So I'm entering this essay contest which could make or break my AP Lang grade (the teacher is offering 200 extra credit points..i.e 2 free essays) if this essay is good.
Here's the prompt: ______________________________ Describe and analyze the decisions, actions, and risks of an elected public official in the United States since 1956 who has courageously addressed a political issue at the local, state, national, or international level. ______________________________
I need your help TL! I'm looking for someone credible to write about, someone that goes against the beliefs of their party, someone that respects morality rather than money...you get the drift right?
My knowledge in politics absolutely SUCKS. I don't keep up with politicians at all, and I barely even keep up with politics in general.
These people don't have to be big-name politicians, but they have to have done something really important or else my essays gonna flop with my professor...
The restrictions are even gayer:
-Can't be about a person who already won the "Profile in Courage Award" (link here). The rule says it can be about one of these persons as long as it's about a different action.
-Can't be about anything done by a person when he's a president when he did something "brave".
-The person must be an American, elected, official after 1956 (so no politicans outside of America..which absolutely sucks).
These are the two people that I might write about, but my sources on them are extremely limited...
Senator Ron Wyden : halting the COICA bill on pirating and online copyright infringement.
Senator Sam Brownback : trying to pass a bill that basically takes on the RIAA, MPAA, and anything copyright related. The background info on him is really sketchy though..
Lame right? I don't keep up with anything besides the copyright/internet stuff going on, so...help me out TL? I owe you guys one!
If you need inspiration, get a copy of John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage.. It's pretty much 10 great responses to this exact prompt. (note: you probably shouldn't just compress one of these chapters as an essay; I'm recommending it so you can see just what kinds of actions can qualify as "courageously addressing a political issue.")
Try to select something that you can relate to; imo it'll make this particular prompt easier to write. If you need material, try reading through the news?
On December 30 2010 15:34 Zim23 wrote: Write about the Congressmen who courageously addressed the usage of steroids in baseball. They basically saved America with their unending courage.
hmm,i would suggest doing it in reverse. go and look up an issue u care about deeply, and THEN look for a politician who has spoken about it. that way your passion will come out better in your essay, and you can praise/criticize as you see appropriately since you care/know so much about the topic.
I was gonna say Russ Feingold, for being the only senator to vote against the Patriot Act, but apparently he's already in the list for this Feingold-McCain thing :/
EPT
