0 Introduction : Clearly state your position in this paragraph. (Mention the controversy surrounding, The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn. Make sure you clearly state your position on the issue, and mention the novel title and author.)

0 Twain scholar Shelley Fisher Fishkin said the
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is probably the best example of 19 th century anti-racist writing ever published (Born to Trouble).
0 Huck Finn Critic and Chicago educator John Wallace wrote, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark
Twain, is the most grotesque example of racist trash ever written (16).
0 Who is right? ……. Discuss the controversy ……. You could also use an anecdote / case history of one of the recent school board challenges in the recent past.

0 One headline read: “Fight over Huck Finn continues:
Ed School professor wages battle for Twain classic.
Another reads, “Huckleberry Finn and the N-Word
Debate.” Published 130 years ago, Huck Finn is still making headlines. ……….

0 Reflect your topic ……. Should Huckleberry Finn be banned from the 11 th grade curriculum?
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0 SAMPLE THESIS
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be a part of the junior curriculum because it inspires thoughtful discussion on an important topic, it provides an accurate depiction of 19 th century literature worthy of study, and its lessons are still valuable for students in the 21 st century.

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State your first argument or reason that you support your position:
Add Supporting evidence (examples, facts, statistics, quoted authorities, details, reasons) You may quote from the Born to Trouble video or articles given you in class.

0 First, the novel explores racial issues and allows students the opportunity to discuss these sensitive topics in a non-threatening environment where opinions can be shared in a respectful manner.

Jocelyn Chadwick, author of The Jim Dilemma: Reading Race
in Huckleberry Finn, strongly believes Huck Finn belongs in the classroom because it allows students to ask questions and discuss important racial issues. She wrote, “Twain brings into schools what all of us in this country desperately need, yet fear, most: discussions-frank discussions – about race, race relations, interracial relations, race language, racial stereotypes and profiling, and ultimately, true and unadulterated racial equality” (Chadwick). In making this statement, Chadwick urges students in classrooms throughout the country to read the novel and question, discuss, and evaluate Twain’s views on race and slavery.

Chadwick hopes that the novel forces the reader and audience to discover its own feelings about race and racial issues. (Add your own views …. What did you think?)
I agree with Chadwick’s position that the novel should be taught in school, but I find the overuse of the “n” word disturbing. The egregious use of this racial slur was a bit bothersome, but I was able to overlook that flaw and appreciate
Twain’s overall anti-slavery message. People who object to the novel point the overuse of this word and adamantly insist it not be taught because the overuse of the “n” word is harmful to their children. Chicago educator, John H. Wallace believes that “the black child is offended by the use of the word “nigger” anywhere, no matter what rationale the teacher may use to justify it (18).
Wallace asserts the novel is “racist” on those grounds alone and believes it should not be on required reading lists in our nation’s schools. He believes the use of the word harms children and communications between teachers and students are “effectively severed, thwarting the child’s education (18). In spite of Wallace’s concerns, my own experience has been __________________.

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0 Huckleberry Finn practically forces readers to form the correct opinions regarding slavery and racism, especially through the complex development of the character Jim. Jim, a runaway slave in the novel, is arguably the most noble of the cast, disapproving of the thieving ways of other characters. He is a man who risks his own life to stay with his family (Twain.)
Rather than crafting a caricature of what people thought slaves were like, “Twain shows the complexity of Jim’s character” (Born to Trouble).

0 In creating this complex character, Twain promotes empathizing with African Americans, something truly remarkable for the time of the book and appreciable for all times to follow.

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0 Chicago educator John Wallace wrote “the black child is offended by the use of the word “nigger” anywhere, no matter what rationale the teacher may use to justify it (18). He also believes “pejorative terms should not be granted any legitimacy by their use in the classroom under the guise of teaching books of great literary merit, nor for any other reason (18).

0 Wallace’s views suggest black students are totally uncomfortable reading Huckleberry Finn.

0 (Topic Sentence) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be a part of the 11 th grade English curriculum because it forces us to analyze our own feelings about slavery and how it affected American culture in the South . (Evidence) Peter Salwen explains that Mark Twain uses controversial themes in his book in an article when he says, “Twain is using this casual dialogue ironically as a way to underscore the chilling truth about the Old South, that it was a society where perfectly ‘nice’ people didn’t’ consider the death of a black person worth their notice.” (Analysis / Commentary)
This quotation states that Twain was trying to get us to think. He depicts the actions and attitudes of the people in the South during the time the book took place as they were. He understood that these attitudes were wrong and that’s what he wants us to recognize . (Evidence) Jocelyn Chadwick enforces this idea by stating, “Twain forces us the readers to discover along with Huck what our feelings are about slavery, about mistreatment of human beings…. (Born to Trouble). (Analysis) This quotation illustrates Twain’s motives behind including such controversial themes in his novel.
Twain wasn’t trying to be a racist. Chadwick continues, “Twain understood deeply that racism is wrong.” Twain was a supporter of abolition, and he used writing in order to voice his opinions and to enlighten the general public about why the mistreatment of other human beings is wrong. With this in mind, we should use the insight Twain provides to help us develop our own opinions about slavery.

0 First, this book should be promoted and celebrated for its ability to compel those who read it to evaluate their own understanding of complex social issues and to become logical and deep thinkers. This book was not written as an outright condemnation of slavery. Mark Twain was capable enough to recognize how little effect such a work would have on society. Instead, Twain employed far more subtle and effective means, namely the use of satire and character development, to force those who read the book to come to their own conclusions. By using sympathetic characters,
Twain, in the words of Jocelyn Chadwick, “forces us to discover ….. What our feelings about slavery are.” Surely those who are opposed to this book do not genuinely desire for their children to lack the ability to form their own opinions, and yet they actively fight to deny their children a valuable resource …… to be cont.

0 What’s more, Huckleberry Finn practically forces readers to form correct opinions regarding slavery and racism, especially through the complex development of the character Jim. Jim, a runaway slave in the novel, is arguably the most noble of the cast, disapproving of the thieving ways of other characters and a man who risks his own life to stay with his family (Twain). Rather than crafting a caricature of what people thought slaves were like, “Twain shows the complexity of Jim’s character (Miller).” In creating this complex character, Twain promotes empathizing with
African Americans, something truly remarkable for the time of the book and appreciable for all times to follow. Modern students should also be able to appreciate this book for
Twain’s bravery and should not be robbed of the intellectual benefits that come from pondering it.

One More ……
0 Another reason this novel should be allowed is that its lessons are still applicable today. Throughout the novel, Huck is battling with himself between right and wrong, whether it is helping Jim or going along with the Duke and King’s plans. He discovers that what is right is not always the popular position, and he may be punished for not going along with the crowd. He also learns that the color of the skin doesn’t make them good or bad. Many of the black people in the novel have higher standards while many of the whites are rotten scum. This idea was contrary to that of the time period, and even though we don’t have that much anymore, the idea remains the same; don’t judge someone before you get to know them. Another lesson is that of friendship. …… to be cont.

Peter Salwen said, “Because of his upbringing, the boy starts out believing that slavery is part of the natural order. As the story unfolds, he wrestles with his conscience, and when the crucial moment comes he decides he will be damned rather than betray his black friend.” This shows the growth of friendship and its outstanding importance. In the beginning, Huck doesn’t see Jim as anything more than a slave, but as the book goes on Huck and Jim’s friendship becomes key to their survival. Huck also realizes that he can’t betray his friend because of what he is told. He takes a stand for what is right.

0 If you need more evidence to support your views, please go online or click on the Huck Finn link on the weebly. Articles are uploaded there for your convenience.