History 214 – Pacific Northwest
Writing Assignment
Nisei Daughter
Nisei Daughter is a personal tale of a young woman struggling to find her identity. Kuzuko Monica Itoi was an American citizen born to Japanese immigrants living in Seattle. Like her name implies, Kuzuko lived in two worlds but didn’t feel like she fully belonged to either.
The assignment: Your essay should explore the issue of identity. What were the cultural and social forces pulling on Kuzuko? Raised in a traditional Japanese family, living in an American city, how did she and other Nisei respond to these pressures? Finally, how did historical events help bring this personal crisis to a head, and eventual resolution? (Don’t feel like you have to answer all of these question, rather use them as a guide to channel your discussion.)
As you explore these questions, remember, this is not a “book-report” assignment. This should be an analytical essay in which you enlighten your readers on how andwhyMonica faced and resolved her personal struggles. Your analysis, which is the discussion of the “why” is critical to a good grade. We’ll discuss this more in class.
Due:Final draft is due Monday, March 6. (hard copy in class). Late papers not accepted unless specific arrangements are made in advance with the instructor.
Length:3-5 pages, double-spaced, typed in 12-point, in a Microsoft Word document or equivalent.
Documentation
Your paper must be typed in MLA format. I’ll distribute a style sheet to help you fully document your work.
Writing rules of the road
When preparing papers, keep the following in mind:
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Don’t sweat the length: I place limits on the length to force you to discipline yourself and make good decisions, however, I won't grade you down if you'reslightly over or under the limit.
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Identify the thesis: The end of your first or somewhere in your second paragraph should include a strong statement of your thesis or hypothesis.
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Use the author to support your points: While over-quoting is generally not a good idea, used judiciously, quotes can enhance your credibility. Never use a writer’s words or ideas without proper attribution. Citations are required even if you paraphrase a quote and did not use it directly.
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Write a strong conclusion:This should be a restatement of your thesis and a brief review of your evidence.
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Accept that good writing takes time: Writing is a multi-step process – outline, write, edit, share, and edit again. Warning: don’t try to bang this paper out in one last-minute sitting and expect a good grade.
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Outline: You’ll be surprised how much easier it is to write when you’re working from a well-thought-out outline. Investing that time up front will save you time and anxiety later.
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Think about your audience: Rather than thinking of your instructor as the audience, assume you’re writing for a magazine or historical website. While interested in the topic, your readers will have little knowledge of events.
Other requirements
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Your paper must be free of typographical, spelling and grammatical errors.
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Include a headline and subhead that reveals your thesis and invites the reader to read on.
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Write in the past tense. History happened.
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Support all claims with evidence.
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Write in the active voice.
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