ENGL 383
African-American Literature, Spring 2006
Paper #2 Assignment
Pick one of the options below, and compose a 1,500-2,000
word paper in response to that topic. Be sure that you keep your paper focused on your topic, and
that you refer to, quote, and cite the literature often -- but no
bloc quotations! Also, no plot summary (where you
retell the work you're discussing). Assume that we've all read the
literature, and get right in to your discussion.
The paper should be uniform and professional:
- typed/computer printed in readably dark ink, double-spaced, on
one side of the page only
- font no bigger than 12-point Times or Palatino font through the whole paper
- 1" margins all around,
- pages numbered at upper-right after the first
page
- include no images (unless you obtain my prior permission)
- use cover sheet (no photos or drawings!) including on different lines your name, paper
title, and the course # and section # in the same font and font size listed above
- an electronic copy submitted to turnitin.com by 9 p.m. of the due date OR I WILL NOT READ YOUR PAPER.
Citation of the literature should appear in MLA style--see me if you are not familiar with MLA style. You
may use outside sources, but I do not require you to -- if you do
use outside sources, cite them in MLA style and include a works cited
page in MLA format.
PROOFREAD YOUR PAPERS BEFORE SUBMITTING THEM. PAPERS WITH BASIC
ERRORS WILL BE RETURNED UNREAD, UNGRADED, AND COUNTED LATE. Take
advantage of the SU Writing Center in the Guerreri Center for help.
(For extra help, see my Writing Tips page.)
»» OPTIONS (pick only one of the following):
OPTION 1: explore the theme of awareness of history vs.
ignorance of history in either Invisible Man or A Raisin in
the Sun or Beloved. What happens when characters are aware of
their Black history? What happens when they are ignorant of it? How does
this ignorance or awareness affect their lives? Are some characters more
aware of Black history than other characters, and if so, then why?
OPTION 2: explore the theme of White money benfitting
from Black labor in any one of the following:
Invisible Man, A Raisin in the Sun or Beloved. What effect
on the Black population does working for the financial benefit of Whites
have for the characters of your chosen work? How does such labor make
them see themselves? How much of those characters' situations are just
as much financial as raced?
OPTION 3: compare/contrast any one scene or incident from
Invisible Man or A Raisin in the Sun or Beloved to any one
current but "non-literary" form of African-American expression. (What current "non-literary" work deals with similar subjects or themes?
In what ways do they deal with that subject similarly, and how
differently? Here, you're linking the past to the present.)
Paper Due Wednesday May 17, to my office by 4 p.m. Do
not e-mail me your paper; I accept only hard copies
turned in on time. If you want to discuss your paper or topics with
me, please make an appointment for an office visit (344 Holloway).
Remember that failure to turn in either of the long papers will fail you
from the course.
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