7 page Mla format paper.

Prof. Pat West 1

.

ENGL 3219-African-

American Nonfiction

Final Paper

Prompts and the Texts

to Research and

Analyze: Select One!

General Directions

For all research papers you will

include reference to the

rhetorical strategies discussed in

the course. Use the grading

rubric in D2L to guide your

quality of work.

The African-American jeremiad,

spiritual autobiography, prophetic rhetoric, exemplification (use of examples), comparison and contrast,

similes, metaphors, religious allusions, spirituality, prophetic rhetoric, imagery, and more.

6-7 Pages, MLA Formatting, 20% of overall final grade

Due: May 7th

Prompt 1 Several early authors used spiritual autobiography as a genre, a type of writing which opens with early

life of sin and/or trials and tribulations, challenges, and ends with grace, liberation, and overall

improvement in life. Others communicated using the style of the African-American jeremiad or

prophetic rhetoric. 1. Define and explore the definition of spiritual autobiography, the jeremiad, or

prophetic rhetoric, also referred to as prophetic radicalism. 2. Review the writings of one of the authors

who wrote (or dictated) in this genre (see the list). 3. Research the literary databases for 3-4 scholarly

articles which discuss the use of the style and share the interpretations of the different critics with

quotes throughout the body paragraphs of your essay. 4. How does the genre of your selected author

articulate the problems which existed for Africans in America during the 1700/1800s? What conclusions

can you draw as a result of your research?

The Journals of John Marrant, 1785

https://press.rebus.community/openamlit/chapter/john-marrant/

Minister Jarena Lee

Prof. Pat West 2

https://archive.org/details/religiousexperi00leegoog

Solourner Truth

https://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/truth/1850/1850.html

Maria W. Stewart

Anti-Slavery and Protest Writings

Prompt 2 1. Define and explore the function of resistance writing. 2. Review the writings of one of the authors

who wrote in this genre (see the list). 3. Research the literary databases for 3-4 scholarly articles which

discuss the use of the style and share the interpretations of the different critics with quotes throughout

the body paragraphs of your essay. 4. How does the genre of your selected author articulate the

problems which existed for Africans in America during the period of slavery? What rhetorical styles can

you identify which were used to argue for the abolition of slavery and for the recognition that “Black

Lives Matter”? What conclusions can you draw as a result of your research?

David Walker's Appeal, 1829

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2931t.html

Martin R. Delaney, 1852

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/17154/17154-h/17154-h.htm

Read the Preface and one other chapter of your choice.

The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States

Frederick Douglas

Prompt 3 The period defined as the New Negro years included a number of developments from Reconstruction to Black Classicism. Former slaves and free blacks were fighting for civil and human rights, economic survival, and literacy. They did this through teaching, preaching, exploration, travel, writing, and fighting for life by opposing lynching. 1. Define and explore the purposes for writing during this period. 2. Review the writings of one of the authors who wrote in this genre (see the list). 3. Research the literary databases for 3-4 scholarly articles which discuss the use of the style and share the interpretations of the different critics with quotes throughout the body paragraphs of your essay. 4. How does the genre of your selected author articulate the problems which existed for Africans in America during the period? What rhetorical styles can you identify which were used to argue for the abolition of slavery and for the recognition that “Black Lives Matter”? It applicable to your choice, define Black Classicism ( See the definition of Prof. Nicole Sprigner as a research starter https://blackclassicismsp18.wordpress.com) 5. What conclusions can you draw as a result of your research? Matthew Henson A Negro Explorer at the North Pole by Mathew Alexander Henson

Prof. Pat West 3

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/20923/20923-h/20923-h.htm Focus on the Introduction by Booker T. Washington and Henson’s experiences described in Chapters 13 and 14. W.E.B. DuBois, The Souls of Black Folks https://ia800301.us.archive.org/22/items/souls_of_black_folk_librivox/souls_of_black_folk_01_du_bois .mp3 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/408/408-h/408-h.htm#chap01 Ida B. Wells Barnett Southern Horrors--Lynch Law in All Its Phases by Ida B. Wells Barnett, 1892, a pamphlet http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14975/14975-h/14975-h.htm Richard R. Wright, Sr. A brief historical sketch of Negro education in Georgia by Richard R. Wright https://www.loc.gov/item/e09001666/ Booker T. Washington Autobiography, Up From Slavery Read selected chapters. http://kemetdevelopment.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Booker-T.- Washington-Up-from-Slavery.pdf Alain Locke 1925

http://inside.sfuhs.org/dept/history/US_History_reader/Chapter9/Lockenewnegro1925.pdf

Bishop Henry McNeal Turner http://www.thehenrymcnealturnerproject.org/p/scholarship-on-turner.html Critical attention is growing in the study of the letters, speeches, and work of Bishop Henry mcNeal Turner. How did the political writings of Turner contribute to the building of the black community in Savannah, GA? Use the link above as a research starter. Nathan Monroe Work Monroe and Florence Work (1877-1955)

“The Black Experience in America”

Etext: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/13642/13642-h/13642-h.htm#a1-3

Zora Neale Hurston "Art and Such Essay" by Zora Neale Hurston

Characteristics of Negro Expression by Zora Neale Hurston

"How it Feels to be Colored Me" by Zora Neale Hurston, 1928

Prof. Pat West 4

Prompt 4 Texts from the Black Arts to the Present How do non-fiction writers from these decades, 1975 to the present represent the themes and concerns of African-American subjects? 1. Select an author to explore for topics, themes, and rhetorical strategies. Develop your research essay as follows: 2. Review the writings of one of the authors who wrote in this genre (see the list). 3. Research the literary databases for 3-4 scholarly articles which discuss the use of the style and share the interpretations of the different critics with quotes throughout the body paragraphs of your essay. 4. How does the genre of your selected author articulate the problems which exist for African-Americans during the period? What rhetorical styles can you identify which treat racial discrimination, gender bias, racial profiling, urban crisis, and for the recognition that “Black Lives Matter”? James Alan McPherson Essay, “On Being an American Writer” Alice Walker Explore the theme of “womanism” in Walker’s collection of essays, In Search of our Mother’s Gardens. Toni Morrison https://www.academia.edu/659448/Playing_in_the_dark_Whiteness_and_the_literary_imagination John Edgar Wideman Brothers and Keepers-Read available preview sections from the eBook. https://books.google.com/books?id=8efNDwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Ta-Naheshi Coates Multiple essays are available online. Read 2-3 for a general sense of this author’s messages. https://www.theatlantic.com/author/ta-nehisi-coates/ Jerald Walker

https://www.nationalbook.org/books/how-to-make-a-slave-and-other-essays/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zad-B5Bg-B0