EN 209 – Fall 2014 Essay Assignment Savage Indians.
Question # 00115467
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Updated on: 10/09/2015 08:39 PM Due on: 11/08/2015
the assignment for a Essay of 1250-1500 words on Mary Rowlandson Captivity.
EN 209 – Fall 2014
Essay
Assignment
Savage Indians. An inhospitable wilderness. A wrathful deity. Captivity. Madness. The pressures
of a new nation. The texts of the European colonies in the new world and of the New Republic
might have differed in form, but in a fundamental way they address the fears of a new colony
and nation. During these first few weeks, we have such genres as the captivity narrative, the
gothic, the sermon, and the political essay. For your midterm grade, you will write an essay
(1000-1500 words) examining one of the pre-1800 texts we have read and the ways it attempts to
address colonial or American fears. Specifically, I want you to examine genre or form and the
way that it helps the writer explore fear in America. It is not enough, for example, to list the
ways Rowlandson’s Narrative uses the literary conventions of the captivity narrative. Instead,
your thesis should address the significance of those conventions in Rowlandson’s version of the
events, particularly in regards to ways she represents the fears of the Massachusetts colony.
How to Proceed
Following text:
Rowlandson’s A Narrative of the
Captivity…
Your analysis should come from your own close reading of the texts only. While our class
discussions of these works will help you in your analysis, I expect your paper to be your own
unique analysis and not simply a recitation of the class discussions. Keep in mind that your
audience is familiar with the works—there is no need to include lengthy summaries of them in
your paper.
Establishing Your Argument
In this essay you will construct an argument. Your initial argument will serve as your thesis of
the paper, so define it clearly, carefully, and concisely. Your thesis CANNOT be a summary. For
example, “Winthrop stresses the importance of charity in the new colony” is a summary and not
considered an argument. Do not simply restate the themes or events in the text—instead, an
argument expresses your opinion on that subject and provides evidence (in the form of
quotations) as support for your point-of-view.
Remember, your argument/thesis has two parts: subject and significance. The subject is what
you are talking about, the nuts-and-bolts of the text. In this case, your “what” should address
some of the literary conventions or tropes of the text. The significance is the why of your
argument. Put another way, it answers so what?, providing your audience with a reason to care
about what you have to say. For this essay, your so-what answer will address fears of either the
Puritan colonists or members of the Early Republic.
Providing Evidence
EN 209 – Fall 2014
You provide support for your argument in the form of quotations from the texts. Do Not simply
drop your quote into your essay in the hopes that your audience will understand what you mean
to say. Do not assume the quote automatically provides support for your argument; you must
provide the link between the text and your argument. Use MLA format for in-text citations, i.e.,
(LastName pg#). You will not need a Works Cited page.
Your Final Draft Should:
Begin with an interesting and informative title
Make a clear and concise claim that addresses both the characteristics or tropes of the text’s
form/genre, and offers a “so-what answer” that addresses the topic of fear
Provide detailed analysis and close reading of relevant quotes in order to support your thesis
Use diction and style appropriate to a formal essay
Be between 1000-1250 words. Essays shorter than 950 words will result in a failing grade.
Be free of grammatical and mechanical errors, double-spaced, 12-point font, and in MLA
format.
Essay
Assignment
Savage Indians. An inhospitable wilderness. A wrathful deity. Captivity. Madness. The pressures
of a new nation. The texts of the European colonies in the new world and of the New Republic
might have differed in form, but in a fundamental way they address the fears of a new colony
and nation. During these first few weeks, we have such genres as the captivity narrative, the
gothic, the sermon, and the political essay. For your midterm grade, you will write an essay
(1000-1500 words) examining one of the pre-1800 texts we have read and the ways it attempts to
address colonial or American fears. Specifically, I want you to examine genre or form and the
way that it helps the writer explore fear in America. It is not enough, for example, to list the
ways Rowlandson’s Narrative uses the literary conventions of the captivity narrative. Instead,
your thesis should address the significance of those conventions in Rowlandson’s version of the
events, particularly in regards to ways she represents the fears of the Massachusetts colony.
How to Proceed
Following text:
Rowlandson’s A Narrative of the
Captivity…
Your analysis should come from your own close reading of the texts only. While our class
discussions of these works will help you in your analysis, I expect your paper to be your own
unique analysis and not simply a recitation of the class discussions. Keep in mind that your
audience is familiar with the works—there is no need to include lengthy summaries of them in
your paper.
Establishing Your Argument
In this essay you will construct an argument. Your initial argument will serve as your thesis of
the paper, so define it clearly, carefully, and concisely. Your thesis CANNOT be a summary. For
example, “Winthrop stresses the importance of charity in the new colony” is a summary and not
considered an argument. Do not simply restate the themes or events in the text—instead, an
argument expresses your opinion on that subject and provides evidence (in the form of
quotations) as support for your point-of-view.
Remember, your argument/thesis has two parts: subject and significance. The subject is what
you are talking about, the nuts-and-bolts of the text. In this case, your “what” should address
some of the literary conventions or tropes of the text. The significance is the why of your
argument. Put another way, it answers so what?, providing your audience with a reason to care
about what you have to say. For this essay, your so-what answer will address fears of either the
Puritan colonists or members of the Early Republic.
Providing Evidence
EN 209 – Fall 2014
You provide support for your argument in the form of quotations from the texts. Do Not simply
drop your quote into your essay in the hopes that your audience will understand what you mean
to say. Do not assume the quote automatically provides support for your argument; you must
provide the link between the text and your argument. Use MLA format for in-text citations, i.e.,
(LastName pg#). You will not need a Works Cited page.
Your Final Draft Should:
Begin with an interesting and informative title
Make a clear and concise claim that addresses both the characteristics or tropes of the text’s
form/genre, and offers a “so-what answer” that addresses the topic of fear
Provide detailed analysis and close reading of relevant quotes in order to support your thesis
Use diction and style appropriate to a formal essay
Be between 1000-1250 words. Essays shorter than 950 words will result in a failing grade.
Be free of grammatical and mechanical errors, double-spaced, 12-point font, and in MLA
format.
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Rating:
5/
Solution: EN 209 – Fall 2014 Essay Assignment Savage Indians.