18th and 19th Century African American Literature Final Paper Assignment Due: December 10, 2013 (in

class) Paper length: 5 pages (double spaced) Assignment Your paper should offer a persuasive argument about one or two of the literary works that we have read since November 1st. A persuasive argument requires a thesis, supporting evidence from the text(s) (direct as well as indirect support), and explanation of that evidence. Your paper should have an introduction that states the papers thesis, body paragraphs providing the support for your argument and explanation of that support, and a conclusion (that does not summarize what you have already said but takes your argument or the discussion of your paper in a new or extended direction). You should not use outside sources of any kind for this paper (including the internet), but a "Works Cited" section will tell me what editions of the text(s) you are writing about you used, so I can find the page numbers that you are referring to. I am specifically asking you not to situate your argument in relation to critical discussions about the author or authors' work. But obvious, if you do consult outside sources of any kind, these should also be listed in a bibliography, even if you do not quote from the source(s) directly. These paper guidelines were included with the second paper assignment, but are worth reviewing. Paper Guidelines Getting Started... 1. Read and Reread; formulate a provisional thesis. Read and reread the work or works you've decided to write about, with a mind to the topic you have chosen. Take careful notes, making note of all relevant words, phrases, images, and illustrations. Formulate a provisional thesis. Remember that the thesis is an argument, and not the topic of your paper. 2. AVOID GENERALIZATIONS! You cannot do a good job with a paper that sets out to argue that slavery is wrong. Consider arguments that allow you to examine a text closely and for which you are comfortable citing textual evidence. Writing the Paper... 1. The introduction: a. Read and reread the work or works you've decided to write about, with a mind to the

topic you have chosen. Take careful notes, making note of all relevant words, phrases, images, and (if applicable) illustrations. b. State your thesis. Make sure your thesis is specific enough to be covered adequately in the space of your discussion. Remember: merely noting a difference or similarity does not constitute a thesis. 2. Each paragraph should begin with a claim. Just as a thesis claim guides the paper as a whole, a paragraph's claim (often referred to as a "topic sentence") guides a paragraph. So, at or near the beginning of each paragraph, include a topic sentence that states your paragraph's central argument. The topic sentence serves as a bridge between thesis and paragraph by making an interpretive claim that indicates how the paragraph will support your thesis. 3. Provide support. To persuade your readers to your position, you will need to provide evidence in support of your claims. Quotations from the text(s) should be incorporated into your own prose and used as evidence to prove your assertions. 4. Analysis and explanation of evidence. Be sure to analyze the quotation or illustration and discuss its significance. Explain for your reader how your evidence supports your claims. 5. Conclusion. Your last paragraph should synthesize, not summarize. You should resolve -- and not merely repeat -- your argument. Think of a conclusion this way: it both reminds your reader of where you've been and suggests new areas to explore. And, after you finish your draft... 1. Revise and edit. Read your paper out loud to yourself. Often you will hear what your eyes will miss. 2. Grammar and structure are important. To help yourself proofread and revise with both of these ideas in mind, consult a good grammar handbook and/or style manual. 3. When in doubt, get help. My office hours are Thursdays from 12-2 and by appointment. My office hours on Thursday, November 5th will need to be changed; if you want to see me during this week please be in touch by email so we can set up an alternative time. My email address is elizabeth.mchenry@nyu.edu. The University Writing Center is also a good place to turn for help organizing your ideas or with your writing. They have walk in appointments/hours.