Essay Topics

Prompt 1:

Erik Larson's book The Devil in the White City brings 1893's Chicago & its World's Fair to life through detailing Daniel Burnham's direction & planning of the fair's design and HH Holmes' operation and secret use of his World's Fair Hotel.  Write an essay that analyzes the major rhetorical choices Erik Larson employs in his book The Devil in the White City and how they function to develop a theme.

In your response you should do the following:

• Respond to the prompt with a thesis that analyzes the writer’s rhetorical choices and their function in support of a theme.

• Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning (4+).

• Analyze & explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation.

• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

Prompt 2:

In the nineteenth century, the United States of America developed & encouraged a strong, unique identity principled in freedom, self-reliance, and ambition.   Carefully read the following six sources, including the introductory information for each source. Write an essay that synthesizes material from at least three of the sources and develops your position on the place, if any, of the 19th Century ideals inherent in its American Identity are relevant to today's society and people.  Use Source A, The Devil in the White City, as the primary source on which to apply some or all of the following sources.

Source A (The Devil in the White City)

Source B (101 Great Things About America (2020 Edition))

Source C (Ralph Waldo Emerson's The American Scholar)

Source D (Margaret Fuller's Woman in the 19th Century)

Source E ("Ralph Waldo Emerson's American Idea" by Annika Neklason)

Source F (comic)

Source G (image - from Fortune article, "101 Great Things About America (2020 Edition)")

In your response you should do the following:

• Respond to the prompt with a thesis that presents a defensible position.

• Select and use evidence from at least three of the provided sources to support your line of reasoning.

• Indicate clearly the sources used through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Sources may be

cited as Source A, Source B, etc., or by using the description in parentheses.

• Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.

• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

Prompt 3: Was Holmes really a serial killer?

For sections covering the "dark" side of the city of Chicago, author Erik Larson uses research to recreate the "true" crime story of HH Holmes, who some call the 1st American Serial Killer or even the most prolific serial killer of all time.  However, despite a strong corroborative details, many evidentiary or suggestive details amount only to suppositions and surmise without tangible proof.  Write an essay in which you assess the strengths and weaknesses of author Erik Larson's claim(s) & evidence against HH Holmes (aka Henry Mudgett) in The Devil in the White City.  Look especially at the evidence Larson uses and its credibility as well as the logic of conclusions drawn or suggested by Larson.  You should include more current material that possesses more knowledge about the specific crimes of the serial murderer such as John Douglass' book(s) The Anatomy of Motive or Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit.

In your response you should do the following:

• Respond to the prompt with an argumentative claim/thesis about the strength of Larson's case v. Mudgett as well as detective Geyer's insights.

• Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning.

• Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation.

• Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

PROMPT 4:

F. L. Olmsted's philosophical credo emphasized beauty and its importance for people and cities.  Attention to the proliferation and focus on beauty has dwindled in favor of many other considerations in and around cities.  Write an essay in which you discuss beauty's importance and necessity in society.  Use quotes from the book The Devil in the White City to support your claim.  Include aspects of both the landscape architecture and the architecture and design of buildings and cities.  You might also consider adding other artistry such as painting, literature, or others, including some outside sources or references, but use the text The Devil in the White City as your main source.