Essay 2: Cause and Effect Essay

Length: Minimum 4 pages

Prewriting Due: Wednesday, 10/19/16

RD Due: Friday, 10/21/16

Final Due: Monday, 10/31/16

Texts:

“What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” Frederick Douglass

“Underground Undergrads” (RA 229)

Assignment Description: “Myths of Identity”
For this assignment, you will explore the myths of identity presented in the readings by explaining what the myth(s) is, how it manifests itself in American society (causes for it’s coming into being, if appropriate), and what effect it has on people living in the United States. In other words, you will be explaining one or more myths of identity found in the United States in terms of a cause and effect relationship. You may answer: how does this myth affect people living in the United States? You may also choose to answer: what are the causes behind the perpetuation of the myth? It is definitely okay if you would like to address both questions.

Overall, your essay should:

1. Explain one or more myths of identity presented in the readings (what they are)
2. Explain where the myth came from and how it has been perpetuated in American society
3. Explain the effect of this myth on people living within the United States

Please keep in mind, for this assignment, your reader is someone who is not in this class, and has never read the texts. This means that you may need to spend some time summarizing and explaining key concepts and ideas, and explaining to readers where those ideas come from. In addition, keep in mind that you are expected to use the voice, tone, and diction appropriate for your intended audience. This essay must be written in the third person, and should include a Works Cited page.

You will be graded on the following criteria:

All items are turned in on time (5 points will be deducted from your essay if you fail to turn in the necessary prewriting, drafts, and/or works cited sheet)
Unity/Coherence/Organization of your essay
Development/Support of your essay
Style/Fluency
Proper use of MLA Style and Works Citation
Proper Use of Spelling and grammar