combination of the three. However you go about it, in order to succeed here you need to show evidence that you read Davis.
Beyond drawing on Davis (even if it’s to critique her argument), you’re welcome to make full use of your own opinions, our other readings, or our class discussions.
Formatting and Citations
The essay must be 4 full pages, double-spaced, with 1 inch margins on all sides, and in a professional 12 point font such as Times New Roman. Title your paper in a way that engages your reader and hints at what you say in the paper (not just “Essay 3”).
You are not required to do any outside research for this paper beyond Davis’s text, which I ask that you cite in standard MLA format, including in-text references and a Works Cited page. However, if you draw on any other sources for ideas, research, or writing, then you must clearly cite this material too. Ultimately, the essay that you write must be your own intellectual work.
