Note:  Your seminar grade will be determined by the quantity of your responses (how many questions you answer and how many other students you respond to) and the quality (how well you demonstrate an understanding of the ideas you're responding to, how detailed your responses are, how coherent and in-depth they are, etc.)

Directions:
1.  Read the essay by George Will : The Equity of Inequality

2. Choose one question and respond with a 3-5 paragraph mini-essay. Include quotes and/or specific references to the text to back up your responses.

1. Class Gap: Why does Will think the increasing gap between rich and poor in this country is good? How does this gap serve both rich and poor, in Will's opinion?

2.  The Problem with the NY Times: What is Will's quarrel with the article posted in the New York Times? Why does he think the article is a problem?

3.  Our Self Image: The NY Times says that the increasing gap between rich and poor contradicts our image of ourselves as a society dedicated to egalitarianism. Will says that we are not dedicated to egalitarianism, but rather to equality. What's the difference between the two, according to Will? Who do you agree with - Will or the NY Times? Why?

4. Your Reaction: Summarize Will's thesis, and give your reaction to his ideas. Do you believe that social justice requires that the country's resources are distributed equally among its citizens? Why or why not?

3. Submit your response to the Assignment chamber by midnight on Wednesday, 2/19.

4. Post your responses to the appropriate forum by midnight on Wednesday, 2/19. Please do not choose "Add a New Discussion Topic"! Post your response under the appropriate heading, if you please.

5. Read all the other students' posts throughout the seminar period.

6. Respond to at least two other student's post (more is better) .  You will have until midnight, Wednesday, 2/19, to read and respond to the other students' ideas in the website.