Choose an idea, you may choose from one of the sample prompts listed at the end of the document. Make a claim about that idea (thesis statement) in the introduction and explain, discuss, and defend it in the body of your essay.

Purpose & Objectives: The purpose of this essay is to encourage you to explore possible interpretations of literature, consider historical and cultural attitudes and philosophies, and form your own perspectives of these ideas. You will engage in the literature in both an exploratory and analytic manner.

After writing this essay, you will be able to:

1. Analyze a historical and/or literary text for underlying meanings

2. Use evidence from the text to express and defend your interpretation

3. Articulate your critical interpretation in writing

4. Form an organized essay that reflects structured thought

Provides insight into the literature and its actual and implied ideas Makes a claim that explores meaning beyond the obvious (read between the lines) includes an introduction that states the topic and subject, provides brief background, and states the thesis. Includes multiple body paragraphs that each focus on different supporting points and show clear connection to the thesis through discussion, evidence/quotes, and explanation includes a brief but effective conclusion that states the importance of the topic

Compare and contrast the differences between authors’ perspectives of American identity, or Americanism. Both positive and negative views are expressed, but do we see a shared idea of what an American is? Consider the vision of new, independent America and the reality of that idea throughout our readings. Does the reality align with the vision? In Emerson’s “Self-Reliance,” social convention and conformity is challenged. Though, in essence, his philosophy was created on the foundation of many other philosophies, Emerson attempts to represent genius in his challenge against the “lie” of society, of man.

The question is, can man actually transcend this lie and rely on his inner self, or is man’s truth the lie? Are we creatures of nature and creativity, or creatures of community and imitation? Do we have to choose? Stylistically, how do our authors differ in their arguments? We have very different styles and methods of argument from Crévecoeur to Paine to Murray to Irving to Emerson to, finally, Longfellow. How do these literary practices reflect changes in political and cultural thought in America? Even though Thomas Paine’s Age of Reason was originally directed and earned him a bad reputation, it reflected the changing religious and theological attitudes of early America. How does Age of Reason anticipate the eventual shift to ideological or philosophical visions that may or may not defend theology?

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

Perspectives of American Identity National identity how people see themselves as members of particular nations is a critical social identity aspect Feelings toward a persons country are a concern of b... View the full answer