yo yo ma art empathy and education for individual and society

Fall 2021 English Comp 102
In-Class Essay 1 Prompt
Craft a five-paragraph essay (an introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion
paragraph) to answer the following

prompt:

In “Necessary Edges: Arts, Empathy, and Education,” what does Yo-Yo Ma suggest
regarding the role of the arts for both the individual and modern society as a
whole—and are these arguments convincing? In other words, does Yo-Yo Ma present a
convincing case regarding the importance of art-oriented education and creativity in
the 21st century? Why or why not? Write an essay in which you take a position on
whether he presents a convincing case and support your position via careful reasoning
and textual evidence.

Each body paragraph should contain at least three direct examples or quotes. Make sure to
include a detailed thesis in your introductory paragraph as well as three clear and concise topic
sentences for each of the three body paragraphs.
As always, be careful not to simply summarize what the author has to say or use the question as a
springboard for a personal response. Maintain close contact with the specific prompt question and the
specific text, and keep in mind the important concepts and guidelines we’ve discussed thus far in class.
Keep in mind that your essay should propose a thesis, be framed with topic sentences, and offer
analysis and textual support. Remember that it should be well-organized and grammatically correct. Be
sure to save enough time and energy to proofread your essay