Essay Assignment

A) Describe Douglass’s efforts to learn how to read and write. Why did he want to, and how did he learn to read and write? How did literacy help change him and his situation?

Directions:
Write an essay of approximately 750 to 1,200 words (about 3-5 double-spaced typed pages) in which you address and answer ONE of the Questions.

Always support the accuracy of your statements and conclusions by using information and statements made by Douglass. Base your argument on his own words. Don’t quote or cite much the editor or anyone else’s secondary statements about Douglass. Base your answers on statements made and information given by Douglass in the primary historical document of his Interesting Narrative. Do not use other sources.

Whenever referring to the book’s contents–whether directly quoting it, paraphrasing it or even just relaying its basic information–always cite your information’s documentary source. Place in parentheses the page number of the book (Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass) where that information or statement or appears. Cite page sources for all important information and paraphrases, not just for direct quotations. Its unnecessary to cite pages for the most basic information such as he was an American or was an abolitionist leader; however, anything more particular should have a page source cited within parentheses. For example, if you tell how he did not know his exact age or who his father was, you should give page citations for where this information appears in the narrative.

WRITING RULES & TIPS:Write clearly, understandably, and grammatically. Write in complete sentences and use paragraphs. Write in past tense about events that occurred in the past.

Correct spelling is required. PROOFREAD carefully to catch and eliminate careless. OOPS–errors!

All essays should have a clear Introduction (including thesis), Body, and Conclusion.

GRADING CRITERIA:
Each essay is worth up to 60 points, based on

1) how well and fully the essay addresses the issues in the Question,

2) how skillfully it chooses and presents relevant information from the primary documents, and

3) how well it references the documentary sources.

Up to 10 points is based specifically on the essay’s writing standards.

Write and submit your essay as a Word document only.