Essay 2 Directions: The Writings of the Puritans/Age of Faith (the darker side)

and the The American Enlightenment/Age of Reason

Remember that your focus must be on the literature not the history. You do that by focusing
entirely on the texts themselves. Stay away from quoting the Perkins editors since they are not
the focus of our studies.

Prompts: (Choose one)

1
Subject

Writings of the Puritans pertaining to the witch trials

Intended
Learning
Outcome

Compare how different writings regarding the witch trials illustrate different
sides of the story

Prompt

Compare the motivations behind the writings of Cotton Mather, Mary Easty,
and Samuel Sewall. Use specific examples from their texts to demonstrate the
purposes of their writings and how they are different from each other. Your
thesis must make one, single unifying argument about the differences of all
three writings.

2
Subject

Jonathan Edwardss Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Intended
Learning
Outcome

Compare the concept of God in Edwardss sermon with another writer from
this section

Prompt

Compare the concept of God in Jonathan Edwardss Sinners in the Hands of

an Angry God with another writer from this section. Include specific examples
from Sinners and the other text you choose to illustrate how those concepts
are similar or different.

Age of Reason
3
Subject

Benjamin Franklins Autobiography

Intended
Learning
Outcome

Evaluate the methodical, consistent approach in The Autobiography to

Emersonian thinking

Prompt

Emerson states,
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little
statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul
has simply nothing to do.
As evidenced by the 13 virtues in The Autobiography, Franklin took a
methodical, consistent approach to moral self-improvement, much opposed to
Emersons quote. Nonetheless, both Franklin and Emerson were productive
and successful individuals.
Defend or support Emersons statement as it pertains to Franklins
autobiography. Use specific examples from Franklins work to justify your
position.

4
Subject

The writings of Thomas Paine

Intended
Learning
Outcome

Analyze the rhetorical strategies in Thomas Paines writings

Prompt

Analyze the use of logic and sarcasm in Thomas Paines writings to achieve
specific purposes. Provide specific examples from one or more of his writings
to illustrate how he uses those two methods to prove a point(s) or achieve an
effect(s).

5
Subject

Patrick Henrys Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death speech

Intended
Learning
Outcome

Compare the rhetorical strategies of a speech and a sermon during the

Enlightenment period

Prompt

Compare the rhetorical strategies from Henrys Give Me Liberty or Give Me

Death speech with Edwardss sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.
Argue which one uses rhetorical strategies more persuasively to provoke
action from its audience. Use specific examples from both texts to support
your opinion.
(Rhetorical strategies include things like the following: Subject, Purpose,
Context, Audience, Speaker, Diction, Syntax, Structure, etc).

6
Subject

Olaudah Equianos Narrative

Intended
Learning
Outcome

Analyze the American concept of self-reliance and reinvention in Equianos

Narrative

Prompt

Analyze the American concept of self-reliance and reinvention in Olaudah

Equianos Narrative by identifying key moments when his character changes
as a result of self-reliance and/or reinvention and explain why those moments
are significant. Your thesis must make an argument about the significance of
those moments.

Grading criteria on next page

Grading Criteria:
You will be graded on the following:

Essay addresses the prompt

Has a clear thesis/main idea in the introduction that unifies the essay. The thesis cannot
be implied or vague.
Thesis cannot be a simple fact or a question. Thesis must be debatable.
Body paragraphs have clear topic sentences that suggest the direction of each
paragraph
Body paragraphs provide textual support (quotes) in each paragraph from the literature
being analyzed. (Intro and Conclusion do not have to contain quotes).
Body paragraphs use sufficient analysis to support the thesis.
Body paragraphs do not merely summarize the literature.
The entire argument focuses on the literature as the subject of discussion. It does not
turn in to a history lesson and go off topic.
Uses proper paper format (MLA)
Uses Standard American grammar and spelling. (Also, no text messaging language,
profanity, or slang)
Has a Works Cited page at the end that follows proper MLA format (The Works Cited
page does not count towards the minimum length requirements).

ANALYZE, DONT SUMMARIZE!! Please do not give me a history lesson or a book report.