Final Essay Examples

Here are some examples of "A" essays for each of the topics. Note that none of them are perfect, but that is not necessary. If you are able to succeed as fully as these essays do, you will be in good shape.

Topic 1: TV Shows

Both of these authors were able to fulfill the purpose of this essay, using, in this case "I Love Lucy" as a way of teaching about the 1950s. Take a look, for example, at paragraph #2 of essay #2, where the author explains how we can see a shift in values between 1950 and 2000. Exactly what should be happening in essays on this topic.

What you should not do, by contrast, is just summarize what you see on screen. You must draw some inferences about the society that created the show, be it 1950s America or 1990s America or whatever.

     • Example 1 (PDF)
     • Example 2 (PDF)

Topic 2: Music

Observe how the essay on Eminem (#1) identifies common themes in his music, and then uses those as a way to comment on the society of which Eminem is a part. For example, this author explains what we can learn about race relations in the 1990s-2000s from the music of Eminem.

By contrast, a weak paper would be just a summary of important events in Eminem's career, like you would find in an encyclopedia. Do not do this, for this will not result in a good grade.

     • Example 1 (PDF)
     • Example 2 (PDF)

Topic 3: Museums

These authors do exactly what they were supposed to do. They went to their museum (in these cases the Museum of Tolerance), tried to figure out what the museum was trying to say/teach, and then figured out what tactics the museum used to communicate its message.

What you should NOT do, is just summarize what you saw at the museum, or just tell me whether you liked it or not. You are not Roger Ebert, and this paper is not supposed to be a review of the museum. It is an analysis of the museum as a form of historical interpretation.

     • Example 1 (PDF)
     • Example 2 (PDF)

Topic 4: The Bus

These authors were particularly skillful in their analysis of their bus trips. Note how they wrote down what they saw, and then explained what it tells us about modern America. For example, take a look at paragraph #2 of example #2, where the author talks about Brook Lake apartments. In a short space, the author makes several observations and then draws thoughtful inferences about how hectic modern America is, about the differences between blue and white collar workers, about our problem with obesity, and about our concerns with crime. Very nice.

     • Example 1 (PDF)
     • Example 2 (PDF)

Topic 5: Oral History

The key to this essay is the second part, where you thoughtfully assess the pluses and minuses of oral history. These authors both do very well with that.

     • Example 1 (PDF)
     • Example 2 (PDF)

Topic 6: Soldiers

Sorry, don't have any examples of this one, yet. Brand-new topic.