Outcome II (Integrating Ideas) – Be able to integrate their ideas with others using summary, paraphrase, quotation, analysis, and synthesis of relevant sources.
This learning outcome is focused on text engagement, on your ability to represent the relevant “conversation” between texts, and on your ability to position yourself in that conversation.
In choosing your Chosen Work Sample to showcase, locate the one you think best reveals your ability to advance your views in relation to the texts in play. Many important markers of integrating ideas are ones we’ve worked on this term. I encourage you to draw on some of them as you frame your learning and evidence of achievement for this outcome in 250-500 words:
Introduction: During my time in English Composition I found that I’m most proud of my second essay ” realizing social change”. I found that it was a challenging essay to write, having to integrate my thought with two different sources “Making Conversation” by Appiah Kwame Anthony and “It Gets Better and Action Makes it Better” by Dan Savage and Urvashi Vaid. Once I figured out how to integrate Appiah’s concept of cosmopolitanism and Dan Savage’s idea of storytelling my own thoughts came together. I found what both of my sources had in common which is communication an example of this is Appiah stated “People are different, the cosmopolitan knows, and there is much to learn from our differences. Because there are so many human possibilities worth exploring, we neither expect nor desire that every person or every society should converge on a single mode of life” (p. 3). I interpreted Appiah’s words as a community discussing issues even if everyone has different beliefs it’s best just to listen and see another view. Just like this storytelling ties into cosmopolitanism because storytelling can create that conversation. Storytelling makes hard conversations easier and more approachable because you can really feel empathy. Savage embraced this idea of cosmopolitanism because of how he shared his story with a big community of people. Savage said What a simple and powerful truth. Things get better– things have gotten better, things just keep getting better— for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. I knew that to be true because things had certainly gotten better for me” (p. 10). Something that we don’t realize is sharing something personal to get others to really listen to him and possibly inspire change for others. If we communicate with our communities we will be at least heard.
Sample Paper: “Realizing Social Change”
Change is hard for many people because of our local tribes, our friends, and our family. These local tribes create human traditions, customs, religious, and political beliefs, which lead to habits or routines. In the essay, “Making Conversation,” Kwame Anthony Appiah says, “The recent history of America does show that a society can radically change its attitudes —and more importantly, perhaps, its habits—about these issues over a single generation. But it also suggests that some people will stay with the old attitudes, and the whole process will take time” (p. 14). Like Appiah said people in society get into a routine and get comfortable, breaking a routine can be scary and hard. Schools need to focus on change for teenagers struggling with anxiety both in and out of school, by using storytelling and cosmopolitanism to discuss and create coherent counseling programs that are easily accessible for students struggling with their mental health. Students should know they have the space to communicate.
Embracing the concept of cosmopolitanism could help people address social change. Cosmopolitanism is the coming together of a community. As people in a community, we need to communicate with each other. We need to listen to people’s thoughts and ideas because making conversation is what makes beliefs and ideas come together to change. Being able to come together as a society and listen is what leads to an open conversation for change. Appiah states that “the other is that we take seriously the value not just of human life but of particular human lives, which means taking an interest in the practices and beliefs that lend them significance. People are different, the cosmopolitan knows, and there is much to learn from our differences. Because there are so many human possibilities worth exploring, we neither expect nor desire that every person or every society should converge on a single mode of life” (p. 3). Being able to communicate with your community is a key piece to cosmopolitanism, it’s all about being about to understand each other. Everyone is going to have different beliefs and values, it’s important that we explore every possibility of change and that starts with the communication of our society.
Applying the idea of cosmopolitanism in school I think that would open up the conversation about mental health issues in schools. Students need to be heard but not only that they need to know that there are people who are there listening. Cosmopolitanism is about understanding one another. Many students struggling with mental health just want to be understood. If schools can have a program that allows students to express how they’re feeling could lead to more changes in mental health in high schools. Schools should embrace change for their students, if something doesn’t seem effective there need to be a change. If schools communicate with their students about what is working and what could be done and learn from our differences.
Storytelling is a huge part of the process of cosmopolitanism and social change. Both Storytelling and the concept of cosmopolitanism open people up to a conversation. People will share their stories with others. When people share something important or close to their heart others will listen. Dan Savage, creator of “It Gets Better”, a viral video series designed to communicate through storytelling to LGBTQ+ youth to create hope, Savage states “What a simple and powerful truth. Things get better– things have gotten better, things just keep getting better— for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. I knew that to be true because things had certainly gotten better for me” (p. 10). He had used his story to reach others that had been struggling with something similar to others. Savage storytelling inspired others to share their stories online. The concept of storytelling and cosmopolitanism is very interconnected, Appiah says, “using the word “conversation” not only for literal talk but also as a metaphor for engagement with the experience and the ideas of others… Conversation doesn’t have to lead to consensus about anything, especially not values; it’s enough that it helps people get used to one another” (p. 14). It’s all about listening to each other and being able to coexist with each other. Communication is key for social change to happen. We do not necessarily have to agree with others on everything, but understanding it is important.
In Savage’s article “It Gets Better”, he embraces a lot of concepts of Appiah’s idea of cosmopolitanism. Savage had a viral video series that thousands of people used to tell their stories. Savage’s goal was to communicate with his community about the bullying of LGBTQ+ youth which resonated with him. Sharing something personal to get others to really listen to him and possibly inspire change for others. His storytelling leads others to listen to the message big behind his story. This opened up the conversation about bullying in the LBGTQ+ community. Savages were trying to make others understand that this is a problem even if it doesn’t affect our local tribes personally. That as a community we need to embrace change and speak about it rather than avoid it.
Bibliography:
Appiah, Kwame Anthony. “Making Conversation and The Primacy of Practice.” Emerging:
Savage, Dan, and Urvashi Vaid. “It Gets Better and Action Makes It Better.” Emerging:Contemporary Readings for Writers, 2nd ed., Bedford/St. Martins, 2010, pp. 426–432.
