***You can either write a literary analysis paper using the play, “The Piano Lesson” or you must write a research paper that analyzes the current state of HBCUs in America. If you choose the HBCU based paper, please read the attachment from Welch along with the below information.

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Read the attached article, and think about the information. All to often, students see college as a place to go to get credentials only. They often do not consider the need for learning and really understanding skills… (I know that this wouldn’t be you! *smile).

This current article is an excerpt from a 2013 college graduation. The noted entrepreneur, Jack Welch gives advice to this graduating class on how to succeed in their careers. He advises them when asked to write a report, to provide an analysis instead. This is a key point to the article. An analysis is different than just a report. When you write an analysis, you are writing from a higher level of thinking. You are asking questions. You are answering questions based on research and evidence.

Perhaps most importantly, this article is important because it shows that the skills that are being taught in this course are important. This is not just the “school game.”

Knowing how to write an Analysis is serious business! You will take all the information from the assignments, readings, and feedback to do this final project.

Assignment: Read this article, then prepare an analysis. Topic: Analyze the current state and viability of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as they are fledgling to compete with Predomintely White Institutions (PWIs).

You should probably start by doing some reading on HBCUs.
It will be helpful to even look at information about this great institution.
Then based on your findings…Reconsider the assignment–“Analyze the current state and viability…”
Then ask your self some questions, come up with some common points to explore as they relate to this Analysis.
It probably would be helpful to chose four or five points to explore.
Then develop a thesis, and then analyze those points that you chose as they relate to your thesis. (This will be the body of the paper.)
Every point should have a paragraph, and the goal of each paragraph is to prove the thesis.

Please note that this is not a comparing and contrasting paper/report. Your primary purpose with this assignment is not to write about the similarities and differences of HBCUs and PWIs, although that some attention to this will be helpful.

Your ultimate goal is as Welch explains is to, “…go beyond being the grunt assigned to confirm [my] hunch [about this question]. Do the extra legwork and data-crunching to give [me] something that really expands [my] thinking [on this subject].”

Due: Wednesday 27th before noon. This assignment is worth 30% of the final grade.

Upload your assignment by clicking on the above link.

Other specifics: The paper should be 3-4 pages, have at least 3 sources, and conform to MLA format. Your paper should also include a Works Cited page.

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If you choose to write the literary Analysis paper, you will need to read “The Piano Lesson.” **You probably can find an inexpensive copy in the local bookstore, and a copy can also be found online. Please see the attachment for the writing topic and specific expectations for this choice.

Please note: English Majors MUST do the Literary Analysis paper because it is required for the Senior Portfolio. *Please know that you cannot pass this class without this paper.

*Remember the papers must be submitted in WORD format; otherwise, I cannot read it, and you will receive a zero for the assignment.