THIS ASSIGNMENT IS FOR NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK
DOUGLASS, AN AMERICAN SLAVE BY FREDERICK DOUGLASS.
Directions:
1. Read Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. As you read,
annotate the text for the rhetorical (persuasive) elements. Mark these elements in the
margins with the appropriate symbol, along with your annotation. Use the attached
grading rubric as your guide.
Rhetorical Element
A. Interesting, unusual, or confusing
vocabulary words
How to Annotate
Circle the word, put a letter
“V” in the margin, and write
the definition for the word in
the margin.
B. Important emotional passages/quotes
(i.e., passages intended to get an
emotional response and make the
reader/audience FEEL a certain way)
Underline, put a letter “E” in
the margin, and briefly
explain.
C. Important logical passages/quotes
(i.e., passages that provide logical,
rational reasons)
Underline, put an “L” in the
margin, and explain briefly.
D. Important moral or ethical passages/
quotes (i.e., passages about what is
morally right or wrong; passages that
show Douglass’s credibility as a writer.
Underline, put a letter “M” in
the margin, and explain
briefly.
AS YOU READ the book (not after you’re finished reading), you should be annotating the text
for the above mentioned rhetorical (persuasive) elements and ideas. Annotations should be
frequent, as appropriate. You should aim for something (of substance and importance) on every 5
pages to receive an “excellent” rating; however, don’t let that prevent you from annotating
MORE when it’s obviously an important section.
2. After reading and annotating, write a 2 ½ to 3 page essay that addresses the prompt
below. Use several DIRECT QUOTES and SPECIFIC EXAMPLES from the text to
support your argument, which must include parenthetical citations for quotes and
paraphrasing. Follow the guidelines for MLA formatting. The essay should be typed
in 12 Point, Times New Roman, and should be double-spaced with one inch margins.
Include an MLA formatted header (Name, Class, Teacher, and Date) in the left
corner, 1 inch from the top margin. Remember that with MLA, the date would appear
as 15 July 2014. In the right corner, include a properly formatted page number. (If
your name is Mike Jones, it would read: Jones 1, Jones 2, etc.) Center your title above
the essay text. Staple the pages of the essay together prior to submission. If you have
ANY questions about MLA formatting, consult the Purdue Owl website online.
(Google Purdue Owl to get to the site; all of the MLA guidelines are there!) A rubric
for this essay is attached. Please review it.
3. BE SURE TO SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY TO TURNITIN.COM BY 3:00 ON
JULY 15. YOU MUST ALSO BRING YOUR ANNOTATED NOVEL TO
SCHOOL AND LEAVE IT IN THE BOX IN THE FRONT OFFICE BY 3:00
ON JULY 15. THE BOX WILL BE IN THE OFFICE BEGINNING ON JULY 1
FOR EARLY SUBMISSIONS.
Essay Information:
Frederick Douglass was a former slave who became a renowned public speaker,
politician, educator, and anti-slavery advocate during the 19th century. He traveled throughout
America and abroad, sharing his stories about and views on the slave system with abolitionists.
In 1845, he published his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, a text
widely read and praised by abolitionists of the time.
Essay Prompt: How does Frederick Douglass make an effective argument against slavery?
In order to answer the above question fully, your essay should contain a clear and
detailed thesis that responds to the essay prompt, and it should discuss the following questions in
whichever order you deem most effective and appropriate:
A. How does Douglass use examples that get an emotional reaction from the reader?
a. Where does he try to make his readers feel a specific emotion, such as
sadness, anger, sympathy, etc?
b. How does he get them to feel this way, and how does this help convince his
audience of his overall argument?
B. How does Douglass use examples and strategies that make logical sense to the
reader?
a. Where does Douglass use techniques like compare and contrast, cause and
effect, or analogy to show slavery is unjust?
b. Where does he make allusions to literary or religious doctrines, or examine
the historical, economic, or political impacts of slavery?
c. Where does he employ expert opinions, quotations, or similar evidence?
d. How do any of these strategies help convince his audience of his overall
argument?
C. How does Douglass present himself as an ethical and moral person to the reader?
How does this establish his credibility as a writer?
a. Where does he show himself to be intelligent, well-informed, or
knowledgeable?
b. Where does he show himself to be kind, sympathetic, or sensitive to others?
c. Where does he show himself to be honest, moral, patriotic, or an overall
“good person”?
d. How do any of these strategies help convince his audience of his overall
argument?
Make sure you include a thesis that answers the actual prompt. Also, remember that
this essay is NOT about whether or not YOU agree with Douglass. This essay is
NOT about whether you think slavery was right or wrong. This essay is about
Douglass’s ARGUMENT, and how he creates a strong, persuasive text using a
variety of techniques and strategies.
As you write your essay and analyze the text, keep in mind how Douglass’s support
for his argument contributes to his PURPOSE. Do not simply summarize the events
and ideas in the book! Think of the events in Douglass’s Narrative as intentionally
and consciously chosen to support his argument.