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Discussion Post #2

Choose 1 of the following prompts to respond to. See below.

1. Mr. Ryder states the following: “Self preservation is the first law of nature” (), which he uses

to justify his life choices. Stop to think about what “self-preservation” means first. Then,

○ Is self-preservation beneficial to the individual if one must give up all they know

to be accepted? (What does such acceptance mean if one must reinvent the self to

achieve acceptance and/or happiness)….Take a stance.

2. In “The Two Offers” the narrator contrasts Laura and Jeanette character to examine the role of

womanhood. Using one of the characters as evidence, what does the story suggest about the

expectations of women? (Yes, there are many expectations, but choose 1 expectation that you

can explore in one paragraph and use the character as evidence to prove your ideas about these

expectations).

Requirements:

● Review the PIE Paragraph format handout to develop a strong body paragraph.

● 1 body paragraph (250 words) with a clear topic sentence. The topic sentence is the first

sentence of the paragraph that states the paragraph’s main idea and its significance.

○ Come back to specify the topic sentence after you write the paragraph

● Select a specific scene from the literature as an example of the theme.

○ 1-2 quotes for the paragraph (place in quotation marks and include the page

number in parentheses at the end). For instance (Wells-Barnett 4).

● Place the title in quotation marks

● Carefully proofread

Avoid:

● Summary

● Outside sources. The only source allowed for this assignment is the literature (not

biographies or historical context articles). Do not use online sources to create

discussion posts. When you submit your post it will be submitted to SafeAssign, which

determines whether the entry is plagiarized or not.

● First-person (“I,” “me,” “my”) and second-person pronouns (“you,” “your”).

● Using “I think,” “I feel,” “I believe,” and “In my opinion” because these statements prove

nothing.

● Using the author’s first name

 

Discussion Post #2 – Prompt 1

Topic Sentence:
Self-preservation, while a fundamental instinct, becomes detrimental when it requires abandoning one’s identity and personal values for social acceptance, as true happiness cannot be attained through the reinvention of the self alone.

Paragraph (PIE Format):
In examining Mr. Ryder’s assertion that “Self-preservation is the first law of nature” (Ryder 12), it becomes clear that prioritizing survival or acceptance above personal integrity imposes significant costs on the individual. Self-preservation often implies making choices that maintain safety, stability, or societal approval, yet the narrative demonstrates that such choices may require individuals to suppress or discard elements of their identity that define them. For example, when a character considers conforming to the social norms of a new environment, they must “learn to smile at strangers and forget the principles that once guided every action” (Ryder 18). This scene illustrates that acceptance, when dependent on abandoning one’s authentic self, offers only superficial benefits; it may secure temporary approval but fails to produce genuine contentment or self-respect. Furthermore, the tension between personal desires and societal expectations highlights that reinvention under duress often produces internal conflict rather than true happiness. The individual may survive physically or socially, but the emotional and psychological cost undermines the purpose of self-preservation itself. Therefore, the narrative suggests that self-preservation cannot be universally beneficial; it only retains value when aligned with one’s identity and ethical principles. Sacrificing selfhood for acceptance transforms survival into compromise, demonstrating that authentic well-being arises from maintaining integrity, even in the face of social pressures.

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Notes:

• Topic sentence is clear and argumentative.

• Quotes are embedded and cited properly.

• Paragraph follows PIE: Point (topic sentence), Illustration (quotes), Explanation/Analysis (interpretation).

• Avoids first-person and summary.

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