Racial Stereotypes and Privilege

Instructions: Please compare and contrast the Johnsons “What is a ‘System of Privileg”  and Fuentes From the Myth of Race essays. May use either point-by-point or block comparison format. Please use the MLA Essay Template and include works cited page.

Essay Question: To begin the essay discuss how each authors’ methods by which racial stereotypes and privilege are reinforced and how they can be re-examined. Based on the evidence in these texts and perhaps your personal experience, what can you conclude about changing — or unchanging–concepts or race in the United States? Decide which author, Fuentes or Johnson, presents his arguments in a fair and truthful manner (ethos) and discuss why or how he accomplishes it.

The essay will need to include

Introduction one or two sentences that take the reader from the big picture to the specific topic. Students introduce the authors and the titles of the essays.
Thesis statement (multi-part). Tell the reader what the topic is, why it should be discussed, and how it is important to them. PLEASE UNDERLINE THE THESIS.
At examples of support/reasons that support the thesis.
Transitional paragraphs, sentences, and words to make the essay flow.
Conclusion restate the thesis and recap the support.
Thesis: I believe that Fuentes and Johnson (make OR do not make) compelling arguments about racial stereotypes and privilege are reinforced and how they can be re-examined. The most compelling argument comes from the author (Fuentes OR Johnson) because he presents  ______________ and shows that he (demonstrates OR does not demonstrate) ethos because __________________. After reading these essays, I conclude that the concepts of race are (changing OR unchanging) in the United States.

  I. Introduction

A. Introductory sentence take the reader from the general to the specific and introduce the authors and the titles of the essays.

B. Thesis

II. Discuss the most influential argument that each author makes about racial stereotypes and privilege and how they are reinforced and how they can be re-examined.

A. Summarize the main claims and minor claims of each argument. Then discuss the strongest evidence presented to refute the opposition and strengthen their argument in each essay.

1. Fuentes

2. Johnson

B. Decide which author presents the best argument and who presents his arguments in a fair and truthful manner (ethos) and discuss how he accomplishes this.

1. Fuentes

2. Johnson

C. Discuss whether you think the concepts of race are changing or unchanging in the United States.

III. Conclusion

A. Briefly recap the main ideas

B. Discuss why your stand on the arguments is significant (Why should we care?).