English 1028:  Writing #4

·        Assignment genre: Research Paper

·        Audience: A general audience of educated readers

·        Purpose: To explore thoroughly—within a limited framework—the history and current condition and character of a Native American tribal group.

·        Format: Essay; formal commentary with significant research

·        Length: 7-10 pages

·        Special instructions: Your essay should be based on at least 10 sources and should contain at least 10 well structured quotes from your research. All sources must be printed/photocopied and turned in with the paper. A correct MLA "Works Cited" page is required. Be sure to avoid plagiarism like the plague!

Research a Native American tribe and write a paper that creates as clear a picture as possible of the people and their history and culture. Here are three web sites that might be good places to begin:

http://www.nativeweb.org/resources/us_tribal_websites/us_tribal_pages_bia_recognized_/

http://www.nativeweb.org/resources/us_tribal_websites/us_tribal_pages_bia_not_recognized_/

http://www.hanksville.org/NAresources/

You should probably choose a tribe that is rather well known as opposed to one that is more obscure. Choose by region or your own personal interest, not because a tribe is the first to come to mind. One good way to get into this work is to choose an author you've really liked this semester and explore that author's tribal background. This will give you an easier "in" to a study of the tribe and should enhance your appreciation of the author's work at the same time.

Here is a list of elements that ought to be considered for the major topics within your paper:

q       History and culture before contact;

q       Primary geographic location;

q       Cultural/social/military reaction to contact with Euro-Americans;

q       Attempts at or rejections of assimilation;

q       Condition at the end of westward expansion of the United States;

q       Current cultural/social/political conditions—negative and positive.

Be organized, not only in your writing but also in your research. Keep track of where you are on the Internet when you find something useful. Whether a particular piece of research is a print or electronic source photocopy or print the significant portions to turn in with your essay, making sure that you capture (in some way) the relevant information needed for your "Works Cited" page. But let's be mindful of our trees. For long pieces, photocopy, print, or cut-and-paste into a Word document only the material you plan to use. (On each of these pieces, be sure that the source is listed somewhere on the page—do this by hand if necessary.)

Schedule

Have your topic chosen on Monday, April 5

Bring an introduction and sketch of content on Monday, April 12

Bring a rough draft and any concerns to conference scheduled for Wednesday-Friday, April 14-16

Completed "Works Cited" page due Monday, April 19

Complete draft for peer review due Wednesday, April 21

Final draft to be graded due on last day of class, Friday, April 23