Getting started on Core 1 Model: “The Company Man” by Ellen Goodman

While in the library: Before you are going to write a good paper about a piece of literature, you need to know it through and through. You can’t be fuzzy about anything. If you still feel fuzzy on who the author is and what the piece is about, you need to continue researching and reading around. You may even need to continue at home

“The Company Man” by Ellen Goodman Look for parallels to The Metamorphosis. Ms. Mullen is writing her core 1 on “The Company Man.”

Then I go to the library… I become close to an expert on Goodman and Kafka. I read about The Metamorphosis and about the kinds of things Goodman usually writes. I don’t see a ton of parallels between Goodman and Kafka or between Goodman and this piece of writing, so I’m going to just write a background paragraph on both authors at the beginning that explains the tremendous difference in context. I’m also going to remember to cite my research in this paragraph and use proper in-text citation format

So now… Question: What does something written by one person in one time and place have to do with something written by someone else, far away in time and space? Nothing, right? Or could there be some connection, linking us as human beings? Your Task: Your job will be to show such a connection. In other words, analyze an idea or concept that surfaces in two texts with distinct contextual differences in order to arrive at a meaningful conclusion about the significance of the shared issue despite the contextual differences. Explore how both authors approach the same idea differently or similarly.

Workaholic Identity – lack of it Obsession with time Easily replaced, squashed, thrown away Lack of intimate relationships “Board together” – family lives together but that is it Death Competition – to work harder and hardest Loneliness Conformity Isolation Dehumanization Self-worth – mixed up $$ and “taking care of the family” Powerlessness Modern life Soullessness of work/business

Common Ideas (Themes) Modern life often traps individuals in a soulless existence. While trying to validate one’s worth in family and society, it is easy to lose one’s individuality and humanity. Modern life is often dehumanizing because it drains relationships and work of humanity.

Thesis? Despite the difference in context, Kafka and Goodman continue to remind readers that while trying to validate one’s worth in family and society, it is easy to lose one’s individuality and humanity. Formula: Despite the difference in context, Kafka and ________ ___(verb)____ readers that ____________(theme)__________.

Where I think I want to end up: They both looked for meaning in the wrong place and ended up living a meaningless life, serving others instead of nourishing their unique selves. Modern life may lead to isolation and lack of relationships. Having personal and rich relationships is what makes a human.