Write an MLA researched essay of a minimum of 800 words on Jericho Brown's poem "Ganymede." Your purpose is to reveal the meaning of the poem as it relates to systemic racism. In the poem, Brown uses the myth of the rape of Ganymede by Zeus as a metaphor for discussing slavery from the perspective of African Americans. Use articles from the library databases that discuss the history of slavery and contemporary attitudes toward race, and demonstrate how these are rooted in the tradition of slavery as revealed in Brown's poem.
Primary Sources
- Brown, Jerocho. "Ganymede." he Tradition. Copper Canyon Press, 2019. [Link to poem
]
Secondary Sources
- The myth of Ganymede
- Elizabeth Willis on "Ganymede"
- Interview with Jericho Brown where he discusses his reasons for beginning The Tradition with "Ganymede"
- Jericho Brown reads "Ganymede"
- Educators and Race: A Conversation with Author Ijeoma Oluo on Tackling Systemic Racism in U.S. Education
- One black, one white: power, white privilege, & creating safe spaces
- My white friend asked me to explain white privilege, so I decided to be honest
- "Racism is a Serious Problem in the United States" (from Opposing Viewpoints)
Requirements
- Length: Your essay must be a minimum of 800 words.
- Documentation Format: You must include an MLA formatted Works Cited page that includes correctly formatted internal citations for all source material used.
- Sources: You must use "Ganymede" and at least two secondary sources, one of which must be "Racism is a Serious Problem in the United States."
- Number of sources: You must make frequent references to specific details in the poem (properly documented). The minimum of two secondary sources should only be used to elucidate and explain references within "Ganymede" by Jericho Brown.
- Format: The essay must be in MSWord format (.doc or .docx)For this essay, students may use a dictionary to help with words with which they are not familiar but should not refer to the dictionary definitions in the essay.Students must use MLA style documentation. Internal citations should identify the author and line number for the poems and author or authors for any articles or other resources.Note: Students must also include an MLA Works Cited page.
Students should proofread carefully their final drafts for spelling, grammar, and punctuation as well as clarity, conciseness, and completeness. The final draft should be typed, double spaced, with one inch margins, in Times New Roman 12 pt.
The essay should be a minimum of 800 words.The essay will be evaluated based on how well students develop their arguments with significant support from the poems (thesis, topic sentences, supporting details from the poems); clarity, cohesion, and conciseness; correct use of MLA format; and grammar and spelling.
Important: Students are forbidden from using any source material other than identified for this assignment (the additional resources given and articles from the ChattState library databases). Use of any other sources will result in a zero grade and an academic integrity report will be filed with the campus and placed in the students' files. Students will then be required to write a suitable makeup paper for which they will not receive credit.
Essay Map
Introduction
Lead
- Briefly define systemic racism
- Introduce the myth of Ganymede
- Summarize Brown's reasons for opening The Tradition with "Ganymede" (see "A Conversation with Jericho Brown" )
Thesis
The thesis statement should focus on the significance of the Ganymede myth as it applies to the experience of the speaker of the poem.
Body
Topic Sentences
Create topic sentences that
- Explain the myth in the context of racism as examined in the poem
- Examine specific issues that the speaker addresses in the poem
Supporting Details
- Significant details from the myth as it relates to the poem
- Specific details that relate to the issues identified
Conclusion
What is the significance of Brown's use of the myth of Ganymede to examine the nature of systemic racism in the United States? How does the myth of Ganymede reveal the problems faced by African Americans in the U.S.?
