If you are teaching a research paper, I recommend the essay, “Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted,” written by Malcolm Gladwell. I have used this essay in my college freshman English course, and it always works well with the research paper unit. The essay has a clear introduction, body, and conclusion that students can identify and analyze. Gladwell includes several historical references that give examples of his thesis. He also defines terms that are unique to the essay, such as “high-risk activism,” and students discuss what he means, and what examples he gives. We then imitate these skills in their own papers. The essay is challenging, and my students struggle to comprehend it, but with homework guide questions – just a few so they are not overwhelmed – we get through the essay with a beneficial discussion. This essay would also pair nicely with a cross-teaching unit between English and American history. While I do alternate readings for my class each semester, “Small Change” is on my syllabus every semester.
