answered: OVERVIEW Choose one of the following topics and write a poli

  

OVERVIEW
Choose one of the following topics and write a polished essay of about 750 words (3-4 double spaced
typed pages). The essay requires not less than 2 secondary sources in addition to your primary sources
(the literature you are analyzing). Before writing your essay, reread your notes and assigned textbook
reading(s) just to refresh your memory. Also, it might be useful to reread a composition textbook to
remind yourself of the guidelines on how to write a clearly-defined thesis statement, well-developed
paragraph(s), and an essay using the current MLA or APA or Turabian parenthetical method of
documentation for your quotations and any secondary sources you cite. To let your instructor know
which style of documentation you are using, write current MLA, APA, or Turabian in the title of your
essay as follows: Title – Citation style (e.g., “Christians and the Study of American Literature – APA”).
Your 2 secondary sources should be academic, peer-reviewed sources, such as articles from scholarly
journals and books. Websites, such as Lit Charts, Spark Notes, Shmoop, and so on are not academic
sources. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other professors’ notes are likely accurate, but they are not
academic research. You can cite our textbook in your paper, but it will not count toward your 2
secondary sources. If you have trouble finding scholarly secondary sources, you can access the library’s
English Research Guide.
Develop a clear thesis that is grounded in the literature and specifies the titles of the literary works.
Remember that while it is acceptable to include some biographical and historical information for
context, your focus should be on analyzing the literature.
INSTRUCTIONS
Choose one of the topics below for your Essay: The Age of Reason/Revolutionary Period Assignment.
Your essay must be a minimum of 750 words and include 2 secondary sources.
NOTE: To receive an excellent grade, a student must demonstrate a reasonable competence in
organizing an essay on a set topic; developing ideas logically and systematically; supporting these ideas
with the necessary evidence, quotations or examples; organizing a paragraph; documenting essays
(using current MLA, APA, or Turabian) style; spelling the commoner words of the English language
correctly; punctuating correctly; and writing grammatical sentences, avoiding such common mistakes as
comma splices, run-on sentences, sentence fragments, faulty agreements, faulty references, shifts in
person, number, or tense.
1. Choose any one of the works/authors of the Age of Reason/Revolutionary period studied in
this course and write a literary analysis of the chosen work. The focus of the essay should be
three-fold: to discuss the theme of the author/work, the major characteristics of the period
that are evident in the work, and major narrative devices the author uses to communicate his
or her message. Your essay must have a clearly-defined thesis statement, well-developed
paragraph(s), and fitting conclusion. In your thesis, assert how the author uses narrative
devices to convey the theme of the work and how the theme or narrative devices demonstrate
major characteristics of the period. Include direct quotes from the primary sources for
analysis and support.
ENGL 201
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2. The Puritan intellectual and spiritual energies were so decisive in laying down the patterns of
American intellectual and spiritual (Christian) life. Though Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, and
Benjamin Franklin make clear their belief in God, discuss how their writing, ideas, and beliefs depart
from the firmly established Puritan/Christian beliefs? Include direct quotes from the primary sources
for analysis and support.
3. Contemporary poet June Jordan calls Wheatley “Phillis Miracle” in her work “The Difficult Miracle
of Black Poetry in American.” Why is(are) Wheatley’s achievement(s) considered a “miracle”? How
did this “miracle” affect the thinking and assumptions at the time and even contributed to the
abolition of slavery? Include direct quotes from the Wheatley’s poetry for analysis and support. You
do not have to include direct quotes from Jordan’s work, but it would help to further develop your
argument; however, Jordan’s work would be a primary source (and not count toward your two
secondary sources).
4. Compare and/or contrast the works of Phillis Wheatley and Anne Bradstreet. Both of these authors
lived in a time when women did not have a strong voice. Additionally, slaves rarely received an
education, let alone had the opportunity to speak by composing and publishing poetry. How do these
authors shed light on the perspectives of women and slaves (in the case of Wheatley) in their literary
periods? Include direct quotes from Wheatley’s poetry and Bradstreet’s poetry for analysis and
support.