English 2370: American Leadership Application Handout Week 1

This assignment is an application handout for English 2370, focusing on Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay "The American Scholar." The student is tasked with identifying five characteristics of leadership, both explicit and implied, as presented in Emerson's work, and to support their analysis with in-text citations using either APA or MLA format. The student then contemplates the application of these leadership traits across various facets of life, including academic, civic, social media, professional, and personal spheres, providing concise responses (100 words max each) for each category, also supported by citations. The assignment follows the structure provided in the assignment brief, which includes specific instructions regarding citation styles, word limits, and the due date. The student's work is evaluated based on their ability to analyze the source text, articulate leadership characteristics, and apply them to different contexts, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the reading material. The assignment aims to enhance the student's critical thinking, analytical, and writing skills within the context of American leadership studies.

English 2370: Readings in American Leadership
Dr. Ann Beebe
Application Handout Template: Weeks 1-6
Complete the questions on this handout for Weeks 1-6. Please write in complete sentences and
cite from the essay or speech using current in-text APA or MLA citation. The due dates are listed
on the syllabus and on your weekly checklist posted under each week’s Canvas module.
Your name: _________________
Team A or Team B: ___________
Week: ____________
Reading Assignment: _____________________
Citation Format Used: ___________________
1. Identify 5 Characteristics of Leadership (explicit and / or implied) in your own words
(500 words max, cite the essay)
The Characteristic of the American scholars as it has been defined by the
prominence of intellectual independence. As Emerson calls upon the
intellectuals of American nationalism, his ideals were guided towards making the
young generation contribute towards making the border of the nation broader and
contribute towards the development of peace in the nation. However, in doing so
he calls upon the individualism that is associated with the ideals of nationalism.
Such individualism was in contrast with the conventional ideals of nationalism
that fostered the ideals of conventionalism. As such, the ideals of individuality
was joined with the aspects of non-conformity that marked the scenario of
American cultural sphere. As such, the individuality adopted by Emerson was not
the same as the crude individualism associated with the ideals of the nationalism.
Along with the ideals the leadership style as it has been proposed by Emerson is
suggestive of the balanced personality as the leaders or the American scholars
need to derive from the natural order the inspiration for working towards
developed and the modern ideal. The work of the leaders is also invested in their
ability to inspire the people in order to reform their ways of thinking so that they
can bring about cultural uniformity in their attributes. Thus the responsibility of
the leadership is invested in its ability to move the people towards the desired.
The American Scholar according to the model of as proposed by Emerson should
carry about a balance in their personality as such it would allow them to become
more oriented in their leadership style. In order to be the leader with balanced
personality it is required of the leaders to become courageous, devoted to truth
and reliable on their self in order to achieve the needful. "We will walk on our
own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds’’ has
been resonating of the same ideal of self-reliance (Emerson, 2015).

2. Contemplate, in your own words, the potential application of the leadership traits you
identified in question one in:
a. Academic Life (100 words max, cite the essay)
Intellectual independence is the leadership quality that would be required in
the academic sphere. The academic sphere is continuously marked by the urge
to revolve the ideals in order to come up with newer thoughts on the
discourse. Such independence is also required, as Emerson has highlighted the
need to overthrow the conventional ideals and include the evolved ideals in
their disposition. The need is towards exhibiting the non-conformity within
their ideals as well as in their thinking process (Emerson, 2015).
b. Civic Life (100 words max, cite the essay)
The newer social life that Emerson has proposed aims at evolving the nature
of thinking and initiating the men of the society to become the common One
Man. The requirement is also towards exhibiting a non-conformity in the
ideals of the society. As per Emerson, the responsibility of the individuals is
aimed at having a non-conformist life, devoid of the traditional ideals of the
society. The balanced personality is also required in this respect (Emerson,
2015).
c. Social Media Life (100 words max, cite the essay)
Current days of social media has engulfed a considerable portion in the life of
the man and such it requires them to contribute towards the social causes in an
responsible way. As such, the attributes of responsibility are crucial in
developing a leadership quality in the social media sphere. The social media
sphere of the contemporary time is marked by its modern outlook and as such
the non-conforming ideals pre-dominates the situation. The social media also
demands the attributes of individualism and as such, it would require the
individuals to exhibit the values in order to inspire others (Emerson, 2015).
d. Professional Life / Career (100 words max, cite the essay)
Professional life demands of one person to exhibit an in competence towards
conformity and exhibit the person’s intellectual capacity to contribute to the
professional life in an effective way. The person needs to exhibit their
individualism as they would be able to contribute towards the cause in the
most effective way. The importance of balanced personality is also in parallel
as the leader requires to contribute to the cause of the society through their
professional life beside enhancing their personal lives (Emerson, 2015).
e. Personal Life (100 words max, cite the essay)
The professional life requires a person to exhibit all the attributes from the life
of the person. However, the primary category that demands to be exhibited is
the one of individualism. As such, the person requires to exhibit attributes of
balanced personality so that they can carry out their individual duty as well as
their duty towards the society in an effective manner (Emerson, 2015).

References
Emerson, R. W. (2015). Ralph Waldo Emerson. Harvard University Press.