Write a three page essay that explores a paradox.
Choose one of the quotations listed on the page “Twelve Paradoxical Quotations” (located in this week’s module) as your subject. Each of these quotations expresses a paradox.
The purpose of your essay is to demonstrate your understanding of a paradox as a subject for written analysis and application to real life.
Use your chosen quotation as a starting point for your essay. Incorporate your chosen quotation into your essay’s introductory paragraph.
If you agree with the paradox, you could almost conceive of it as a readymade thesis for your essay, leaving you the task of supporting, developing, and applying the paradox in a few more ways.
Even if you don’t immediately agree–or even fully understand–your chosen paradox, you can still use the quote as a starting point for your exploration. Either way, the quote should be presented word for word, enclosed within quotation marks, and attributed its author.
To develop and explore your chosen paradox:
- Look at the wording of the quote more closely, commenting on the meanings and intentions of the quote itself.
- Find and include specific examples from literature, films, or real life that seem to fit or connect with the logic of the paradox.
- Supply three additional quotations relevant to the general subjects of your chosen paradox. You can systematically search for such quotations by inserting topic words from your initial paradox quote (such as “tolerance” or “quotations about “tolerance”) into an online search engine. Once selected, these additional quotations should be incorporated into your paper to enhance the overall quality of your exploration of paradox.
