Preface for Instructors iii(16) Rhetorical Table of Contents xix(4) Introduction: The Empowered Writer xxiii 1 How Do You See Yourself? What is your self-image? Is it positive or negative? Are you inclined to make yourself miserable over physical characteristics that other people may not even notice? One of the worlds most famous cartoonists finds that he is stuck with a childhood self-image that no longer reflects the way he looks.... A Pulitzer-Prize winning African American reporter discusses a painful topic many blacks would rather not confront.... In a personal essay that helped gain him admission to Stanford, a college applicant describes the process of transforming a physical liability into a life-enhancing talent. 1(16) GARRY TRUDEAU My Inner Shrimp (The New York Times Magazine March 31, 1996) 2(5) CHARISSE JONES Light Skin versus Dark (Glamour October 1995) 7(5) JONATHAN BAILEY A Different Drummer (Student Essay) (Standford September 1995) 12(5) 2 Sharing Space: Can We Learn to Live with Others? Is it possible to find the ideal living companion or roommate? What are the pressures and problems of sharing space with other people? An American Catholic living in India tells how she successfully shares a life with her Hindu husband.... A young comic writer wonders if college officials base their room-mate decisions entirely on incompatibility.... A University of Tennessee journalism major fondly recalls the privacy of her old bedroom. 17(20) JO MCGOWAN Take Your Shoes Off My Books: Negotiating a Hindu-Catholic Marriage (Commonweal June 18, 1993) 18(8) DAN ZEVIN Roommatism (Rolling Stone October 20, 1994) 26(5) KNIGHT STIVENDER Somewhere a Room of Ones Own (Student Essay) (The Daily Beacon, University of Tennessee October 23, 1995) 31(6) 3 How Do We Express Our Identity? How important is race, gender, ethnic heritage, or sexual orientation to someones sense of self? How do we choose which one of these identities is the most important? A reporter investigates some fashionable teenage identities now taking shape in California suburbs.... When it comes to identity, a prominent African American scholar and critic wants to have his cake and eat it too. ... An advertisement shows feminism competing with other claims on identity.... A gay University of Minnesota undergraduate ponders the difficulties of declaring his identity. 37(23) NELL BERNSTEIN Goin Gangsta, Choosin Cholita (West November 13, 1994) 38(10) HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. On Honoring Blackness (The American Enterprise September-October 1995) 48(5) Advertisement: Ill Never Fight for Womens Rights (American Indian College Fund) 53(1) SEAN T. WHERLEY Coming Out: A Process of Dilemmas (Student Essay) (The Minnesota Daily, University of Minnesota October 9, 1995) 54(6) 4 What Are We Afraid Of? The list of things Americans fear seems to grow daily -- violent crime, environmental hazards, natural disaster, fatal illness, poverty, and unemployment represent only a few. Are these fears justified or are they irrational? A young New York City journalist describes how the AIDS epidemic has led to widespread distrust and hysteria.... A Benetton advertisement reflects mass anxiety about AIDS.... An African American attorney provides a horrifying account of a senseless and brutal crime.... With antigovernment sentiments on the rise, a Wake Forest University student wonders whether Americans have any real reasons to fear the federal government. 60(23) MEGHAN DAUM Safe-Sex Lies (The New York Times Magazine January 21, 1996) 61(8) Advertisement: AIDS Faces (United Colors of Benetton) 69(1) DEBRA DICKERSON Who Shot Johnny? (The New Republic January 1, 1996) 70(7) BRIAN BRADY Americas Real Fear (Student Essay) (Old Gold and Black, Wake Forest University September 14, 1995) 77(6) 5 Can We Resist Stereotypes? Why are we so quick to label people? Where do our stereotypes come from? What harm can they do? A young Korean American questions the validity of Asian male stereotypes.... A prominent Columbia University sociologist examines how the poor are used as scapegoats for social problems.... A North-western University speech major asks why some women still conform to female stereotypes. 83(17) ERIC KIM Have You Ever Met an Asian Man You Thought Was Sexy? (Glamour March 1995) 84(4) HERBERT J. GANS Fitting the Poor into the Economy (Technology Review October 1995) 88(6) MAGGIE BANDUR Women Play the Roles Men Want to See (Student Essay) (The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University January 23, 1996) 94(6) 6 Can Interracial Relationships Succeed? Given Americas growing ethnic diversity, its no surprise that interracial marriages and relationships are also on the rise. But are they now viewed more positively, and should they be encouraged? An Asian American law professor wonders why ones romantic life should be limited to members of the same race.... A white college student discusses the social pressures that she and her black boyfriend face.... An African American college magazine invites a cross-section of students to speak out on interracial dating. 