What African American person has made a remarkable contribution to our society?

This will likely be the prompt for the Black History Month Essay Competition---our next assignment will be to write an essay for submission to this contest. In the past, several $5000 scholarships, computers, and other prizes have been awared to winners---some of whom have been North-Grand students. Details about the essay will be released soon; until then, we will begin talking about and researching ideas for your essay.

Today, simply browse through some of these websites and think about how you might answer the above question. Begin researching a few of the names you come across and read about their stories. On Thursday, 1/10, you must come to class with the name of a person you are interested in learning more about, an African American person who, in your mind, has made a remarkable contribution to our society. If you decide on someone today, you can start gathering information and background knowledge. Read as much as you can about that person today and in the next few days.

You may choose the same person as someone else, but be advised: your essay must be entirely your own words, entirely original, entirely unique. Keep in mind also that there will probably be a lot of essays on people like Martin Luther King, Jr., Michael Jordan, and Oprah---yes, you can still write about a "popular" person, but you might have to work harder to make your essay unique.

• http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=593&display_order=3&mini_id=1071
• http://www.biography.com/blackhistory/
• http://www.nytimes.com/learning/issues_in_depth/20030116.html - read through lessons for ideas and names
• http://www.naacp.org/about/history/
• http://www.who2.com/blackhistory.html

Alternatively, your essay could be about a lesser-known African American---the essay does not have to be about someone who is famous.

Whether the person you choose is famous or not, you should make connections between that person's contribution(s) and your life---show how the person has impacted, inspired, or changed you. You can certainly also make connections between the person's contribution(s) and society---for example, you can point out the larger and continued impact of the person---but don't forget to make personal connections as well.

Research, read, research, read, read, read. Read some more. Learn everything you can about the person. Take notes. Make a file. Write down the sources you use. Then...

AFTER YOU HAVE BECOME AN EXPERT AUTHORITY ON THE PERSON YOU'VE CHOSEN:

You can start planning your essay. Details about length and due date will be available soon. Until then, think about the following and jot down some notes:

1. How can I make my essay ORIGINAL? Avoid writing what someone else could (and probably will) write.
2. How can I weave background information, cultural knowledge, and research into my essay without copying from a website or book? Show that you are knowledgable about the person, but don't just write a biography. The essay is YOUR unique perspective on why this person's contribution is remarkable. Don't just give a list of facts.
3. What personal connection can I make with this person? How does this person's contribution affect me? How could I weave personal narrative (a story from my own life) into this essay?
4. How can I hook the reader? Again, be original. Don't begin with "This essay is going to be about..." or "Rosa Parks was born in 1913..." or "Oprah has made a huge contribution to our society..." Be creative.

As you write and edits your drafts, come back frequently to this list and check your essay against it.

STRUCTURING YOUR ESSAY: THREE APPROACHES

• Traditional structure: Thesis and support structure this essay. Introductory paragraph ends with thesis statement. Two, three, or more body paragraphs offer evidence to support and prove thesis. One main idea per paragraph. Closing paragraph revisits thesis and gives reader a final thought, call to action, or provocative question. (NOTE: Be original when composing your thesis. Check it with Mr. Strom. "Martin Luther King has made some important contributions to our society" is BORRRRIIINNNNGGG. There will be 50 essays with that thesis. Be original. Be original! Write a thesis no one else could have written.)
• Narrative/Elliptical structure: Start with personal narrative (a story from your own life) that somehow leads into or meshes with the story of the person you've chosen. (This personal narrative might, for example, show a change in you that can be linked to the peron you have chosen to research---but there are other possibilities.) The interweaving of the two (or more) stories illustrates the impact (on you, possibly also on others) and also the larger significance of the person's contribution. Rather than listing evidence that logically proves your point, this essay attempts to show, illustrate, and embody the point through interweaving narratives (stories). Alternatively, the essay could start with a narrative episode about the person who is the subject of your essay and then proceed from there. Or it could tell the story of someone you know, if that helps illustrate your point. There are many possibilities. In any case, you should, at some point, interrupt your narrative to analyze and comment on the stories (after all, it is an essay, not a pure narrative). This type of essay is more challenging and harder to define (there are so many different possibilities), but it is also potentially more creative and more interesting.
• Blended: Has a traditional thesis and support structure, but uses narrative as evidence to support and prove thesis. Also could use narrative as a hook in introduction followed by traditional thesis and support. When using this approach (narrative as hook) you might consider revisiting the narrative again in the final paragraph---this creates a sort of frame for your essay.