Essay 3-5 pages, choose from 5 topics

Marc Lamont Hill “Nobody” (article/excerpt)

Amy Tan “Mother Tongue” (story – non-fiction)

Toni Cade Bambara “The Lesson” (story - fiction)

Lorraine Ali “Do I Look Like Public Enemy Number One?” (article/essay)

Jean Pfaelzer “The Chinese Called It Pai Hua, or the Driven Out” (excerpt)

Thomas Jefferson “The Declaration of Independence”

Christopher Columbus “The Diario of Christopher Columbus” (diary)

Important Reminders:

1. Get the author’s name right. Please spell the author’s name correctly. In addition, after the first reference with their full name, refer to the author by their last name only, never just their first name. In academic work we use just the last name, not Ms., Mrs., or Mr. If Dr. is their title, that may be used.

2. Label their work correctly. If it’s an article, call it an article (not a story).

3. “Show off” your knowledge of and ability to use summary, analysis, and rhetorical appeals that you have learned and practiced this semester.

Choose one of the following topics.

1. Compare and contrast Ali’s “Do I Look Like Public Enemy Number One?” with Bambara’s “The Lesson”. Where do their views align? Where do they depart? The basis of your essay may be style, structure, and/or content.

1. Examine Bambara’s use of language in her story. What specific words and phrases does she use? Why did she choose those words over others? What is their impact? Why, and how, does she emphasize her point through her word choices? How is her language connected to her argument? Does her argument achieve its goals?

1. In “The Lesson”, Bambara uses an illustration to teach us about economic inequalities based on race in the United States. Discuss these inequalities as presented by Bambara and from your own understanding of these issues in the U.S. today. What kinds of inequalities exist in the U.S.? What is their origin? How have these inequalities evolved over time? Be very specific in your answer. You may reference other works in addition to Bambara.

1. Discuss the power and influence that words hold. The primary focus should be on one or more of the works from this class. Be sure to make a specific assertion, and then support it with examples from the text. Analyze the significance of the words, situations, and themes that are in the essay or story. You may make connections outside of the text as well, but maintain the majority of the focus on the text.

1. Apply any of the above questions to any of our texts. (1) Compare and contrast two texts. (2) Examine the author’s use of language. (3) Discuss and analyze the inequalities presented in the text. (4) Discuss the power of the written or spoken word, making references to your chosen text.

Requirements:

• Make sure your thesis is clear and well-supported.

• Quotations must be frequent, and all need to include page numbers from the text.

• You may cite other works in addition to the readings for this class. If others are cited, include a Works Cited. If you only use our texts, do not attach a Works Cited.

• MLA Format: typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12, one-inch margins, 3-5 pages, and MLA heading.