Assignment Type: Argumentative
Audience: Students NOT enrolled in this class.
Topic: In Flow one of the conditions that makes flow occur is that you have a clear goal. Interestingly enough, in the book Finding Happiness in a Frustrating World, it reveals that one proven way to increase long-term happiness (according to controlled trials cited in the book) is to set intrinsic/self-concordant goals. With much happiness research coming to similar conclusions, perhaps an important take-home message is this: the kinds of things we choose to spend our time on can have a HUGE impact on how happy we are.
Consider all three books we’ve read this semester. Now, read this essay by Stephen Cave: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/06/theres-no-such-thing-as-free-will/480750/ (Links to an external site.)
After reading this essay, and considering the three books you’ve read semester, and any other readings or experiences you’ve had with these concepts before, I’d like you to respond to Cave’s essay with your own. You can start by summarizing his main point, and then from there, I’d like to see a healthy discussion of your synthesis of these texts. Synthesis is when we combine multiple elements in order to create something new. We’ve read a book about the importance of intrinsic motivation, the power of habit and routines, as well as a book about flow and happiness. And now you’ve read an essay on the topic of free will. Taken together, what is it you want to say? In other words, it’s your turn. Weigh in on all of it. I’d like to see a culmination of the last 6 weeks in your best 2000 words.
Grading: This essay is worth 100 points. In your essay, be sure to use this checklist:
Some Advice: