Guiding For This Essay Exam: Analyzing A Case Study Issue
Guidingfor This Essay Exam Youll Analyze A Case Study Issue Proble
Guiding for this essay exam, you’ll analyze a case study (issue, problem, event, phenomenon, social program or policy) to respond to the following overarching question: How does this case study contribute to the construction of African Americans in the United States? Guiding questions: How is blackness defined in your case study? Does this perpetuate or challenge existing definitions of blackness? How, if at all, does your case study attempt to mobilize others for a specific political purpose? How does your case study reflect, intervene or comment upon its historical moment? Create an original argument by analyzing your case study in relation to three scholarly sources from outside of class, one non-scholarly source from outside class, and one key term from class.
Key terms to use (Just use one): Structural racism, Race as a social construct, Respectability politics, Black feminism, Intersectionality, Reproductive justice, Scientific racism.
Format guidelines include:
- 4-5 pages (approximately words)
- 1 reading from the course, 3 scholarly/academic readings from outside the course, 1 non-scholarly source from outside the course, and 1 key term from the course
- Header on first page only: single spaced, four lines including your name, course name, instructor’s name, and semester
- Times New Roman font, 12 pt, double spaced
- Margins of 1-1.25 inches
- Separate citations page, MLA format, not included in the page count
Paper For Above instruction
The essay should critically analyze a selected case study—whether an event, social policy, or phenomenon—focusing on how it influences the understanding and construction of African American identity in the United States. The analysis will explore the ways in which the case study defines "blackness" and whether this aligns with or challenges existing narratives. Additionally, the paper should assess whether the case mobilizes others for specific political objectives, reflecting its historical context and potential impact on social and racial dynamics.
In constructing the argument, incorporate three scholarly sources that provide outside perspectives, along with one non-scholarly source that enriches the discussion. Selecting one key term such as "racial as a social construct" or "respectability politics," the paper must demonstrate how these concepts are embodied or challenged within the case study. The discussion should include an exploration of how the case study either sustains or disrupts prevalent notions of blackness, and whether it acts as a form of resistance or reinforcement within the broader racial discourse.
The paper should present a clear, original thesis supported by evidence, providing contextual background, detailed analysis, and critical insights. Use appropriate scholarly conventions, integrating in-text citations and MLA formatting in the references section. The discussion should be well-organized, engaging, and thorough, spanning 4-5 pages, with a word count of approximately 1000 words. This analysis must elevate understanding of how particular events or policies contribute to racial identities and representations.
References
- Crenshaw, Kimberlé. "Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color." Stanford Law Review, vol. 43, no. 6, 1991, pp. 1241–1299.
- Lipsitz, George. The Possessive Investment in Whiteness: How White People Profit from Racial Privilege. Temple University Press, 2006.
- hooks, bell. Feminist Theory: From margins to center. South End Press, 1984.
- Solórzano, Dolores, and Genevieve Correa. "Critical Race and Intersectionality Theory." Sociological Perspectives, vol. 43, no. 4, 2000, pp. 601–629.
- Johnson, Craig. "Colorism in Contemporary America." The Atlantic, 2020.
- New York Times. "Understanding Racial Identity and Politics." 2022.
- Omi, Michael, and Howard Winant. Racial Formation in the United States. Routledge, 2014.
- Coates, Ta-Nehisi. Between the World and Me. One World, 2015.
- Baldwin, James. The Fire Next Time. Dial Press, 1963.
- Smith, Angela. "Resisting Racial Stereotypes." Journal of Race & Society, 2019.