During the late 18th century the British Parliament debated the future of slavery in the British Empire.
First paper assignment
For your first essay choose one of the following prompts.
1. During the late 18th century the British Parliament debated the future of slavery in the British Empire. As part of the discussions within the parliamentary committee for assessing the slave trade in the British Empire, you are requested by the abolitionist movement in Britain to write an essay that will be presented for the consideration of the said committee. They have asked you to make a strong case against slavery and the slave trade in high hopes that the British parliament will finally abolish slavery.
In your essay present your arguments based on what you have read in Equiano’s narrative, and supplement that by what we have discussed in class.
Pay close attention to the way Equiano himself presents the case against slavery. In your paper you can and should cite directly from Equaino’s narrative as you make your case.
2. Using Olaudah Equiano as a case study for the ways cultures encountered one another in the Atlantic World, analyze the extent of cultural continuity and change in the Atlantic.
In your answer focus on at least two distinct cultural elements (i.e., religion, language, art, philosophy, etc.). Be sure to employ the concept of ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ cultural elements in your analysis, and identify the power structure at work, as you make your case.
Please address the following requirements carefully when writing your essay:
• As you approach either prompt, make a clear argument and support it with evidence from Equiano’s narrative and from our lectures.
• Please provide a thesis statement at the end of your first paragraph that clearly and concisely summarizes your argument.
• To cite from Equaino’s narrative simply insert the page number in parenthesis at the end of the sentence.
• To cite from lecture put my last name and the date of the lecture in parenthesis at the end of the sentence or the paragraph. Be sure to cite either when you quote or paraphrase. Indeed, aside from the introduction and conclusion paragraphs, you should provide citations in each paragraph, since any point you marshal to support your case must be based on your sources and properly documented.
• Your essay should not be less that 900 words and should not exceed 1100 words. This will amount to around 3 pages or just a bit more.
• At the end of the essay please provide a ‘works cited’ page, documenting the version of the narrative you used and the lectures you cited to make your argument.
• Please provide the word count for the document at the very end.
• Please use a 12 size font and double space format for your essay.
• I will not accept any essays after the first five minutes of class. Any late essay will be discounted 3 points. Any essay that will be handed in more 24 hours after the due time will be docked 6 points, after 48 hours 9 points, and so on.
Good luck!