Part 3 Essay Please choose one essay topic and answer it completely. Make use of what you have learned from both the readings and the lectures. Please do not be afraid of writing too much. Your paper should be 3-5 pages typed with a reasonable font and margins. 1. Please write a brief review of In Dubious Battle. Did you enjoy it? What, if anything, did you like the most? Was there anything that you found especially objectionable? Would you recommend this book for future classes? Next analyze the story. Based on your reading of the story, please discuss the following issues. Who was your favorite character and why did you like him or her? Who were the winners of the dubious battle? Who lost out? Be sure to defend your opinions. Using what you know from the textbook and from lectures do you think that Steinbeck accurately portrays the problems of labor relations in California? WHY were conditions among agricultural workers the way they were? 2. Imagine the year is 1883. (Hint, the year is significant!) Imagine that you are a Chinese immigrant living in the city of San Francisco. Imagine, moreover, that you have lived here for quite some time. Write a long letter home describing your experiences in the city. Be sure to share your feelings and your analysis of the challenges you might be facing. Would you invite your family to join you? 3. The single most important institution in California from 1862-1920 was the railroad. It fostered agricultural development as well as industrial innovation. The railroad encouraged population growth, and its very presence ended Californias long isolation from the East Coast. The building of the railroad was the most felicitous event in the history of California! Do you agree or disagree with this statement? In an extended discussion, please analyze the impact the railroad had on the state of California. You will want to consider the economic, social and political consequences of building the railroad. Was it a felicitous event? Fe-lic-i-tous adj. 1 : very well-suited or expressed. 2 : pleasant, delightful
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