Hero Essay (800 words)

Guide line

A Place to Eat 

Everyone, it seems, has a favorite place to eat. For some, it is a fast-food restaurant like McDonald’s, Burger King or Taco Bell. Or it may be a diner like Denny’s or an ethnic restaurant like El Torito, Panda Inn, or Olive Garden. It may be a restaurant that serves large portions like Hometown Buffet or Claim-Jumpers or that serves specialized food like Red Lobster or Ruth’s Chris Steak House. It may be a fancy restaurant like l’Orange or a small, independently-owned café. It may be a place such as Benihana’s known for its atmosphere. Or it may be eating at home or a friend or relative’s house. We like these places for many reasons including the type of food served, the decorations and setting, the atmosphere, the music or entertainment available, or even the price of the food.

Please discuss your favorite place to eat. Be sure to describe the location and explain why you enjoy eating there. Use examples and details to support your reasons.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Topic 2

What Makes a Hero?

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, it seems that our concept of heroism has changed. Where before we might talk about famous athletes, rock stars, and actors, now we are thinking about ordinary people such as firemen and policemen risking their own lives to save others. We are thinking about workers in the World Trade Center who helped disabled people down flights and flights of stairs rather than escaping themselves. We are thinking about the passengers on United Flight 93, who decided to attack the hijackers and prevent their airplane from being used to attack others. As the Chronicle of Higher Education put it, we are talking about "ordinary people doing extraordinary things."

In a well-organized essay, answer the following question:

In your opinion, what makes a hero? In answering this question you may want to discuss how your attitudes toward heroism have changed over time, and what people and events have influenced you. Support your ideas with specific experiences in your own life or that you have experienced through television, movies, books, or other media.

Topic 3

Are Textbooks Too Expensive?

According to a recent New York Times editorial, the State of Washington has passed a law requiring textbook companies to disclose prices and other relevant information to professors when they market the books to them. The editorial states, “Lawmakers hope that professors who learn the costs upfront will opt for reasonably priced textbooks that cashstrapped students can afford.” It also describes the online “Connexions” system at Rice University, which allows textbooks from a consortium of writers to be used online for free, and printed out for one-fifth the cost of a regular textbook. The writer argues that other universities should “follow Rice’s creative lead.”

Do you find that textbooks are too expensive? Do you think that the measures described in the editorial will help? In a wellorganized essay, propose at least one solution to the problem of expensive textbooks. In supporting your argument, you may want to describe your experiences buying textbooks for university classes and explain how your solution or solutions would help solve the problem.