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Four paragraph revised essay on Alice Walker’s “Dummy in the Window” due TUESDAY 12
MAY 2020 by 1:55 P.M.

USE YOUR TEAM WORK AND ANY CLASS MATERIAL IN YOUR ESSAYS.

PARAGRAPH 1 – INTRODUCTION (revise as needed)

In approximately 5 sentences, present the thesis idea.

Don’t discuss your support paragraph material.

Do engage the audience with questions and information about distortions we read in
history and see in media. Questions are an excellent way to gain a reader’s attention.

THESIS (underline/last sentence/you must use this thesis): <Transition phrase or word>,
Alice Walker’s story “The Dummy in the Window” claims that the media and people behind
the media present distortions of the enslaved African Americans’ lives.
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PARAGRAPH 2 – SUPPORT PARAGRAPH 1 (revise as needed) - You can modify the topic
sentence. You must use this quote.

TOPIC SENTENCE 1 (first sentence/underline): <Transition>, write out the topic sentence with the 1
brief added detail.

QUOTE CONTEXT: In .5 – 1.5 sentences, write the QUOTE CONTEXT (QC).

QUOTE 1 (you must use this): Harris states, “He [Uncle Remus] was not an invention of my own,
but a human syndicate, I might say, of three or four darkies whom I knew. I just walloped them
together into one person and called him ‘Uncle Remus’” (27).
- NOTE: Depending on your QC, you might not need [Uncle Remus] inside the quote.

ANALYSIS 1 (5-7 sentences): Explain how/why the QUOTE does support the TOPIC SENTENCE. Use
your research to help you with this as it is part of your analysis and support. Make sure to cite your
research as a paraphrase. Please use the QUOTE KEYS and/or the paraphrases as needed to guide
your analysis. Write the number of the page after all QKs and paraphrases.

RESTATE THE TOPIC SENTENCE (last sentence/underline): <Transition>, restate the topic sentence.

TEAMS: YOU MAY COPY AND PASTE THE TEAM SUPPORT PARAGRAPH

PARAGRAPH 3 – SUPPORT PARAGRAPH 2 – Write a topic sentence, summary, and summarize

a Walker passage or long quote about her reaction to Song of the South.
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PARAGRAPH 3 – SUPPORT PARAGRAPH 2 (revise as needed) – Add a correct topic sentence

and the analysis

TOPIC SENTENCE 2 (first sentence/underline): <Transition>, please create a topic sentence that
fits with the summary and Walker quote.
- See class notes about alienation or distancing.

A.) INSERT 1 APPROPRIATE TRANSITION SENTENCE.

B.) SUMMARIZE THE SONG OF THE SOUTH VIDEO CLIP: Write a summary of the Brer Rabbit
clip from Song of the South. Be objective here. Do not insert any opinion. Only describe
what you see. Yes, you do see that the white child is in the center of the screen at the
beginning and end of Uncle Remus’s story, and the Black child is off to the side. Describe
the tale. At the end of your summary, add (Disney).
a. LENGTH OF SUMMARY: 4-5 sentences
C.) INSERT 1 APPROPRIATE TRANSITION SENTENCE.
D.) SUMMARY OF WALKER’S FOCUSED FEELINGS ABOUT SONG OF THE SOUTH.
a. Instead of a direct, long quote, please summarize in 2 sentences parts of the story
where Walker reacts to Song of the South. Do not write more than 2 sentences.
b. Make sure that your summary contains several actual “words” that Walker does
state.
c. At the end of this summary, write the number of the page in parentheses. Follow
this with a period.
i. LENGTH OF WALKER SUMMARY OR PARAPHRASE ABOUT HER REACTION
TO SONG OF THE SOUTH: 3 sentences.
E.) INSERT 1 APPROPRIATE TRANSITION SENTENCE.
F.) REFLECTION (4 sentences): Reflect on Walker’s reaction. Imagine you are Alice Walker.
Why would the Song of the South scene you describe above cause her to feel the way she
does in the topic sentence? Be inventive! Become Alice Walker. You can even argue this
AS Alice Walker by saying that you are Walker at the beginning.

TEAMS: YOU MAY COPY AND PASTE THE TEAM SUPPORT PARAGRAPH EXCEPT FOR THE
REFLCTION ANALYSIS. THE REFLECTION ANALYSIS MUST BE YOUR OWN WORK.

PARAGRAPH 4 – CONCLUSION (revise as needed)

RESTATE THE THESIS (underline/first sentence): <Transition phrase or word>, Alice Walker’s
story “The Dummy in the Window” claims that the media and people behind the media present
distortions of the enslaved African Americans’ lives.

ADD 2-3 ENDING COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS THAT ONLY ADDRESS THE THESIS AND MAKE THE
READER THINK ABOUT THE THESIS IDEA IN 2020.
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TURNING THIS ESSAY IN TO CANVAS

1. SUBMISSION: Upload the PDF file of your essay in Canvas per this link.
a. Name the PDF doc:
i. Last name_First name_D2
1. EX: Smythe_Stan_D2
2. This essay must follow MLA 8 format for page 1 and pagination. You must double-space,
use 12 pt. font size, Times New Roman, and create a unique title (center this).
3. TEAM WORK - I encourage teamwork! If you prefer not to work in a team, that’s fine,
too.
4. Teams may copy/paste the entire support paragraph.
a. Each person, though, must write an individual introduction and conclusion. You
may have your teammates read these for fluidity, engagement (is the writing
interesting?), and grammatical errors (this is spelled wrong. This area is unclear.
This is awkward).
b. If you work on a team, at the end of the essay, write the following:
c. TEAMMATES
i. Write out the full names (last, first) of all team members, so I will know
who is on which team.
d. EXAMPLE: At the end of your essay, write:
i. TEAM MEMBERS
1. Smythe, Stan
2. Doe, Jane
3. Gustafson, Xavier
4. Tsung, Andrew
5. You may work on this individually if you do not wish to work on a team.

GRADING RUBRIC

1. Proof your papers.

2. Make sure you correct for grammatical and sentence structure errors. Do not wander
off topic.
3. Use detailed and specific language (no vague, awkward, unclear wording), and cite any
sources.
a. These errors, especially strays, will negatively impact your grade.
i. If you need help with awkward wording, sentence structure, and
grammar, please use the tools in your writing program, such as Word.
Word will point out potential errors with red underlines and other
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suggestions. For those who have Grammarly Premium, which is an

excellent tool yet does cost a monthly fee, please use this.
4. These essays are graded A – F.
5. I cannot accept any late papers unless there are verifiable extenuating circumstances,
which you must discuss with me. Given the issues of this move to remote learning, I
understand many types of issues can arise that will make it necessary for an extension.
a. Email me as soon as possible, briefly explain your situation without going into
personal details you don’t wish to say, and we’ll work out a plan, so you won’t be
penalized for a late essay.
i. Late papers are missing papers and will receive a failing grade.