ESSAY 1***DUE THURSDAY SEPT 26***

ENG 102

ESSAY #1*** DUE THURSDAY SEPT 26***

LATE PAPERS DO NOT GET REVISION AND LOSE POINTS

3 PAGES, DOUBLE SPACED, SIZE 12 TIMES NEW ROMAN

USE TWO OUTSIDE SOURCES (NOT INCLUDING THE TEXT!) AND QUOTE THE PRIMARY TEXTS AS WELL.

Refer to the class blog for outside source info: english102fall13.blogspot.com

ONLY RELIABLE SOURCES!

Pick ONE of the essay topics below for your paper.

1.      Sonny described the streets of Harlem as having “…all that hatred and misery and love. It's a wonder it doesn't blow the avenue apart…” Using examples from the text and two outside sources, explain what he meant by that statement.

2.      What statement does “Sonny’s Blues” make about the relationship of art to life or about the relationship of art to suffering? Citing specific examples from the text, write an essay about how Sonny uses art to aid in his suffering.

3.      Explain the effect the environment has on Sonny and his brother (Harlem in the 1940s and 1950s). This would require that find out a bit more about each of the settings through some research (Use the link on the blog about Harlem). Use examples from the texts along with outside sources to support your thesis.

4.      Explain the relationship between Jinx in “Live For Today” and the victims that come into the morgue. Why does she seem to relate so well to them? What about her past makes her so sympathetic towards these people? Use examples from the texts along with outside sources (links about identity on blog) to support your thesis.

5.      We talked in class about the reputation of Newark and how it is perceived by others. We also discussed how the morgue in the story could be symbolic for Newark (the forgotten members of society). For this question make the case that the morgue is indeed symbolic of Newark. Use examples from the texts along with outside sources to support your thesis.

6.      Pick NO MORE THAN THREE characters from the three stories we have read so far and explain how their identity is shaped or explained in their story. Use examples from the texts along with outside sources (links about identity on blog) to support your thesis.

7.      What does the mother from “Girl” want for her daughter? What is she worried about and how is she attempting to lead her daughter away from those situations? . Use examples from the texts along with outside sources (links about identity on blog) to support your thesis.