Composition 3: Critical Reading

Composition 3

Critical Reading

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We have spent a number of classes discussing the forces that shape the actions and imaginations of the characters in Devil In A Blue Dress. For this assignment you will choose one of the prompts below, and share your thoughts on one of the questions asked. You are not being asked to summarize what happened in the book. Rather you are being asked to dig below the surface to consider why people act as they do. You must back up your thoughts with specific examples from the text. Your grade will be determined by your insights in the book as well as your ability to write clearly and persuasively.

1. Many characters in Devil mean well, and yet often do wrong. Examine the forces that shape the actions and ideas of these characters, in particular the effect of violence on them.

2. Easy calls Mr. Carter “the worst kind of racist.” Do you agree with this? Defend you position using examples from the book, the context in 1948, and what you know from the world you live in.

3. Daphne Monet drove men crazy, and yet she was a figment of the characters in Devil’s imaginations. How could a character who existed only as a fantasy cause so much real upheaval in the book?

Your paper will be 400-500 words long. You must format it using MLA guidelines (see the “cheat sheet” that is posted)

Due dates:

November 3: Thesis statement comp 3 due

November 5: First paragraph comp  3 due

November 10: Rough draft due

November 12: Final draft due