Essay Analysis: The Truth about Stories and Cultural Narratives

Now that you have finished reading the novel, The Truth about Stories, by Thomas King, you should have a sense about what makes up an intriguing personal story.  King writes, “The truth about stories is that that’s all we are” (2).  He shares stories about his mother, his father, his brother, his friends, himself and many other Native Americans in an effort to give readers a strong image of how his life’s experiences helped determine who is and how he came to be the person he is today.

For Essay, you will write an analysis of King’s book as well as make connections to the other readings and videos we have read and seen in this class.  This will be an argumentative essay that will include your own views and interpretations of the class readings and the connections, distinctions, and determinations you make between oral and written forms of communicating stories. This essay will require research beyond our readings from CCBC’s Library.

•Compare and contrast Creation Stories of Native Americans with those of other cultures and religions, (for instance Genesis, which have been made available in this class). Argue how these stories differ and how these differences contribute to values, behaviors, and actions of each culture.

•Reread the three Columbus stories (“Letter Describing the Results of His First Voyage”; “Discoveries” by Michael Dorris; and “Why AIM Opposes Columbus Day. . .” by Morris and Means). Compare and contrast these three stories.  Though they are similar in content, argue how they differ, why they differ, how tone and audience differ, and what message they send to the audience related to attitudes, behaviors, and actions of the writers and the cultures for which they are written.

•Explain how the video “The Danger of a Single Story” relates to the themes in King’s book.  Analyze and argue how a single story narrative was dangerous for Native Americans and how it affected Native American cultures/tribes and their status in mainstream American society. Consider the stereotypes it illustrates about these cultures. Also consider that there might be a single story whites told about whites and a story whites told about Native Americans that contributed to racism and stereotypes.

•Research “residential schools” where thousands of Native American children were forcibly removed from their reservations and sent to these schools which were often created run by white religious groups in an effort to strip these children of their native cultures. Explain the reasoning behind this practice. What were the short term and long-term consequences of this removal/relocation? Should the United States offer any reparations to these families for the pain, suffering, and loss they experienced?  If so, why and what? If not, why not?

Ideas for the Essay

•Morris and Means argue in their article, “Why AIM Opposes Columbus and Columbus Day Parades,” that Columbus is responsible for the genocide and enslavement of tens of thousands of indigenous people as well as the theft of their land. They claim that celebration of Columbus Day should be eliminated as well as any statues, street names, etc. that honor Columbus as a hero. They also argue for the removal of all of anti-Indian icons as they perpetuate racism that continues today. Write an essay where you either agree or disagree with Morris and Means and offer evidence from reliable sources and our class readings to support your ideas. You may also consider whether you believe is fair to judge Columbus and others by today’s morals/ethics for actions of 500 years ago.

In addition to explaining and supporting your own arguments/opinions, you are required to acknowledge your oppositions’ arguments to your thesis in a paragraph or two after you present your own,

If you decide to choose a topic not listed here, you must submit a proposal with your topic, your thesis, and a brief outline by Thursday, September 30 before I will give my approval.

No matter what you choose to write about for essay 2, you are required to use the following resources as support for your arguments.

•King’s book, The Truth about Stories,

•At least one of the additional readings or videos from the class,

•And at least 2 academic articles from CCBC’s Library.

Having a strong image in your mind as to who the intended audience is and what the purpose of your paper is will help you stay focused on what information, facts, details, and examples to use in each body paragraph to convince this audience of your views.

You must use MLA format for documentation, including a Works Cited Page

•Length:  no fewer than 3 full pages, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins.

•Heading: Your name, my name, date, ENGL 101, Essay #2 in the upper left-hand corner (see template).

•Header: Your last name and page number in upper right hand corner of each page (Last name 2).

•Title centered.  (Be creative.  Do not title it Essay #2 or Truth about Stories).

•A final draft for grading.

To support claims and respond to opposing arguments writers use appeals to audience.  There are three types of appeals. Effective arguments emphasize appeal to reason, but may include the other two types as well.
 
•Logos: Appeal to reason: logic, science, facts, statistics and other verifiable information

•Ethos: Appeal to character or ethics: using the reader’s sense of right and wrong, moral or immoral character to make the right judgments about a topic

•Pathos: Appeal to emotion/empathy: playing on the emotions of the reader to convince him or her of your position.

•Grab the reader’s attention by using a “hook.”

•Give an overview of the argument. Background and explanation of issue (who, what, where, when,  how, and why questions can help you generate background info)

•A thesis statement that reveals the position to be argued.

1. Observation: The problem or issue you write about as it relates to one of topics above

2. Insight:  Your solutions/proposal

•Transition and Topic sentence that relates to one of the points from your thesis.

•Each body paragraph should focus on one point of the thesis.

•Within each paragraph, provide sufficient supporting detail for the argument/point from the topic sentence.

•Transition and topic sentence that states what opposing points you plan to make.

•Describe and then refute the key points of the opposing view.

•You may use one or several opposing arguments.  This could be one paragraph or several depending on the scope of the opposition. Regardless you must present evidence (sources) that the opposition exists and why your opponents have these viewpoints. And then offer why their arguments are not valid.

•Sum up your findings

•Come back to your thesis

•A statement to impress the seriousness of this issue on your reader.

•Your final analysis (could be related to your hook) but you want to leave a strong final impression on your audience about this.

•It could be a call to action with info on how to get involved.