Assignment 3: Literary Analysis
The major assignment for this week is to compose a 900-word essay on the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. In this paper you will write an in-depth analysis using your own ideas and excerpts from the text in the form of quotes, paraphrase, or summary.
Please respond to the following prompt in writing your essay:
Frederick Douglass wrote his narrative to advance the abolitionist cause. The account of his life was meant to serve as a powerful argument against the institution of slavery that many defended as beneficial to both white and black. Identify three to four specific arguments that Douglass makes against slavery. How does he attempt to persuade and convince his audience?
Develop a Tentative Thesis
Your answer to the prompt should serve as the thesis for your paper. Make sure to include your thesis at the end of your introductory paragraph.
Prewriting
Gather evidence that is likely to support your tentative thesis. Your evidence should consist of quotations, paraphrases, or summaries from the literature's text. Make sure you fully discuss and analyze each example you include.
Next, choose one of the prewriting techniques discussed in chapter 3c, "Invent and Prewrite," of The New Century Handbook and begin prewriting.
Rough Draft
Write your rough draft. You are not required to submit it, but you should acquire the habit of writing one for every essay you compose in this and other classes.
Revise and Edit
Proofread the rough draft to ensure the following:
Thesis is clear and well focused and the introduction includes all the necessary information.
Discussion of evidence includes quotes, paraphrase, or summary and synthesizes this material and your ideas.
Conclusion is appropriate and reinforces the paper's main ideas without repeating the introduction word for word.
Essay is formatted in APA style throughout, uses appropriate grammar, spelling and mechanics, and quoted material does not exceed 25% of the paper.