LeAnne Coady, Fall 2007 Since childhood, we all have been taught that “racism is bad” and should be avoided at all costs. We have been told that “everyone is a child of God and we are all created equal.” In fact, Americans are praised for the so-called equality they possess. Renowned Author Toni Morrison sheds… Read more LeAnne Coady, “Toni Morrison Writes on Racism,” 2nd Place ENL 258
Sephora Marie Borges, Spring 2010 Seamus Heaney was born on April 13, 1939 in Derry, Northern Ireland at the Heaneys’ family farm of ‘Mossbawn’; as the son of a potato farmer, he would have been expected to follow in his father’s footsteps, but chose a profession in writing instead (Vendler xi). Heaney lived in Northern… Read more Sephora Marie Borges, “The Troubles of an Irish Poet,” 2nd Place ENL 258
Steven Martin, Fall 2009 In the Japanese arts, nothing is more revered than the idyllic balance of harmony between nature and man. Such a relationship is at the heart of the Zen-Buddhist notion of “Sattori,” or enlightenment (Suzuki 211). Whether such harmony is found in the minimalist structure of the Haiku of Basho and Myoe,… Read more Steven Martin, “Ask the Art, Not the Artist,” 2nd Place ENL 258
Kelsey Jacobsen, Spring 2008 When analyzing Leslie M. Silko’s “Yellow Woman” through a Post Colonial lens, one must acknowledge that there is much controversy over whether or not the Native Americans were officially colonized. In this case, I have used Tyson’s definition of colonization, which says “any population that has been subjected to political domination… Read more Kelsey Jacobsen, “The Other Native American Identity,” 2nd Place ENL 259
Kristen Hall, Spring 2010 According to NAACP activist Kenneth B. Clark, “Racial segregation, like all other forms of cruelty and tyranny, debases all human beings-those who are its victims, those who victimize, and in quite subtle ways those who are mere accessories” (Massey, xi). This quote epitomizes the conflict in James Alan McPherson’s short story,… Read more Kristen Hall, “Breaking the Habit: Renouncing Selfish Motives in Favor of Justice,” 2nd Place ENL 259
Peter Jansen, Fall 2010 Flannery O’Connor’s 1955 short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” shows a family vacation that quickly meets a violent end by a criminal known as “The Misfit.” As the title suggests, the men in this story are short-tempered, sexist, and at worst, murderers. Although a good man in this… Read more Peter Jansen, “Feminist Analysis of Flannery O’Connor’s ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find,’” 2nd Place ENL 259
Joseph MacKenzie, Fall 2009 For some United States citizens, illegal immigration is the cause of much concern. For most who hold this position, the obvious worries are terrorists sneaking in through our loosely protected borders, loss of jobs to immigrants who are paid under the table, and non-taxpayers who receive the same benefits as legal… Read more Joseph MacKenzie, “The Other Side of the Crash,” 2nd Place ENL 260
Abigail Bartalini, Fall 2011 Our society’s definition of marriage has changed over the years. The structure of the ideal, nuclear family has always been held together by marriage. Marriage always served a specific purpose; whether it was intended for legal, social, or economic stability, the formation of a family, procreation, legitimizing sexual relations, fulfilling religious… Read more Abigail Bartalini, “Defining Marriage: Cohabitation for Modern Childrearing,” 2nd Place ENL 260
Lauryn Nosek, Fall 2007 Humor is a dangerous weapon that needs to be brought under control before it’s too late. Too often humor is used in arguments where it doesn’t belong or isn’t required, confusing millions of helpless readers, listeners, and viewers. Humor is best described by Andrea Lunsford, John Ruszkiewicz, and Keith Walters in… Read more Lauryn Nosek, “The Last Laugh: A Humorous Argument Regarding the Misuse of Humor,” 2nd Place ENL 260
Chloë Krueger, Fall 2009 History has many definitions and there are many ways to interpret what history truly means, but one certainty remains; history is all encompassing; it is the journey of the living and the story of the dead. History is the sound of silken slippers whispering across majestic halls, tiptoeing down great flights… Read more Chloë Krueger, “History: Silken Slippers and Wooden Shoes,” 2nd Place ENL 260