Pan African Studies 098

Pan African Studies 098

Basic Writing Skills

California State University, Northridge

Bridge 2002

Commuter Cluster C-5

 

The Term Paper

 

Instructions:

 

  1. For this writing assignment, begin by doing the Cubing Technique with your subject being the two student contributors of Kapu-Sens and the reading these students made to the class of their published work: Ms. Desiree Allen and Mr. Kalic Chambers.  The technique is to be handwritten using blue or black ink only, written on just one side of the page, numbering each side of the cube and making certain all pages are paginated. The Cubing (i.e., the first stage of writing – creating) must be attached. You are to then prepare a Looping Technique that is based upon the special Guest Lecture given to the Bridge 2002 Commuter Cluster C-5 by Dr. Tom Spencer-Walters, Chair of the Pan African Studies Department and Editor of Kapu-Sens: The Pan African Studies Literary Review. The Looping Technique must also be attached as part of this submission. No Term Paper will be accepted for grading that does not contain both the Cubing and Looping techniques – No exceptions!;
  2. You are to then prepare a cover page containing the title of your paper, your name and file number, the course and commuter cluster number, the writing assignment type (i.e., the Term Paper), the phrase “Submitted in partial fulfillment of the course requirements for Pan African Studies 098 Basic Writing Skills,” and the date of submission;
  3. This Term Paper  is to be written according to the guidelines and is to be done using standard manuscript format: typewritten, double-spaced with pagination throughout, meeting MLA guidelines as necessary;
  4. The paper is to be no less than 1,500 typewritten words. It is to contain no less than twelve (12) formal citations drawn from the published works taken from Kapu-Sens: The Pan African Studies Literary Review, Vol. 10, No. 1, Spring 2001/ 2002 issue as follows: (a) One of the two essays in the “Aftermath” section, (b) two of the 57 poems in the book; (c) either one of the short stories or the drama “The Stage In;” and (d) one of the two essays on Michael Eric Dyson;
  5. Make note there are five different genres represented in this Literary Review: Sociopolitical essays (i.e., “The Aftermath”); (b) poetry; (c) the short story; (d) drama; and (e) cultural essays (i.e., the analytical essays on Michael Eric Dyson. For this Term Paper, you are to work with three of those five genres with the sociopolitical essay and the cultural essay required. You can then choose from either poetry, short story or drama for the third genre to be covered in your paper.
  6. This paper must have a “Works Cited” section that is prepared according to the guidelines established by the Modern Language Association;
  7. The paper is due at the start of class on Wednesday, August 14th.  No paper will be accepted for grading that is not submitted before 8:50am– no exceptions! And lastly;
  8. No student will receive “CR” for PAS 098 who fails to submit the Term Paper according to the requirements stipulated above! No exceptions!

 

Directions:

 

The Term Paper is to fully address the writing prompt below. It is expected that you will prepare an outline prior to the actual writing of the paper. The basic structure of the paper, written in essay format, should be as follows: Introduction, Literature Review, Discussion (Note: Divided into three sub-sections – 1. Sociopolitical Essay – “The Aftermath;” 2. Genre of Student’s choosing from among the Poetry, Short Story, or Drama; and 3. The Cultural Essays on Michael Eric Dyson) and Summary. Following the Summary will be the “Works Cited.” Again, make certain to attach the Cubing and Looping techniques at the back of the paper.

 

Writing Prompt:

 

“Grasping Knowledge”

 

Dr. Tom Spencer-Walters is the Founder and General Editor of Kapu-Sens: The Pan African Studies Department Literary Review published at California State University, Northridge. The Literary Review has grown over a period of 15 years to be one of the most respected collections of student work published anywhere in the United States by a Pan African Studies Department. A total of 67 student writings appear in the most recent Kapu-Sens publication. Writes Dr. Spencer-Walters about this publication, “Ranging from award-winning essays on the Aftermath of September 11th and alluring stories about life, to ebullient verse and titillating drama pieces, this collection is a testament to the resourcefulness and creative energies of our students.”

 

Based upon your own reading and study of the writings appearing in this most recent publication combined with having heard readings done by two of the students writers published in Kapu-Sens and those notes along with observations developed from the special guest lecture to your Bridge class by Dr. Spencer-Walters himself, you are to develop a well-organized, thoughtful, and well-developed term paper that does the following:

 

ü      Identify lines from a work appearing in this Spring 2001/2002 Kapu-Sens publication that, in your judgment, capture the sensibility and tone of the entire collection. The opening quote that is used may be no more than four lines, be single-spaced with five indentations for each line of the quote. After having opened with the quote, identify the author and then, within one paragraph, briefly explain the significance of those lines in capturing what, for you, represents the purpose and tone of the entire collection;

 

ü      Drawing directly from the works represented in Kapu-Sens, identify and discuss those selections from three (3) of the five genres contained in this Literary Review that best exemplify and reflect what Editor Spencer-Walters describes as “award-winning essays on the Aftermath of September 11th and alluring stories about life, to ebullient verse and titillating drama pieces”…making Kapu-Sens “…a testament to the resourcefulness and creative energies of (our) students.” Use specific, concrete examples and illustrations chosen from writings that, in your judgment, speak to the issues and concerns, the hopes and dreams of you and your generation for this, the major part of the term paper; and lastly,

 

ü      As you reflect upon the years that now lie ahead of you in embarking upon that journey towards a higher education and place in the world, state what you see as the importance of publications such as Kapu-Sens and what new ways of thinking you may have gained as a result of readings from this book. In concluding your paper, make certain to indicate what audience(s) you would especially recommend read this collection along with giving your own rating of the collection.