Essay 2 / Comparison Essay

Workplace Issues in Turkey and The United States

Intermediate Composition

Directions: Write an essay of 2-3 pages (double-spaced; 600-750 words) on one of the following

topics below. You must refer to information in at least one of the essays from Chapter 2 of

Connect Writing 2.0.

Choose one of the following Compare/Contrast essay topics. Compare your experience in

Turkey with what you know of life/work here in the United States.

1. Older Workers and Discrimination

Consider some of these points:

Background information: Average age of retirement in both countries; rules

governing when people must retire; how workers in both cultures consider the

concept of “retirement.”

Cultural and business mindset about the value of older workers vs. their cost to a

company

Cases of discrimination or problems of older workers being forced to retire or

fired because of cost/age

Anecdotes/narratives based on people you know

Other examples from outside resources

Your opinion about the value of older workers vs. cost

2. Being Unemployed

Consider some of these points:

Background: Current rates of unemployment in both countries; demographics of

unemployment: What groups of people have the highest rate?

Anecdotes/narratives based on people you know

Other examples from outside resources

Outlook for the future and/or your suggestion for improving the current situation

in both countries

3. Low-paying Jobs

Consider some of these points:

Background: Types of low-paying jobs that are typical in each country;

demographics of those people who work low-wage jobs

Examples of people in this situation whom you know

Anecdotes/narratives based on people you know

Outlook for the future and/or your suggestion for improving the current situation

in both countries

4. Work-Life Balance

Consider some of these points:

Background information: Comparison of time off given to new parents in both countries;

prevalence of dual-income parents (families where both parents work outside of the

home); typical vacation time given to workers; access to free or low-cost daycare, etc.

Anecdotes/narratives based on people you know

Other examples from outside resources

Your opinion about what can be done to make the work-life balance better for mothers

and fathers