Repetitive Use

resource

What It’s Like to be a Black Girl:

initial Post Instructions

After reading “What It’s Like to be a Black Girl,” write your own poem of identity: What it’s like to be ____________. Note: poems do not have to rhyme or follow a rhyme scheme.

Keep in mind how Smith identifies not only her race but also her sex, age, and repetitive use of “it’s.” You do not necessarily have to write specifically on your race – pick one of your own identities.

Additionally, write a paragraph introducing your poem to your peers. What inspired you to write what you did? How did you approach the assignment? What do you feel now when you read the poem?

Do NOT use Sparksnotes, eNotes, Wikipedia, or similar websites, as these are not academic in nature. If you do so, you will earn an automatic F. Your discussion may be submitted to Turnitin, so please use the University library or .org and .edu resources.

Secondary Post Instructions
As you are responding to your peers, consider the main character in the story, Jonathan. Do you agree with your peers’ statements regarding his character? Why or why not? Use specific examples from the text to illustrate your claims.

In this discussion thread, as with the discussion topics each week, feel free to ask questions about the readings, the class, or literature in general in addition to your posts.

Writing Requirements

• In addition to one initial post, respond to at least two peers.
• Initial Post Length: minimum of 250 words
• Secondary Post Length: minimum of 200 words per post
• Use APA format for in-text citations and references.

ESSAY

Introduction
Select one work of literature. This may be a poem, short story, or novel; however, it must be only one piece of literature. The text should relate to your life somehow: work, social responsibility, and/or individual responsibility.

Activity Instructions
Write a personal essay on your selection. Unlike the other essays for this class, in this one, you may use first person and a more casual tone (nevertheless, please do not use second person (you) in this piece. In your essay, discuss common themes you see in the text and your life. What experiences do you share? What meaning do you see in both and can that be applied to today’s society? Use specific, illustrated points from the text to support your discussion.

While the tone of the paper may be more casual than a formal essay, you are still required to cite the work of literature you are responding to and any outside sources you use in your essay.

Use specific examples from the text to illustrate your claims. You must cite your references using APA style and have a formal title page and reference page.

Note: When using examples in your assignments in this course, do not directly quote more than a single sentence if you can help it— big block quotes look like they are solely there to take up space. Instead, paraphrase (put ideas into your own words) and cite. Review the Purdue OWL Avoiding Plagiarism webpage for tips on how to incorporate others ideas in your writing.

Do NOT use Sparksnotes, eNotes, Wikipedia, or similar websites, as these are not academic in nature. If you do so, you will earn an automatic F. Your essay may be submitted to Turnitin, so please use the University library or .org and .edu resources.

Writing Requirements (APA format)

• 3-5 pages (approx. 300 words per page), not including title page or reference page
• 1-inch margins
• Double spaced
• 12-point Times New Roman font
• References page (minimum of 1 resource – in addition to the text)