1 Many of the texts we’ve read have been works of American immigrant literature depicting the experiences of newcomers learning to adapt to life in America. How does the text you’ve chosen portray the challenge of assimilating in America while also trying to maintain ones individual or cultural identity? 2 number of our course texts explore what it means to be American to be a part of a larger national culture or identity. How does the author speaker or narrator of the text you’ve chosen represent the identity of an American? hat does it mean to be American according to this work? 3 n class we have discussed how discrimination in America can take many forms: racial linguistic gender class- based and religious discrimination have all been apparent in texts we’ve read. hat different forms of discrimination are portrayed in the work you have chosen and how does the text convey or depict these experiences to the reader ? Home tips for developing and writing your essay: Use your discussion forum posts course texts and notes to help you consider which text you want to write on and what question or topic you want to address it is very likely that you already have some written ideas that can be used to help you get started with your paper.
Return to the text you’ve chosen to write on and use your close reading and analysis skills to carefully consider how it addresses the question or topic you’ve chosen to focus on. Consider the differing interpretations readers might have about this question or topic and weigh the evidence before coming to your own conclusions.
e sure your essay has a thesis statement in the introductory paragraph which clearly and concisely explains the argument you are going to make: in your interpretation how does this text address the question asked or the topic focused on?
n the body paragraphs of your essay avoid summarizing the text and instead focus on analyzing how the text responds to your chosen question or topic. assume that your reader already knows what the text is about but is interested in hearing your analysis of specific sections of the text in order to better understand your interpretation and conclusions.
include evidence to support and illustrate your interpretation: provide relevant quotations from the text and explain to readers who may have differing interpretations how and why this evidence supports your interpretation.
e sure to include in-text citations for all quotations and paraphrasing’s you include in your essay.