Essay assignment will assess the skills of 1) written communication, 2) critical thinking, 3) personal responsibility, and 4) social responsibility. Write an essay comparing and contrasting the ideas and values expressed in the Young Americans for Freedom manifesto, the Sharon Statement with that of the Students For A Democratic Society manifesto, the Port Huron Statement.
How does each address the problems of American society in the 1960s? Do we still see some of those problems today? How does each document invoke the meaning of freedom? Do you agree with those meanings? Why or why not? Considering that social responsibility can be defined as intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in local, regional, national, and global communities, how are some of the ideas and values expressed by the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) and the Students For A Democratic Society (SDS) examples of social responsibility? Likewise, if personal responsibility is defined as the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making, how do the authors of both documents demonstrate personal responsibility in the ideas they express and the goals they wish to achieve? Given events or issues today in the United States at the local, state, or national level, are the ideas and values expressed in these documents still relevant? Give specific examples. Considering these ideas and values, how can a civically and socially responsible individual today participate and engage in resolving these issues? Be sure to include (1) an introduction, (2) a thesis statement, (3) supportive reasoning, (4) references to the documents, our textbook, or outside sources that are appropriately cited, and (5) a conclusion.
