h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have to write a paper soonish describing "New Places for Awe and Wonder" for my Jewish Practice class. My teacher, the delightful Dr. Epstein, is a kind but closeminded Orthodox Jew. My choices are to tell her what she wants to hear - something distinctly Jewish - or I can tell her what I really think - something very distinctly not Jewish. Generally, the papers I make up get very high marks, and the ones in which I attack what I see as the internal hypocrisy of Judaism and actually say what I'm feeling are the ones where she comes to me after class to tell me "I'm very dissappointed in you, Ruth - when you apply yourself you really do so well, but when you resort to this nasty name-calling, I really can't help you out at all." This is probably an oversimplification, but I'm trying to weigh the choice between doing well but lying through my teeth and being perhaps vicious but answering the question she's asking honestly. Any thoughts?

And no, I can't find a balance most of the time. It's very difficult to call people racist/xenophobic self-loving close-minded pitilous and mean in nice words. Which is what most of our sources are.

It's your class but its her career - so I'm afraid I have to advise treading carefully here...but spend a lot of time trying to find a topic you can both agree on.
HTH.

I agree, but if there isn't one, lie. Tell the lady what she wants to hear so that you get a good grade I've been around university departments since 1961 (except for 1976/7 and 1996/7) and that's what works IMHO Sit down with your classmates after you've handed it in and discuss your true opinions with them. I'd be very interested to know where you consider IS a new place of awe and wonder. In return I'll nominate the Central escalator in HongKong or the ridiculously high building that isn't quite finished but has been put up using bamboo scaffolding or the London Eye - all man made and therefore not the right answer for essay purposes.