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Complete a 3-4 page essay answering the following question/prompt about Jackie Robinson’s 1972
autobiography, I Never Had it Made. The paper is due Thursday, April 20, at the beginning of
class. I will provide formal, written comments on rough drafts submitted by Thursday, April 13. I
will provide verbal and/or informal written comments at my office through Wednesday, April 19.
Read the following sources:
Jackie Robinson, I Never Had it Made: An Autobiography, with Introductions by Hank Aaron &
Cornel West (1972; New York: Ecco/HarperCollins, 1995)
Joseph Locke & Benjamin Wright, “The Sixties” (Chapter 27), The American Yawp:
http://www.americanyawp.com/
In the 1960s, African-American leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X disagreed over
whether African Americans should adopt an integrationist stance (i.e., bringing white and black
Americans together) or a separatist stance (also known as “black nationalism”). How did pioneer
black baseball player Jackie Robinson navigate this divisive issue? Based on your reading of his
1972 memoir, did Robinson favor integration or separatism—or some other alternative? Within your
analysis, be sure to discuss the rationale(s) that Robinson offered to support his position on blackwhite relations in this era of racial struggle. State a clear, focused thesis and support your argument
with the strongest evidence and argumentation possible. Cite specific examples drawn from I Never
Had It Made. Place your analysis within the appropriate historical context by citing The American
Yawp or another appropriate scholarly (preferably print) source.
** You are welcome to write on an alternate question, of your choosing, which analyzes Robinson’s
1972 autobiography in historical context. But if you choose to take this option, PLEASE consult
with me at least several days in advance of the due date.**
Please remember: Properly cite any material that is quoted, summarized, or paraphrased. Neglecting to cite
your sources will significantly reduce your grade.
Use MLA-style in-text citations.
Examples:
(Robinson 82).
(Locke & Wright 27:VII).
Include a Works Cited page
State a thesis that explains your argument—note that restating the question or merely stating
your topic is not the same thing as stating a thesis
Each student must submit a unique paper based upon his or her own work
See the “Academic Honesty” policy on the syllabus for information on plagiarism
The paper should be appropriate length, typed, 12-point standard font, one-inch margins,
stapled, double-spaced. It should include page numbers and an accurate, interesting title
Your grade will be reduced if you do not follow the directions. Successful Paper Checklist: An “A” paper does all of these SUPERBLY; a B paper does most
WELL; a C paper does most COMPETENTLY; a D paper misses many or does many of them
POORLY; an F paper has FAILED to do most of these or has done them poorly. ____ Title that is reasonably original/creative and also RELEVANT to the topic and your argument
____ Compelling yet brief introductory paragraph with a thesis that clearly answers the question/prompt
___ Thesis statement does not just restate the topic or give vague notion of what the paper is about,
but actually makes an assertive argument that clearly answers the question
____ Supporting evidence (including quotations and paraphrases) drawn from Robinson’s book
____ Original analysis/reasoning that accurately explains how the cited evidence supports the thesis
____ Proper in-text MLA citations for all QUOTED, PARAPHRASED, and SUMMARIZED passages
____ All citations include author (or brief title in cases with no identifiable author) and page #
____ All quotations EXACTLY reproduced or (minimally) edited with brackets and/or ellipses points
____ Properly cited discussion of the relevant historical context (e.g. history of civil rights era)
____ Minimal Internet sources; any online sources used are scholarly (look for .edu) and properly cited
____ No unsubstantiated opinions that are ahistorical, or irrelevant to answering the question posed
____ Words “believe” and “feel” have not been used as synonyms for “assert,” “argue,” or “posit”
____ Past tense (not present tense) used when writing about past events, individuals, or sources
____ Proper grammar, usage, and syntax employed throughout the entire paper:
____ All words and names properly spelled, no typographical errors
____ All book/newspaper titles have been Italicized; article titles are in “Quotation Marks”
____ No contractions (such as: can’t, won’t, didn’t, etc.). No run-on sentences or comma-splices.
____ No slang terms, overly colloquial phrases, or inappropriate abbreviations
____ Passive voice avoided as much as possible (use the active voice instead)
____ Conclusion paragraph wraps up your argument without introducing new citations or arguments
____ Works cited page: All sources cited in the paper should have a proper bibliographic entry
____ Proper length (full 3-4 pages of writing, not including the works cited page)
____ Format: typed, stapled, page numbers, one-inch margins, 12-point standard font, double-spaced
____ If necessary, contact instructor with any questions regarding assignment or directions
____ If applicable, please attach any drafts upon which you received comments from the instructor
____ All words are either original or have been properly cited—nothing could be construed as plagiarism
Attachments: