Slave Narrative Argument Essay
You must access the Slave Narratives in the Library of Congress’ Collection online.
Choose a state narrative (North Carolina) to specifically examine in order to develop a written document.
Of the SIX (6) Slave Narratives you will cite in your final paper, choose THREE (3) narratives to analyze.
This means you need accounts from three different individuals who participated in telling their stories about slavery from your “chosen” state (North Carolina). Complete a Document Analysis Worksheet for each of these Narratives by answering all the questions on the document analysis worksheet below.
(Slave Analysis Worksheet–attached)
https://www.archives.gov/files/education/lessons/worksheets/written_document_analysis_worksheet_former.pdf
After carefully reading all the narratives from your chosen state (6 narratives), you will then develop an Argument Essay (3-4 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font) related to one of the following entry points:
A. Conditions of the enslaved population in that state
B. Resistance tactics of the enslaved populations in that state
C. Attitudes of the slave-owning class in that state
D. The stability of slavery as an institution in that state
Your Argument Essay should be written in well developed paragraphs and you must support your inferences, interpretations, conclusions and discussions by citing specific information from the Slave Narratives themselves. This means you must use “footnotes” to in the text of your essay. In addition to the slave narratives, which are primary sources, you can supplement your argument by citing from your textbook, videos shown in the class (only those shown to the class), PowerPoint presentations and any other information within your CANVAS course. No material from “outside” of this course may be used in this assignment. If you do so, you will lose major points on this assignment. Follow the instructions.
You are expected to
1. Develop a good thesis argument claim (statement) for your essay
Your thesis argument claim, should be ONE sentence which explains what your argument is based on your analysis your slave narratives. This thesis argument is NOT a description of the narratives, it is NOT a statement of fact or some ethereal feeling you have about the narratives. It is an argument that you are offering based on your examination of the evidence (the narratives). Please use the following template to fit your argument into:
After an analysis of the slave narratives from (whatever state you chose), this essay makes an argument that ____________________________________________________________________.
You must “fit” your argument in the blank space and that will be your argument thesis claim. The ENTIRE sentence should be put into the Introduction (somewhere in the first two paragraphs) of your final paper and must be underlined OR put in boldface font. Do not use first person in your thesis or the paper.
2. Utilize proper citations within the written document [Turabian/Chicago style]. That means FOOTNOTES.
3. Utilize critical analysis within the written document
4. Utilize proper mechanics: grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence and paragraph structure.
