When Uncle Toms Cabin was published in the early 1850s, Southerners were outraged at what they considered abolitionist propaganda that wildly exaggerated the harmfulness of slavery and held white Southerners in contempt. In fact, Southerners argued, slaves were by and large a culturally inferior, child-like people who were treated well by whites and thus content with their status in life. Most historians in the past fifty years have disputed this Southern argument, while conceding that Stowe was nonetheless writing propagandistic fiction and not a historical account.
Granted that Stowe was writing a fictional novel with the intent of persuading her audience that slavery was an evil institution that must be abolished, how far apart was her depiction of slavery from what historians today describe? This is the central question you are to address in a 5- 7 page (double-space) analysis of Uncle Toms Cabin. For purposes of this paper, you can rely on the assigned chapter 13 of Irwin Ungers These United States (especially, but not only, the section on Life Under Slavery) to represent what historians today have to say about slavery. You should also consider how Stowes account compares with those of at least one of her contemporaries (for this you have the option of using assigned readings (e.g. the CD documents –Harriet Jacobs (Trials of a Slave Girl) or George Fitzhugh (The Blessings of Slavery). Whatever sources you use in addition to Unger, you should have at least two published sources (not simply an on-line WIKI).
In assessing the historical merits of Stowes novel in light of current historical accounts, consider particular aspects of her depiction of slavery, such as: how slaves were looked upon and treated and, in general, the impact of slavery on slaves; how slaves responded to their enslavement (e.g., were they despairing, submissive, content with being slaves, defiant, rebellious, or what?); what cultural traits and beliefs or values (e.g. involving family, religion, music) slaves exhibited in coping with their enslavement.
You may pursue other issues as well, such as: Stowes depiction of gender differences; whom or what she blames for the ongoing evils of slavery. Whatever direction you take in this paper, be sure your topic is manageable within the stipulated length of the paper. Do not spread yourself too thin so as to compromise quality of analysis. And be sure this your original work based on a careful reading of the novel and not on what someone else has written about it (on or off line).
The expected length is 5-7 pages, double-spaced print with 1 to 1.5″ margins.
There is no need for a title page or cover sheet — put title, course number, and your name at the top of the first page.
Begin your paper by telling your reader what it is you are setting out to do, i.e. your subject, purpose. Your final paragraph should highlight whatever point(s) you wish to make based on what youve written so that your reader has a sense of whats important about what youve written.
Avoid first person (I believe, in my opinion, etc.).
Normally (most of the time) use active voice ( the author/or film expressed contempt instead of contempt was expressed).
Use past tense when referring to what happened or what was said in the past; present tense is acceptable for describing content of a film or novel.
Avoid slang, colloquialisms, abbreviations.
Book titles should be underlined; articles, essays, book chapters should be in quotations.
Avoid overlong sentences and paragraphs.
Avoid long quotations and limit your use of quotations to something that is particularly striking or illuminating. Otherwise paraphrasing or summarizing is preferable — this is your paper and not a piecing together of someone elses writing. Whether you quote or paraphrase, be sure to provide a citation.
Cite the source (except for films) and page from which you happen to quote, paraphrase, or from which you draw important information; if it is clear from your text what source you are citing, then cite only the page; otherwise cite authors name and page. Use parenthetical references for your citations. Add a separate page at the end for a list of Works Cited in which you provide author, full title, city and publisher, and date of publication for any publication, website, or film you use (whether or not you have cited it). (Items designed for the Web tend to be unreliable, so use with caution.)
