Literary Essay The Book of Negroes Writing the Introduction English 12 African Heritage

Purpose of an Introduction: 1. To get the reader's attention. 1. To get the reader's attention. 2. To lead the reader into your paper and to establish your thesis. 2. To lead the reader into your paper and to establish your thesis. 3. To control your essay by moving from a general discussion of the subject to the specific thesis that your paper will prove. 3. To control your essay by moving from a general discussion of the subject to the specific thesis that your paper will prove.

Elements of Introduction Title and author Title and author Brief summary of novel (1-2 sentences) Brief summary of novel (1-2 sentences) Thesis (what are you going to prove?) Thesis (what are you going to prove?) Discussion of three main ideas Discussion of three main ideas

Basic Introduction Example: Lawrence Hill’s The Book of Negroes depicts the early life, kidnapping, enslavement, escape and triumph of an African woman during the era of slavery. The novel’s main character, Aminata Diallo, is able to succeed in the face of great hardship, largely due to her ability to read and write. Her achievements as a servant in Charlestown, a teacher in Canvas Town, and a djeli in Africa and later in London, make her an abolitionist’s dream. It is due to her literacy that she survives and thrives.

How else could I begin? You could begin with an attention grabber. This information must be true and verifiable, and it doesn't need to be totally new to your readers. It could simply be a pertinent fact that explicitly illustrates the point you wish to make. If you begin with a piece of startling information, follow it with a sentence or two of elaboration. You could begin with an attention grabber. This information must be true and verifiable, and it doesn't need to be totally new to your readers. It could simply be a pertinent fact that explicitly illustrates the point you wish to make. If you begin with a piece of startling information, follow it with a sentence or two of elaboration.

Begin with an Attention Grabber From the 1400s to the 1800s, over twelve million Africans were kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Americas. Lawrence Hill’s historical novel The Book of Negroes explores the life of one such slave, a woman by the name of Aminata Diallo. Through her tragic experiences on either side of the Atlantic, Hill explores the Middle Passage, plantation life, and the betrayal of Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia. The novel offers the reader a first-hand look at the hardships experienced by slaves in America. From the 1400s to the 1800s, over twelve million Africans were kidnapped and sold into slavery in the Americas. Lawrence Hill’s historical novel The Book of Negroes explores the life of one such slave, a woman by the name of Aminata Diallo. Through her tragic experiences on either side of the Atlantic, Hill explores the Middle Passage, plantation life, and the betrayal of Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia. The novel offers the reader a first-hand look at the hardships experienced by slaves in America.

How do I begin? You could begin with a quotation from the novel that reflects your thesis. Follow this quote with a sentence or two of elaboration. You could begin with a quotation from the novel that reflects your thesis. Follow this quote with a sentence or two of elaboration.

Begin with a Quotation "Unrolling a map of the world, I would put one finger on a dot I had drawn to represent my village of Bayo, put another finger on London and say: ‘I was born there, and we are here now, and I'm going to tell you all about what happened in between.’“ (469) The heroine of Lawrence Hill’s novel The Book of Negroes wished her whole life to become a djeli, or storyteller. Aminata Diallo’s powers of observation as a child, her role as a storyteller in an African village as well as a London Academy, and her re-telling of her heroic story for the abolitionist cause allowed her to realize her dream. She was a rare, unusual and effective djeli. "Unrolling a map of the world, I would put one finger on a dot I had drawn to represent my village of Bayo, put another finger on London and say: ‘I was born there, and we are here now, and I'm going to tell you all about what happened in between.’“ (469) The heroine of Lawrence Hill’s novel The Book of Negroes wished her whole life to become a djeli, or storyteller. Aminata Diallo’s powers of observation as a child, her role as a storyteller in an African village as well as a London Academy, and her re-telling of her heroic story for the abolitionist cause allowed her to realize her dream. She was a rare, unusual and effective djeli.

How do I begin? If you tread carefully, you can begin with an anecdote. An anecdote is a story that illustrates a point. Be sure your anecdote is short, to the point, and relevant to your topic. This can be a very effective opener for your essay, but use it cautiously, as it could sound either hokey or irrelevant. If you tread carefully, you can begin with an anecdote. An anecdote is a story that illustrates a point. Be sure your anecdote is short, to the point, and relevant to your topic. This can be a very effective opener for your essay, but use it cautiously, as it could sound either hokey or irrelevant.

Anecdote Example Like most African Nova Scotians, my grandfather knew very little of his heritage. He did not know where in Africa his ancestors came from, nor did he know how his people arrived in Nova Scotia. Lawrence Hill’s novel The Book of Negroes is a thorough exploration of the kidnapping, enslavement, and northward migration of African American slaves. Through Aminata Diallo’s story, African Nova Scotians can see a part of their own history represented. Like most African Nova Scotians, my grandfather knew very little of his heritage. He did not know where in Africa his ancestors came from, nor did he know how his people arrived in Nova Scotia. Lawrence Hill’s novel The Book of Negroes is a thorough exploration of the kidnapping, enslavement, and northward migration of African American slaves. Through Aminata Diallo’s story, African Nova Scotians can see a part of their own history represented.

How do I begin? Summary Information: A few sentences explaining your topic in general terms can lead the reader gently to your thesis. Each sentence can become gradually more specific, until you reach your thesis. This is called the “funneled” form of introduction, and it is quite popular. Summary Information: A few sentences explaining your topic in general terms can lead the reader gently to your thesis. Each sentence can become gradually more specific, until you reach your thesis. This is called the “funneled” form of introduction, and it is quite popular.

Funnelled Introduction Lawrence Hill’s novel The Book of Negroes explores the life of an African woman who was kidnapped and sold into slavery as a child. Aminata Diallo shows a flair for languages early on, as she is a fluent speaker of both of her parents’ tribal tongues. She begins to learn “the King’s English” during her crossing of the Middle Passage, and picks up the slave language of Gullah on an indigo plantation in South Carolina. It is Aminata’s facility for languages that allows her to survive and even thrive in the face of danger. Lawrence Hill’s novel The Book of Negroes explores the life of an African woman who was kidnapped and sold into slavery as a child. Aminata Diallo shows a flair for languages early on, as she is a fluent speaker of both of her parents’ tribal tongues. She begins to learn “the King’s English” during her crossing of the Middle Passage, and picks up the slave language of Gullah on an indigo plantation in South Carolina. It is Aminata’s facility for languages that allows her to survive and even thrive in the face of danger.

How NOT to Begin! “Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘survival’ as: ‘a natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment.’” EEK! English teachers see this all the time, and it HURTS! “Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘survival’ as: ‘a natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment.’” EEK! English teachers see this all the time, and it HURTS! “In this essay I will…” Argh! That’s about as subtle as a train wreck. The passive voice is appropriate for formal, persuasive literary essays. “In this essay I will…” Argh! That’s about as subtle as a train wreck. The passive voice is appropriate for formal, persuasive literary essays.

Introduction Activity Groups of 5-6 Groups of 5-6 Read each exemplar Read each exemplar Assess each, using the Provincial Exam scoring rubric for writing introductions Assess each, using the Provincial Exam scoring rubric for writing introductions There are no half points There are no half points You must come to consensus as a group You must come to consensus as a group Share your score with the class Share your score with the class