English 102 Diagnostic Essay Prompt Spring 2015 Jim Roth’s Website

Diagnostic Essay Prompt concerning Philip Bump’s Washington Post article “What Will America Look Like in 2050?”

In his article, Bump identifies three ways our society will be different in 35 years. His projections include changes in America’s religious composition, age composition, and racial and ethnic composition. For this short writing assignment, please assume that Bump’s projections are correct. With that in mind, please respond to the following three questions:

1. Of Bump’s three projections, which one do you believe will have the most positive influence on our society? In a healthy paragraph or two, please identify the projection and then give examples of positive changes we can expect. How will this new reality make American society better?

2. Of Bump’s three projections, which one do you believe will have the most negative influence on our society? In a healthy paragraph or two, please identify the projection and explain what the negative effects will be. In your support, please offer specific examples of negative changes we can expect.

3. In a final paragraph or two, please predict a change that Bump’s article did not mention. In what way, other than Bump’s three projections, do you believe American society will have changed by 2050? Specifically explain the change you anticipate. Will this proposed change be good or bad news for us?

MLA

Bump, Philip. “What Will America Look Like in 2050?” Washington Post. 4 April 2015. Web. 4 April 2015.

APA

Bump, P. (2015, April 4). What will America look like in 2050? Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/04/03/what-america-will-look-like-in-2050-less-christian-less-white-more-gray/.