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The 9/11 Report: graphic adaption

Norman Mailer

BBC on Norman Mailer

Norman Mailer: crazy

Essay 3

The etymology of work comes from a mixture of Old English and German, meaning to do or act upon. So, really, it's never been glamorous stuff for most of us. Read this poem by famed American poet Phil Levine, "What Work Is." Here, work is a suffering only truly known by the poor.

But, maybe, it's a walkie-talky and a busted drive through at Martin's. Great rivers of gravy. Maybe it's life-guarding. Maybe it's selling dishwashers.

What is work to you?

That doesn't mean I want to read psuedo-philosophizing on work. Please, God, no. I will find out where you live and go there and cry sad little professor tears.

No, this essay is about work only in the general sense. It's really about you, the worker. Why do you hate your job? Why do you love it? What is the craziest thing you've seen? The funniest? The most infuriating?

The successful essay will not be a grab bag of anecdotes. It will be specific, focused, ordered, and free of clutter. It will pay attention to scene instead of referring to long ago incidents off-handedly mentioned. It will be revealing.

Length: 7 pages

Due: November 20th

For Thursday

For Thursday, write another 500 word piece on a guilty pleasure. Something you love but probably shouldn't. A bad TV show. A bad album. Something you collect.

Bring copies for everyone.

Thursday

For Thursday, read "STOP" by Ander Monson.


Also, for Thursday, write your own 500 word elegy for something passing from the world that fills you with nostalgia.

Bring copies for everyone.

As I will be in New York next week pretending to be a famous author, we will not have class. Your assignment is to research two (2) other non-fiction writers you have not previously read. Prepare a short presentation for class, including excerpts, to be given the following Tuesday.

Charlie Rose - Joan Didion