100(20) VIET D. DINH Single White Female (Reconstruction Vol. 2, No. 3, 1994) 101(6) VALERIE RICHARD Love Sees No Color (Student Essay) (Rock Writing, Slippery Rock University 1994-1995) 107(4) Interracial Dating: Yes or No? (Student Forum) (The Black Collegian March-April 1993) 111(9) 7 Do Gender Differences Really Exist? Do men and women behave as though they are from different planets? Are their differences biologically innate or caused by social forces? A prominent writer and linguistics professor examines the different attitudes men and women have toward computers.... A well-known newspaper columnist asks if the media are dividing along gender lines.... A University of Michigan English major considers why males tend to dominate classroom discussion even in courses where they are outnumbered. 120(18) DEBORAH TANNEN Gender Gap in Cyberspace (Newsweek May 16, 1994) 121(6) ELLEN GOODMAN When Mars Eclipses Venus (The Boston Globe March 12, 1995) 127(5) KATE EPSTEIN The Classroom Gender Balance: Who Speaks More, Men or Women? (Student Essay) (The Michigan Daily, University of Michigan March 25, 1996) 132(6) 8 Can We Just Say No to Addictions? When we think of addictive behavior we usually focus on drugs. Yet our everyday world reveals all sorts of addictions. A news commentator speaks out against the way state lotteries try to lure Americas poorest people.... A public-policy reporter makes a sober assessment of college drinking.... Are college students spending an excessive amount of time in cyberspace? asks a Washington Post reporter.... A Northwestern University theater and economics major explains why young people will never quit smoking. 138(24) LINDA CHAVEZ Theres No Future in Lady Luck (USA Today September 13, 1995) 139(4) ED CARSON Purging Bingeing (Reason December 1995) 143(8) RENE SANCHEZ Surfings Up and Grades Are Down (The Washington Post National Weekly Edition June 3-9, 1996) 151(5) KIRK HOFFMAN Why We Cant Just Stamp Out Smoking (Student Essay) (The Daily Northwestern, Northwestern University January 15, 1996) 156(6) 9 Do Words Matter? Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me -- is the old childhood rhyme true? Or can words seriously injure? Can they have far-reaching effects on our behavior and self-image? Two communications professionals show how the habitual use of one very common word can leave us powerless.... A contributor to a prominent gay magazine proposes a new word for homosexual.... What may seem like a trivial detail can actually be politically significant, argues a University of South Florida student who takes issue with his cafeterias menu. 162(16) CHARLES G. RUSSELL JUDITH C. WHITE Who Controls Your Life? (Et Cetera Spring 1993) 163(4) HANNS EBENSTEN A Humble Proposal (Christopher Street July 1993) 167(6) CHARLES CHOI A Beef with Beef Oriental (Student Essay) (The Catalyst, University of South Florida October 2, 1995) 173(5) 10 Can We Say What We Want? Is our right to free speech limited or unlimited? What kinds of restraints can be placed on speech, and who decides what can or cannot be expressed? A noted commentator for Time magazine finds it hard to believe that someone could be fired for wearing a T-shirt the boss doesnt like.... An award-winning syndicated columnist believes that colleges have gone too far in suppressing speech.... Has the quest for political correctness left us afraid of talking to each other? asks a columnist for Colgate Universitys student paper. 178(18) BARBARA EHRENREICH Zipped Lips (Time February 5, 1996) 179(5) CLARENCE PAGE More Talk Needed -- Not Silence (Chicago Tribune Syndication February 1996) 184(6) JILL GLAZER On Politically Correct Speech (Student Essay) (The Colgate Maroon-News, Colgate University February 23, 1996) 190(6) 11 Should English Be the Official Language? Unlike some nations, the United States has never had an official language. Many influential politicians think the time has finally come to establish English-only legislation. But is an official language a good idea? Based on his personal experiences, a Wall Street Journal reporter explains why bilingual education fails Spanish-speaking students.... A young Korean American novelist recalls his mothers difficulties in coping with an English-speaking society.... The former president of the University of Rochesters Spanish and Latin student association argues that an official language would be un-American. 