Jim Fergus
One Thousand White Women
The First Year Experience at FGCU
Summer 2004 Reading Project
The First Year Experience Reading Project
Welcome to Florida Gulf Coast University’s First Year Experience. In order to foster a greater sense of
community and to initiate students into university level learning, all incoming First Year students will read
Jim Fergus’ One Thousand White Women. This novel will provide a foundation for two courses that all
students will take in the fall—IDS 1301 Styles and Ways of Learning and ENC 1101 Composition I.
The First Year Experience Reading Project is designed to develop our learning and awareness of the
FGCU student Learning Goal 9: Community Awareness and Involvement, which states that students will:
 Know and understand the important and complex relationships between individuals and the
communities in which they live and work;
 Analyze, evaluate and assess human needs and practices within the context of community
structures and traditions; and
 Participate collaboratively in community service projects.
As you read Jim Fergus’ novel, One Thousand White Women, think about the various relationships and
interrelationships that exist in the novel. You should consider specifically the social and political orders
and the relationship of the individual to the community as depicted in the novel. When you come in the
fall, we will build on this reading and analysis by considering other texts and authors and hearing from
one of them at the First Year Convocation.
The Summer Reading and Writing Assignment
You will need to write two essays after you have read the novel, one for each of your classes. Each of
your essays should be carefully written, with a clear introduction that concludes with a strong and focused
thesis statement (underline your thesis statement); a strong body with at least three to five paragraphs
beginning with clear topic sentences; the body of the essay should demonstrate strong analysis of
specific passages and events from the novel; and a strong conclusion that sums up your discussion. Your
essays should be approximately 3 pages each.
The audience for this essay will be your fellow incoming first year students; as you write, consider what
your purpose might be in writing this essay—what would you want to communicate to your audience
about these topics? You will need to do research for the Composition I essay; you must turn in copies of
all your research with your essay. Make certain that you cite all sources correctly using MLA
documentation. Your essays should be typed, thoughtfully revised, and ready to be turned in on the first
day of class.
Assignment for Composition I
For the Composition I assignment, you will need to conduct research from both internet sources and print
sources in order to write your essay; include copies of your research with your assignment, and document
all research using MLA with a Works Cited page (for any books that you use for research, include only
copies of the title page, the copyright page, and any pages that you quote from or reference; you do not
need to include copies of Fergus’s novel). Use at least three pieces of research, including at least two
pieces from print sources (books or journals). The purpose of this assignment is to come to a full and rich
understanding of the complex interrelationships that are depicted in the novel, and more specifically an
understanding of the political order that exists among the Native Americans.
As you read the novel, consider the various social and political interactions that exist in the novel,
particularly within and among the Native American tribes. At one point, the indigenous peoples are
described as being a truly democratic people, perhaps even more democratic than the mainstream
culture of the novel.
 In order to fully consider this topic in Fergus’s novel, begin by conducting research on
“democracy” and on the socio-political order of Native American tribes and/or on the concept of
“community” and the relationship between the individual and the community.
 Once you have completed this research, consider how this information informs your reading of
the novel. How does this information explain the actions of one or more of the characters in the
novel? Of the interrelationships between individuals and their communities? Between various
communities?
Write an essay that analyzes the important and complex relationships between individuals and their
communities as they are depicted in the novel. You might also consider human needs and practices
within the context of community structures and traditions. Narrow and focus your essay so that you are
discussing only one aspect of this topic; you might focus on one particular group and their interactions, or
on one particular episode in the novel that demonstrates these complex interrelationships.
You will turn in your essay on the first day of class in Composition I (or II); use a pocket folder to turn in
both your paper and your research.
Assignment for Styles and Ways of Learning
For the Styles and Ways of Learning assignment, you will not need to conduct research, though this
essay can build on what you learned in the Composition I assignment. For this essay, continue to
consider the idea of Community Awareness and Involvement, but on a more personal level. Write an
essay that focuses on one character’s relationship with his or her community and that ties this exploration
to an analysis of your own connections to community.
Your essay should be narrowed and focused; don’t try to describe everything about the one
character you choose. Focus, instead, on one aspect of this person and his or her relationship to one
community in the novel. Then consider your own relationship to a community. How would you define
community? What communities are you involved in? What is your involvement in those communities like?
Why do you participate? How? What do you get out of that involvement?
As you write your essay, make certain that you include a focused thesis that ties your ideas
together—the analysis of the character with your own analysis of your involvement in community. In the
body of the essay make certain that you demonstrate your thesis through analysis of specific passages in
the novel and through use of personal examples from your own life. You may use first person for this
essay!
Information and Assistance
For more information on the First Year Experience at Florida Gulf Coast University, visit our website at
http://www.fgcu.edu/FYE/. For more information on the Reading Project visit the website at
http://www.fgcu.edu/FYE/FYE_ReadingProject.asp. Information on using MLA documentation can be
found at http://www.fgcu.edu/cas/english/writing/resources.html.
You can also contact the following faculty for assistance if you need it:
Composition Assignment
Linda Rowland
lrowland@fgcu.edu
Styles and Ways Assignment
Maria Roca
mroca@fgcu.edu
General Questions
Jim Wohlpart
wohlpart@fgcu.edu
(239) 590-7181