The University of Florida's 2009 Common Book Essay Contest
The Common Reading Program seeks to engage the university's freshman class in conversations about the issues brought to light in a particular book. The book selection for 2009 is The Devil's Highway, by Luis Alberto Urrea. This true story of life and death in one of the world's most dangerous desert borders speaks powerfully about the humanity we all lose when we create a political, social, and physical architecture of despair and desperation. This story encourages discussion of border issues while placing those discussions in the crucial context of our human connection with the great variety of people deeply affected by this tragedy and the situation at this border.
The essay contest is intended to celebrate undergraduate scholarship by University of Florida students and illustrate their interest in important social issues. Two essays will be chosen, one in the humanities and one in the sciences. A wide variety of essays will be considered, from scientific research to philosophical or even personal reflection. All of the essays should strive for scholarly excellence. The essays will be featured on the common book website and considered for publication in The Journal of Undergraduate Research.
Contest essays should address some underlying dynamic at work in Urrea's history of the "Yuma 26" tragedy. From an analysis of the book itself to a study of social, cultural, political, economic and/or personal influences that create such tragedies, your essay should address an issue brought up in The Devil's Highway. There are many ways for you to help us develop our understanding of The Devil's Highway and the issues it explores. Some possible essay ideas are:
Humanities:
- If you have a unique perspective on the conditions that brought the "Yuma 26" into the desert, you could offer an insightful essay of personal reflection. (Personal Reflection)
- You could create a philosophical reflection on the nature of borders and crossings. (Philosophy)
- You could examine how the mythological force of narratives at work in this story, from the "Robin Hood" image of Don Moi Garcia to the "American Dream" image of life across the border, drive human action. (English)
- You could examine the role of "historical fiction" as a genre. What is its relationship to truth, history, and the creation of our humanity? (English)
- You could examine the historical parallels between the earlier Chinese immigration through this border, which Urrea points to at the beginning of his text, and the current Mexican immigration. (History)
Either Science or Humanities (depending on how you address the issue):
- Urrea describes the border crossers in his retelling of this tragedy as "aliens before they ever crossed the line." You could examine what he means by this statement. (Anthropology or Philosophy)
Sciences:
- You could examine the architecture of the border fence and Yuma station for what it says about the political and social realities of border maintenance. (Architecture / Sociology)
- You could write an analysis of the economic realities affecting border crossings and suggest policy changes that might help avoid such tragedies in the future. (Economics / Political Science)
- You could examine the shift in US border policy after 9/11 which resulted in the wall and pushed border crossers deeper into the desert to reveal consequences of such policy and then suggest what can be done to improve the situation. (Sociology / Political Science)
- You could examine the psychology of power and how it affects border activity and border policy. (Psychology / Sociology)
- You could examine the financial and labor supply realities of farming or construction in the United States to critique immigration / border policy. (Economics / Sociology)
- You could examine how the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge is facing environmental degradation from the increase in border traffic in this remote desert area. (Ecology / Environmental Science)
- You could examine the political circumstances that led to congressional failure to address border issues via the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, which included a "blue card" guest worker program, and suggest how those issues might be resolved. (Political Science)
Prize
The two winning essays will be considered for publication in the Journal of Undergraduate Research. Additionally, both winners will be invited to serve on the 2009-2010 Common Reading Program Book Selection Committee to represent the student body. A prize package consisting of UF and Gainesville area business goodies will also be included.
Criteria
Contest essays will be 1,000 to 1,500 words long. While contestants are not limited to the subjects mentioned in the book, any additional research must be related to issues relevant to the story told in The Devil's Highway and must be documented in either MLA or APA style. The winning papers will be persuasive, well-crafted essays.
Due Date
The contest essays must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Friday, November 13th, 2009. Please submit your essay here.
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