IN CLASS ESSAY PROMPT

We will write the slavery essay in class on Tuesday, 5/29

IN CLASS ESSAY RULES:

·         You may bring an outline. Make sure it is an outline, not full sentences or a paragraph. You know the difference;

·         You may bring Celia, any book, or other sources;

·         You may not use electronics during the essay;

·         You will have the whole period to write your essay;

·         You may not ask your instructor how long the essay should be; the essay should have an introduction and conclusion and various body paragraphs. The essay should be detailed with names, dates, organizations, and anything else that helps you make your case;

·         Your essay will be judged on the strength of the argument and the quality of evidence that you employ to prove your case. Your essay will be judged on the argument. What this means is that I expect standard English but not perfect form or perfect grammar and spelling.

Remember, your own original analysis of whichever question you choose is crucial. If you are thinking of this history paper as a description of a book or two, think again! Simple description is pointless; make an argument! Again, these issues will be discussed further on the blog and in class.

In a well argued and thoroughly revised essay, answer one of the following questions:

1. Considering Celia, A Slave, and at least two of the Slave Narratives from the American Memory Project what role did violence play in maintaining order on the plantation?
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/snhtml/snhome.html

2. Compare and contrast Sally Hemmings and Celia.

3. What was the meaning of music on in the antebellum slave community?
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/time/time_slavery.htm
http://americanabolitionist.liberalarts.iupui.edu/plantation_life.htm

4. If you have read The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass, this one may be for you: Compare and contrast Celia’s attack of Robert Newsom and Frederick Douglass’ fight with the overseer Covey.

5. What was more important in maintaining the discipline of the plantation, physical or psychological control?

6. What was the significance of gender on the slave plantation?

“Gender becomes a way of denoting 'cultural constructions'—the entirely social creation of ideas about appropriate roles for women and men.”  Joan Scott

7. COME UP WITH YOUR OWN TOPIC...YOU MUST CLEAR THIS WITH ME BEFORE THE 29TH!