Your 2-3 page, 5 paragraph essay should focus on the readings and class discussions. Your essay should be in 12 point font, double spaced; using appropriate MLA citations in your text (do not use footnotes, just parentheses with author’s last name and page number with bibliography attached as page 4). Use qualitative and quantitative data to support each of your arguments. You will need to cite 2 of the readings from class in your paper, and at least 1 outside academic sources in addition to Robert Reich and Inequality for All.

Introduction: Define the Contemporary American Class Structure and Socioeconomic Status (High SES, Middle SES, Low SES). What factors determine which group you are a part of?

Paragraph 2: Why? – Why is the gap between the 1% and the average American worker so great? How did this come about and what contributes to the continued widening income inequality?

Paragraph 3: What does this mean and why is this a problem? – What is the economic impact and social impact of the rich getting richer and poor getting poorer? Provide 2 examples of how income inequality affects our society.

Paragraph 4: How do we solve widening income inequality? Provide at least 2 recommendations of how we might slow, stop or reverse widening income inequality. What will need to be done? Who will do it? Why?

Conclusion: Summarize your argument and clearly recap why income inequality exists (and to this extent) and what we might do in order to combat the social issues stemming from widening the gap between rich and poor.