Several of the pieces we’re reading (“If We Must Die,” “Flounder,” “Ballad of Birmingham,” “Harlem,” “Theme for English B,” and “I, Too”) explore conformity and rebellion as it relates to Black life in a Caucasian-favored America (dating from 1922 to 2000). In a short MLA or APA format essay (including in-text citations) of at least 4 full, double-spaced pages, use at least two of these texts—as well as at least two outside sources (one of which must be scholarly)—to write an essay in which you examine what these writers were saying about the struggles of black identity in America over the last century, as well as the degree to which those problems and/or possibilities (for progress) still exist in 2025.
Possible search:
(conformity OR rebellion) AND "black life" AND "twentieth century" AND America
try different terms and different configurations
In their pieces “Two Kinds” and “Learning to Love America,” authors Amy Tan and Shirley Geok-Lin Lim, respectively, explore a marginally similar type of compromise between conformity and rebellion: the balance of satisfying two identities (Asian and American) simultaneously. Likewise, “My Tongue is Divided in Two” sees El Salvador native Quique Avilés exploring the conflicts he’s faced speaking two languages (Spanish and English) while having ties to both Central and North America. In a short MLA or APA format essay (including in-text citations) of at least 4 full, double-spaced pages, use at least two of these texts—as well as at least two outside sources (one of which must be scholarly)—to write an essay in which you examine what these authors are saying about the pressure and/or desire to assimilate into the United States of America while maintaining aspects of their other culture (ideals, practices, etc.) Beyond that, discuss the degree to which the present-day United States encourages immigrants to sustain their own cultural identities while adopting new (“American”) ones?
Possible search:
pressure AND assimilation AND America AND "twentieth century"
try different terms and different configurations
Research Log #2: For our second Research Log, I’d like you to submit a breakdown of how your outside sources align and
contrast in terms of what they discuss and how they’ll be used in your paper. Adapting concepts explored in “Synthesizing Sources” for our own purposes, include the following components:
1) MLA or APA Works Cited/References citations for both outside sources. 2) A few sentences about how the sources align (do any of their points/ideas overlap? Does one source indirectly support a point in the other? Etc.) 3) A few sentences about how the sources differ (do any of their points/ideas contrast each other? Does one source counter a point/idea in the other? Etc.)
4) A few sentences about how you’ll use both sources to complement each other and/or support your argument.