Assignment Instructions

Write a 500-750 word essay on one of the following topics. Aim for a 5-paragraph essay structure (introduction with thesis, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion).

 1.    Review Mary Rowlandson’s narrative as a faith narrative instead of a capture narrative. If instead of viewing the work as an attempt to tell the true story of a capture, it is read as a reaffirmation of faith in God, how does that change the meaning?

2.    Discuss the idea of the Reliable Narrator in one of the authors read up until this point. Use specific examples from outside sources and the text to show why it should or should not be believed that this author is reliable.

3.    Think about this rather surprising statement: It has been suggested that Olaudah Equiano may not have been born in Africa, but in South Carolina. If this were true, does his birthplace change the way we read and evaluate this memoir? Does this possibility affect its viability or reliability as a source on slavery and the slave trade?

Your essay should be formatted in MLA style, including double spacing throughout. All sources should be properly cited both in the text and on a works cited page. As with most academic writing, this essay should be written in third person. Please avoid both first person (I, we, our, etc.) and second person (you, your).

Since the reader is familiar with the story, summary is unnecessary. Rather than tell him what happened, tell him what specific portions of the story support your thesis.  The handout on “Literary Analysis” is a must for this aspect of the paper.

Your essay should be formatted in MLA style, including double spacing throughout. All sources should be properly cited both in the text and on a works cited page. As with most academic writing, this essay should be written in third person. Please avoid both first person (I, we, our, etc.) and second person (you, your).

Double space your information from your name onward, and don’t forget a title. All papers should be in Times New Roman font with 12-point type with one-inch margins all the way around your paper. All paragraph indentations should be indented five spaces (use the tab key) from the left margin. All work is to be left justified. When quoting lines in literature, please research the proper way to cite short stories, plays, or poems.

Whatever topic you choose you will need a debatable thesis. A thesis is not a fact, a quote, or a question. It is your position on the topic. The reader already knows the story; you are to offer him a new perspective based on your observations.