Gleason English 102
In this essay, we will further hone our close reading and character analysis skills as we determine deeper thematic significance. We will work on crafting powerful introductions, argumentative thesis statements, and well-developed paragraphs with solid supporting evidence. Work to establish a strong sense of argumentative purpose and persuasive tone. As always, your task is to push beyond surface analysis and to present an insightful argument with depth and complexity.

Texts:
Brown Girl in the Ring (Hopkinson)

Assignment:

Nalo Hopkinson depicts a bleak image of dystopian urban despair, impoverishment, and violence in Brown Girl in the Ring. In the novel, third generation Caribbean-Canadian Ti-Jeanne struggles to survive this crushing environment as she seeks a sense of identity, strength, and purpose throughout the novel while navigating the precarious borders between magic and realism, the ancestral past and the uncertain future, ethical care and cynical exploitation. Connected to the spiritual figure of the crossroads, Ti-Jeanne emerges as a powerful figure capable of producing dramatic social change through the exertion of her will and moral conviction.

Reflecting on Post-Colonial concern with diasporic identity, respond to the following in a 5 page thesis-driven essay:

When facing systemic oppression, what role does empathy and cross-generational connection play in the development of visionary insight and self-determination?
Remember visiting the Writing Center and Office Hours early and often will help you to write your most brilliant and engaging essay possible!