Part 1: Compare the attitude toward the Native Americans revealed by at least three of the following authors: Mary Rowlandson, John Smith, Cotton Mather and St. John de Crevecoeur. You might consider the concept of the good Indian, the bad Indian, and the noble savage as part of your answer. Refer to specific native people to illustrate your response. Of these authors, who do you believe expresses the truest description of the native peoples? Contrast how these writings would be received today.

Part II: Readers have been interested in de Crevecoeur's writings as a documentation of life in America at that time and as an idea of what being an American is all about. More recently, readers have also considered his work an examination of the whole human experience. Discuss your thoughts and reactions to de Crevecoeur's "Letters from an American Farmer" on any element that speaks to you and, also, specifically in terms of what it meant, and means today, to be an American.

Post the initial response to each forum, Part 1 and Part 2, by 11:55pm, ET, Thursday. Initial responses should be no less than 200 words for each part, 400 words minimum total. Initial responses are to be original in content and demonstrate a thorough analysis of the topic.

Answer the higher order questions of how and why in discussion responses. All discussions referring, responding, or relating to works of literature must be accompanied by in text quotes (or paraphrases) and cites. Please ensure you are properly quoting and citing in MLA format. Remember if there is a citation on the Works Cited page that source must have been used in the body of the forum post. If there is an in text cite in the forum post, that source must be listed on the Works Cited page. They go together and one must accompany the other.