Short Paper #3

Due the week of March 12th, 2007 – due no later than March 16th

(Please bring your paper to your conference with me that week.)

Paper should be 3 to 5 pages in length, typed, double-spaced, no extra spaces between paragraphs, 12 point Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins, stapled. Please give your paper a title, but no separate title page is necessary. I expect papers to be polished – that is, grammatically correct with clear writing and paragraph structure.

Using sources and course materials/presentations assigned through (and including) March 8, please address one of these questions:

• During the late 19^th-early 20^th centuries, in what ways did race/ethnicity, class, and gender operate together to shape (or deny) one’s American identity?

• During the late 19^th-early 20^th centuries, in what ways did “outsiders” within this country’s borders lay claim to an American identity? In other words, what strategies, expressions, and/or arguments did they use to make the case that they should be “insiders” (citizens?)?

[Think about how race/class/gender influences one’s “access.” (Access to what? Belonging? The American Dream? )]

As with the previous short papers, use a selection of sources (most or all of which should come from this course) as a “case study” to explore the question you have chosen. Your essay should begin with an introduction paragraph that features a thesis: your concise response to the question at hand. The main body of your essay should develop the thesis by analyzing evidence and expanding on your argument. Each paragraph should begin with a well-crafted topic sentence. Good paragraphing often includes a conclusion sentence that ties the analysis in each paragraph to the thesis. Avoid too brief and too long paragraphs.

Your tone should be formal. Do not use the second person (“you”), and avoid over-use of the first person (“I.”) – unless you are offering testimony about a situation you or a family member faced relevant to other examples from the readings/lectures.

Use quotations sparingly. Long block quotes should be avoided. If you use direct quotes, make sure to work them into your analysis and help readers see their relevance.

You may use whatever citation style you feel comfortable with. Please be conscientious about citing your sources, and do not plagiarize ideas or words.

Please include a Works Cited page.