involves discussing one of three reading options and answering three set questions for each of the reading
options. (See the
appendix below titled Paper Question.) A first draft of one of the readings
must be turned in for revision before you have permission to proceed with
the rest of the paper. You may submit other drafts as you complete them, but
a first draft of one of the readings must be submitted. The completed paper
will be due on the last day of the course; late papers will be assessed a
penalty of one letter-grade per day late; and no papers will be accepted
more than three days after the official end of the course.
constitute 30% of the grade. Under no circumstances are papers to be a joint
project or to be shared: such papers will be failed and academic procedures
for dismissal may be instituted.
Requirements for the paper. Select one of the following topics: Frederick Douglass;
Zitkala-Sa; or a combination of two readings from those scheduled on the syllabus
(Pickering, Burlend, Svendsen, Antin, Bulosan, Galarza, Lee). As we read these
selections in the course of the semester, you should be thinking of which ones you
might choose for your paper, so that you can begin giving me drafts of those readings
by midterm, for revision. I will go over the drafts and suggest revisions, so that the
revised, and now corrected copy, can be incorporated into a final draft. The paper
consists of applying the same three questions to whichever readings you select. (See
below answering the questions.). Each answer requires complete answers to the three main questions and
their smaller subset questions. If you turn in drafts, you will have
an idea of what good answers should look like. I will not accept drafts for revision
after the thirteenth week (Dec 14) of the semester.
Questions for discussion and paper. Discussion in class will center on these questions
and sub-questions.
1. a) Which kind of document is this? b) List the points of significance the writer notes,
so that one gets a sense of what is being described. This should be a very complete
summary of the readings (documents) you’ve chosen. This first question is worth:
for Douglass or Zitkala-Sa 30 pts; for the others texts, 15 pts.
2. What did you think/learn/feel was valuable/not valuable about the reading as a
historical source? Explain what you learned and why this was valuable for you? For
or participant? Or have you understood a new detail about the historical situation
being described that you did not already know or imagine? What did you learn as a
result of this reading and what was valuable about it for you? What you “learned”
or is “valuable” should not be a kind of “moral of the story” or conform to
something you think was “right” or “wrong” about whatever the person did.
Rather, focus on something about the historical situation being illustrated. You
might also consider whether the writer seems to face any conflicts or how he/she
feels about leaving behind his/her native culture? Does he/she face any problems
of adjustment? Question is worth: for Douglass, Zitkala-Sa, 30 pts; for the others 15
pts.
3. Consider the problems involved in historical cultural context that members of
ethnic groups face, particularly government policies affecting specific ethnic groups,
cultural attitudes, and the historical context in general, and explain which policies/
events/attitudes/ context might have affected the writer’s cultural accommodation
or adjustment. YOU MUST REFER TO WHAT THE TEXTBOOK (Natives and
Strangers) SAYS ABOUT GOVERNMENTAL POLICIES, EVENTS, CULTURAL
ATTITUDES, AND GENERAL HISTORICAL CONTEXT IN ANSWERING THE
QUESTION. WHAT DOES THE TEXTBOOK ARGUE ABOUT THESE ISSUES?
Specify which policies were in place regarding the ethnic group to which the
particular reading refers. Question is worth: for Douglass, Zitkala-Sa 40pts; for the
others 20 pts.