English

Writing Project 1: Close Reading Prompts  (Choose 1 of the 4 prompts)

A close reading invites writers to analyze, interpret, and offer their own  opinions on “The Artist’s Struggle for Integrity.” Writers choose and explain quotes from the text in response to 1 of 4 prompts.

PROMPT 1 THE PURPOSE OF ART: Baldwin suggests that “ Art is here to prove, and to help one bear, the fact that all safety is an illusion.” 

Do you agree or disagree, with Baldwin about the purpose of art? Do you accept Baldwin’s idea that art can heal people and can help people to realize personal truth and the truth of the world around them?  Why or why not? 

Choose at least 3-4 quotes from Baldwin’s lecture and 1-3 references from the documentary to respond to this prompt. Introduce and explain each quote. How is the quote or reference related to your main idea? Why does this quote matter? To use references outside of class sources, email me for permission at [email protected] 

If you choose, you can add an example from your own life about what the purpose of art means to you. Remember that the main focus of WP 1 is your interpretation of “The Artist’s Struggle for Integrity.”

PROMPT 2 ALLEVIATING SUFFERING  Baldwin observes that “insofar as I can tell you what it is to suffer, perhaps I can help you to suffer less.” 

Do you accept Baldwin’s ideas about suffering and about using art to help people recognize pain and alleviate suffering? Why or why not? 

Choose at least 3-4 quotes from Baldwin’s lecture and 1-3 references from the documentary to respond to this prompt. Introduce and explain each quote. How is the quote or reference related to your main idea? Why does this quote matter? To use references outside of class sources, email me for permission at [email protected] 

 If you choose, you can add an example from your own life about what it means to alleviate suffering. Remember that the main focus of WP 1 is your interpretation of “The Artist’s Struggle for Integrity.”

PROMPT 3 BEARING WITNESS “You’re bearing witness helplessly to something which everybody knows and nobody wants to face….” 

What does Baldwin by “bearing witness” to “what everybody knows and nobody wants to face’?  Do you accept Baldwin’s idea that artists bear witness to suffering that no one else can face? Why or why not?

Choose at least 3-4 quotes from Baldwin’s lecture and 1-3 references from the documentary to respond to this prompt. Introduce and explain each quote. How is the quote or reference related to your main idea? Why does this quote matter? To use references outside of class sources, email me for permission at [email protected] 

If you choose, you can add an example from your own life about what it means to bear witness. Remember that the main focus of WP 1 is your interpretation of “The Artist’s Struggle for Integrity.”

PROMPT 4:  CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE 

If Prompts 1,2, or 3 don’t grab your attention, propose your own topic for a prompt to me via email [email protected] by Thursday September 23 at 11:59 pm. Your prompt should allow you to take on the main challenges of the assignment: 

Choose at least 3-4 quotes from Baldwin’s lecture and 1-3 references from the documentary to respond to this prompt. Introduce and explain each quote. How is the quote or reference related to your main idea? Why does this quote matter? To use references outside of class sources, email me for permission at [email protected] 

 If you choose, you can add an example from your own life about what it means to bear witness. Remember that the main focus of WP 1 is your interpretation of “The Artist’s Struggle for Integrity.”

WP 1 Sources and Works Cited

Choose 3-4 relevant quotes from “The Artist’s Struggle for Integrity” to support your opinion and select 1-3 historical context references from the video “Fighting Back”  to support your opinion

DO NOT USE ADDITIONAL SOURCES except with permission and intentionality. Email me at [email protected] with questions and concerns.

You can use the following Works Cited for your WP 1. 

Baldwin, James. “The Artist’s Struggle for Integrity.” ​​The Cross of Redemption: Uncollected Writings​ , Vintage International, 2011, 50–64. Reprinted as Transcript, pp 1-12.
“Fighting Back (1957–1962).” Eyes on the Prize Episode 2,  Directed by Judith Vecchione, produced by Judith Vecchione, and Blackside (Production company). Public Broadcasting Service, 1986. Alexander Street, https://video.alexanderstreet.com/watch/fighting-back-1957-1962. 

NOTE: The purpose of WP 1 is discovering your own thinking through close reading of the assigned sources. As a result:  

Your 2 required sources for WP 1 are “Artist’s Struggle” and “Fighting Back.” DO NOT USE ANY OTHER SOURCES (including Google) unless you have asked for permission.Your grade will be lowered for using outside sources and/or any sources that are not your own writing or for sources that were used without permission from me.  Email me at [email protected] for permission, questions, and concerns  about your sources. 

 If  you have a compelling exception to this policy, or any other questions or concerns, email me ASAP [email protected]

WP 1 Self-Assessment 

WP 1 GOALS

WP 1: Close reading (analysis/opinion) of “The Artist’s Struggle for Integrity” by James Baldwin 
Goals for WP 1

Taking ownership of your writing and gain an understanding of their own voice, style, and strengthen by using Use “I” in your writing to discover your opinion and to relate your opinion to the required source material

Grow your central idea in detail through discovering your own opinion 

Support your central idea by introducing and explaining each quote and and reference 

Use your own words, thoughts, and ideas to connect quotes and references

Consider including personal experience as supporting evidence (optional = writer’s choice), remembering the main focus of WP 1 is your interpretation of “The Artist’s Struggle for Integrity.”

WP 1 OPTIONAL Sample Template

INTRODUCTION: After my first reading of “The Artist’s Struggle for Integrity,” I thought______________________________. However, upon closer reading and after watching “Fighting Back,”, I discovered __________________________________.  I  agree/disagree with Baldwin on (general point about art or suffering) _______________________________________________________________________________________________________because____________________________________________________________________________.  Due to _____________________________________________________________________, this is an important point to remember. MAKE SURE THAT THE KEY IDEA IS CLEAR TO THE AUDIENCE.

BODY:  Explain what you discovered about Baldwin’s ideas, using quotes and references  (3-4 paragraphs)
Explain why you agree or disagree with Baldwin using quotes and references and (optional) relevant personal experiences (3-4 paragraphs)

CONCLUSION: Restate your most significant discoveries and end with your strongest point. Leave the audience with something to think about.  

NOTE: Read a sample student essay for WP 1 at this link.

Requirements For All Writing Projects

Length Requirements for each essay:  

Self-Assessment: At least 3 paragraphs that respond to these questions

What did you learn from preparing for and composing this writing project?  

What were your struggles with this writing project?

What might you do similarly and differently moving forward? For example, how might journals be useful to free writing your ideas? What similarities and/or differences do you notice between high school and college writing or other writing that you might have done for work, social media, or elsewhere? 

Works Cited Page and Internal Citations 

Citing Sources

MLA Style

See this sample paper in MLA Style

For writing, citing sources , and research assistance, see the following interactive modules from Arizona State University:

MLA Citation Style 

Plagiarism Awareness 

For the differences between High School and writing for English 110, see the University of Toronto’s The Transition from High School to University Writing