American Son unfolds in Los Angeles, central California, and even the Philippines, if one considers Uncle Betino’s letters part of the “landscape” of the novel. So how does region matter? Craft an argument about how region shapes certain developments in the novel—perhaps the characters’ understandings of themselves, their lives, and race, and/or our understanding of these things.
1. You should prepare to write your paper with prewriting, outlining, and creating rough drafts.
2. Remember to read the James Baldwin piece, no matter what prompt you choose. You will be glad you did later this semester.
3. You must have a thesis sentence that clearly states your position on the issue; each of your supporting paragraphs must also have a clear topic sentence. Most of your support will come directly from the text in the form of quotations, paraphrases, and summary. Use MLA style to cite your source and include a works cited list.
4.You must organize the paper logically. Four to six paragraphs are about right for a paper of this length. Have one paragraph for an introduction, one for a conclusion, and a number of body paragraphs that support the thesis.
5. You must have a draft ready as scheduled on the syllabus for review.
The novel, American Son by Brian Ascalon Roley