196(17) MICHAEL GONZALES The Bilingual Ed Trap (The Wall Street Journal October 18, 1995) 197(5) CHANG-RAE LEE Mute in an English-Only World (The New York Times April 18, 1996) 202(5) ROSA RIVERA Why English-Only Laws Are Useless (Student Essay) (The Campus Times, University of Rochester Spring 1996) 207(6) 12 TV Talk Shows -- Whats Their Appeal? Why are television talk shows so popular? What do Oprah, Ricki, Sally Jessy, and Geraldo tell us about ourselves? A national news commentator compares television talk programs to the sleazy carnival freak-shows of an earlier time.... A communications professor maintains that by airing views which might otherwise be suppressed, talk shows serve a useful political purpose.... A Boston University communications major asks why people who claim to dislike talk shows find it so hard to stop watching them. 213(21) CHARLES OLIVER Freak Parade (Reason April 1995) 214(7) ELAYNE RAPPING Crowd on the Couch (On the Issues Spring 1994) 221(7) KIMBERLY SMITH How to Produce a Trashy TV Talk Show: The Four Secret Ingredients (Student Essay) (The Daily Free Press, Boston University January 23, 1996) 228(6) 13 Do the Media Promote Violence? Few people would dispute the fact that violence is now a main feature of American music, television, and cinema. But whether violence on the screen actually causes violence on the street is a hotly disputed topic, one that has become a serious political issue. How should the government respond to the increase in media violence? asks one of our print medias most influential figures.... Violence toward women is nothing new in American music, claims a specialist on popular culture.... A Boston Globe political columnist offers a drastic solution to televisions socially destructive influence.... The metro editor of the University of Iowas daily paper worries that todays media are dangerously overexposing children to violent themes and images. 234(21) MORTIMER B. ZUCKERMAN Forrest Gump versus Ice-T (U.S. News & World Report July 24, 1995) 235(5) JOHN HAMERLINCK Killing Women: A Pop-Music Tradition (The Humanist July-August 1995) 240(5) DAVID NYHAN Turn Off the TV before It Ruins Us (The Boston Globe September 16, 1996) 245(4) RIMA VESELY Over Exposure (Student Essay) (The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa February 27, 1996) 249(6) 14 A Student Debate: Is Affirmative Action Necessary? Affirmative action was a hotly debated topic in the late 1970s when American courts were supporting college admission policies that helped minority applicants. But those policies are increasingly under attack as a backlash against affirmative action has mounted on campus after campus. In an essay read on National Public Radio, a Kansas State University theater major argues that affirmative action is one way to make the boys play fair.... The arts and entertainment editor of the Hamilton College newspaper thinks that preferential admissions policies seriously hurt the very groups they try to help.... Affirmative action needs to be fixed, not discarded, maintains a government major at the University of Virginia.... A columnist for the University of Virginias Cavalier Daily takes a hard look at what we mean when we speak of qualified and unqualified students. 255(21) ERIN MANSUR-SMITH Its Not Whether You Win or Lose -- Its Whether or Not Youre Allowed to Play the Game (Student Essay) (The Kansas State Collegian, Kansas State University April 18, 1995) 256(4) DAN MCALLISTER A Misguided Policy (Student Essay) (The Spectator, Hamilton College March 1, 1996) 260(5) TED KOERTH Economic Affirmative Action (Student Essay) (The Cavalier Daily, University of Virginia April 9, 1996) 265(4) DOMINIQUE APOLLON A Quest for Justice (Student Essay) (The Cavalier Daily, University of Virginia March 26, 1996) 269(7) 15 Opposing Views: What Should Be Done about Date Rape? What is date rape and what should be done about it? When it occurs, who should be held more responsible--the man or the woman? One of Americas most controversial authors argues that todays victim-oriented feminism has not prepared young women to behave responsibly and realistically when confronted with male sexual aggression.... Responding directly to this selection, a magazine editor contends that such thinking only perpetuates gender stereotypes and antagonism. 276(16) CAMILLE PAGLIA Rape and Modern Sex War (Utne Reader January-February 1993) 277(8) HELEN CORDES The Blue Balls Bluff (Utne Reader January-February 1993) 285(7) The Periodicals: Information for Subscription 292(9) Index of Authors and Titles 301
