This first essay should explore some of the major themes we have discussed this semester in one or two works of literature (I suggest covering two texts if you choose shorter texts/poems, and one if it's a longer text/essay). Your essay should be 3-5 pages and be in MLA format (double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt font, and with proper in-text and works cited page documentation).

These should be well developed, argument-based essays in which you clearly state your interpretation of the text, and support that assertion with examples from the text. Be sure to make the focus of your essay the literature we've read, as opposed to some of the context about literature and history we've read.

IF you use these context readings as all, keep it to a minimum using only one or two context references in your essay. DO NOT USE ANY OTHER SOURCES besides the Norton Anthology to write your essay. If you use ANY OUTSIDE SOURCES to write the essay, you will earn an F for the assignment.

For this essay, these are the following literature/primary text(s) you can choose to write about: "The Relation of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca," John Smith's "The General History of Virginia," William Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation," Anne Bradstreet's poetry (any in our book), Mary Rowlandson's Narrative, de Crevecoeur's Letter, Douglass's or Jacobs's Narratives.

Be sure that the wide majority of your essay is a discussion of this literature, and only refers once or twice to context/background readings.

Suggested Themes to Explore: Please feel free to invent your own topic entirely, just clear it with me first. Here are some questions related to the major themes that have emerged with the reading so far are. Come up with an answer to OE of these questions as your thesis:

1. How do the values of the individual compare to the values of the community?

2. How do characters move from captivity to freedom (physical and/or spiritual) in the early American landscape?

3. How do ideas of American masculinity and femininity affect the meaning of the text?

4. How do cultural identities get defined or explored in the literature?

Paper Content Requirements:

Audience and Style-Your hypothetical audience for this paper is an academic one, so you can assume that your readers have some familiarity with American Literature and with your texts. You should not assume that your reader is a member of our class; write as though your essay might be read by students and scholars who are simply interested in your subject.