Learning goals
The goal of this assignment is to reinforce your skills in identifying, evaluating, and integrating information from multiple sources in developing arguments based on your reading and library research. There are three (3) stages to this assignment and you must turn in all three for credit toward the cumulative grade. You will be required to produce an annotated bibliography and a draft of your work in advance of the final revision.
Respond to one of the following prompts, integrating evidence from at least six (6) sources to support a clear thesis that answers the prompt. The paper must be a minimum-length of eight (8) pages (7 full written pages, plus your Works Cited).
Prompt #1—The horror of colonialism
Analyze how Joseph Conrad deals with issues of race and colonialism in Heart of Darkness. In what ways are the expressions of humanity in the book impacted by the racist language and attitudes expressed by individual characters? Analyze this dichotomy to support a thesis about how modern readers should respond to the book.
Approaches for this prompt: Pick a variety of passages for analysis that represent the attitudes you saw at play in the book. Through your analyses, expose how Conrad shows approval or disapproval of the colonial presence in Congo. Topic sentences for the body paragraphs should make arguments about how the book’s expressions about the treatment of human beings stack up against the racist expressions of the characters? What underlying theme shines through? How effectively does Conrad make it?
Your paper should not be a personal response to these attitudes and expressions. Instead, your paper present an analysis that is informed by other scholarly opinions. You will find these through your research and in some of the readings we have had in class. Consider our readings on why violence occurs and how people are inclined to objectify and vilify others. Articles by LeShaun or Rai may prove helpful, depending on what direction you take your arguments. Essays by Chinuba, Firchow, and Achebe or any of the essays in the section “19th Century Attitudes on Race,” in the Norton Critical Edition may also be helpful. Your own research should seek out what other scholars have have written about this question . Use your analysis of their articles to affirm the position you take in your argument.
Tips
Be sure the quotes, evidence, and examples you use from the texts are well integrated into your paper to support your arguments.
Use vivid descriptions so your readers can “see” or “hear” the performances in their mines’ eye.
Double-check to be sure that all quotes and original ideas in your evidence are cited according to MLA documentation style (see page 119 in your style guide). Your grade will, in part, reflect your ability to properly cite and attribute the ideas and quotes as you integrate evidence from your source texts into your arguments. You will find the MLA papers section of the style guide, pages 103-154 helpful in doing this.
If you use an online citation generator, such as EasyBib, be sure the information you enter is complete, accurate, and spelled correctly.
Students who review their drafts with a tutor at the Writing Center tend to get better, even significantly better, grades on their papers. If you plan to review your paper with a tutor, make an appointment now to see a tutor at least a day before the final revision is due.
Deadlines:
Annotated bibliographies due: Monday, Nov. 30. Turn in one paper copy in class.
Drafts due: Wednesday, Dec. 2. Turn in one paper copy in class and send an electronic version to me at cannes3@andromeda.rutgers.edu. Name the electronic file Draft 4_[your last name].
Final copy due date: Friday, Dec. 11. This is two days after our last class. Send your electronic version to me at cannes3@andromeda.rutgers.edu. Name the electronic file Final 4-[your last name].
Other Essentials
Sources: You will need a total of six sources. Use Heart of Darkness (your first source). At least three must be scholarly sources that you found through the Dana Library. The others may be from the essays n the Norton Critical Edition or earlier readings we had in class.
Length: Minimum 7 written pages, plus the Works Cited (8 pages total)
Bring one paper copy to class and send an electronic version to me at cannes3@andromeda.rutgers.edu.
Follow MLA style. It is outlined in your style guide, beginning on page 148. Sample papers showing proper MLA style are in the style guide, beginning on page 150. Your ability to conform to MLA citation style and format will be a key component of your grade on this paper.
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