Formal Paper (100 points) Due May 6th--revised due date

This assignment asks you to compare and contrast the lives and philosophies described in Mary Crow Dog's Lakota Woman and Anne Moody's Growing Up in Mississippi. What are the similarities and differences in the lives of these two women? What factors contributed to these similarities and differences, and why? There are many topics that you could address in your paper, but be sure to keep your analysis focused on the historical trends reflected in the lives of these two women. In other words, do not write a literary criticism. Instead use the perspectives of historical analysis: Time, place, gender, race, class, and ethnicity. The two books provide most of the information you will need to complete this assignment. However, the best papers will also be informed by additional research examining the times in which these women lived. For example, you might consult additional works on the black civil rights movement, or the American Indian movement. Another approach might be to look at newspaper or magazine articles from the period. Use your imagination to find an approach that will help to make your paper unique.

1) Your paper should be approximately 6-8 double-spaced pages of text. The type should be of standard size and style (black, 10 or 12 pt. Times Roman or Courier is the usual standard).

2) Include a title page and works cited page. DO NOT USE FOLDERS OR SPECIAL COVERS. Simply staple your paper in the top left-hand corner.

3) Number each page after the title page.

4) Use specific examples to support your general points. Quotations are a useful writing tool. Be sure to use page number citations when using direct quotations from Lakota Woman and Growing Up in Mississippi. For example:
Anne Moody notes, "I am still haunted by dreams of the time we lived on Mr. Carter's plantation" (Moody, p.11).
It is acceptable to use this short page citation for the two major works included in your paper and it is only necessary to use page citations when directly quoting from the two main books.

If you choose to also include quotations or ideas or facts gleaned from other works (such as your textbook, historical monographs, newspapers, magazines, etc) you will need to include footnotes or endnotes for those sources. Consult the History Department Style Sheet for the proper format for citing these sources.

4) Spelling and grammar do count. This is a formal paper.

5) Include a thesis statement. In other words, your opening paragraph should state what you are arguing in your paper. What did you conclude about your research?

6) You will turn-in a print version of your paper at the start of class on April 29th---revised due date: May 6th. I also require that you submit an electronic version of your paper via the course dropbox in Blackboard. Late papers will be penalized 10 points per day. You should turn in an electronic and paper version of your paper. Staple your print version of the paper in the top left-hand corner and turn it in during class on April 29th. Do not use folders or covers. The electronic version of your paper is due by class meeting time on April 16th. This electronic version should be submitted via the on-line syllabus "Student Dropbox".  To get there:

click on "Student Tools"
then choose "Student Dropbox"
find your paper on your computer and upload (highlight the file from your computer hard drive or disk) it to the Dropbox.
Be sure to click on the "send file to instructor" button to complete your submission.