Outline of Next Couple Weeks & Essay III Description

The Next Couple Weeks: Given the limited amount of time remaining in the semester and the fact that I only plan to cover the first four chapters in Benjamin Barber's book, Consumed, I am going to have you "cover" this in our last essay of the semester, as described below. More specifically, what we'll be doing over the next two weeks is as follows: Tuesday (4/15): see "Advertising and the End of the World," following which you'll be engaged in the family activity I described in a 4/11 blog post; Thursday (4/17): families will present views on video, following which I will make some overview comments on Consumed, then open the class up for any questions or comments you care to make about the book; Tuesday (4/22): open with questions or comments on Consumed, following which I will introduce our last book, The Cheating Culture; Thursday (4/24): essay III due on Consumed, and I will continue commentary on The Cheating Culture. You should already have begun reading Consumed and, hopefully, will have read through Chapter 4 over the next week or so. Also --

DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE FAMILY ACTIVITY AND EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY I DESCRIBED IN THE APRIL 11TH BLOG POST.
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Sociology 215
Essay III
4/15/08

A. Especially significant and insightful in Benjamin Barber's critique of our consumerist society is the notion of "infantilization" or the "Infantilist Ethos," which he argues is a danger to us both as responsible consumers and citizens. So, what's wrong with thinking and acting like children? More specifically, I want you to identify and discuss THREE points from the first four chapters of Consumed (at least ONE of which has to come from Chapter 4), addressing that question.

B. Your essay should be a bit longer than the first two, roughly 3-4 pages. Be sure to indicate the page #(s) of any passages from the book which you quote in your essay. In fact, for each of the three points you identify and discuss I want you to indicate the page #(s) from which each came even if you don't quote something directly from the book.

C. This essay is due on THURSDAY, APRIL 24TH. It is worth 25 points.