English 101 In-class essay 2

In a well-structured essay of four or more paragraphs, address one of the three options below.

You may type the essay on your computer, but you are not required to do so.  If you do type the essay, follow the MLA-style formatting for typed work as outlined in the simple stuff handout.  Also, be sure to save your work on floppy disk periodically as you write, and of course after you have finished the essay.  You may save youre completed essay on my disk if you don't have one.

If you would prefer to write the essay longhand, follow the guidelines for hand-written work set forth on the simple stuff handout, and double space the essay throughout.  If you are using thin paper or heavy ink, write only on one side of each page.

You may raise a question in the introduction and answer it in the body of the discussion, presenting a thesis in the conclusion, but you are not required to do so.  If you do not raise a question in the introduction, you should offer a thesis statement instead--a thesis is simply the fullest, most direct answer to the fundamental question your essay addresses even though you do not include the question in the essay.

Option 1:
It has been said that "every human being should read Tolstoy's 'Ivan Ilych' carefully and often."  Do you think "Ivan Ilych" should be required reading for all human beings?  Why?  Or if you're daring, why not?

Note: if you choose to argue that all human beings should not be required to read "The Death of Ivan Ilych," you must structure the essay as an argument, addressing the obvious opposing viewpoint in one or more paragraphs before presenting your explanation of why the story should not be required reading for the whole human race.

Option 2:
Explain Gerasim's significance.  Why do some consider him the most important character in "The Death of Ivan Ilych"?

Option 3:
Ivan Ilych learns that he has lived his life "all wrong."  Making specific reference to the mistakes in the way Ivan Ilych lived his life before his injury or illness, explain what you believe Tolstoy thought was most important in life.