American Literature/Mr. Luzar

The Debate on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain

 

As you know by now, Huckleberry Finn is one of our country’s greatest and most controversial novels.  Therefore, before we begin reading Huckleberry Finn, we are going to explore what others have said about it, both in the present and the past.  Why do some feel it must be read while others feel it must not be read?  Are the reasons now the same as they were when the novel first hit the market?  That is what you are going to research, and after you research the different points of view, you are going to take a stand and write a brief essay that argues a point.

 

Your assignment is to find articles that have argued both for and against the novel.  For Thursday,  February 5th, you are going to hand in a 2-3 page typed paper (double-spaced), using MLA format that provides the following:

 

  1. 2 reasons why some wanted the novel banned when it first came out.
  2. 2 reasons why some liked the novel when it first came out.
  3. 2 reasons why some feel the novel should not be taught in high school.
  4. 2 reasons why others feel the novel should be taught in high school.
  5. a body paragraph that briefly recognizes the view you ultimately reject and an argument for your decision on the matter.

 

The rubric provides all the information you need for the assignment’s expectations, but a little redundancy cannot hurt.  You must use at least four sources for this work, and only two of them can come from the sites I have provided.  Two more must come from infohio.org—Mrs. Schwelik will give you all the information you need about this resource.  Although you will not have read Huckleberry Finn by the time this assignment is due, you will still need to take a stand based on what you have read to date.  When we have finished the novel, you will have the opportunity to make a case for it again, but your second effort of course will be informed by your reading of the text.

 

The websites for your assignment are located by linking to the Beachwood High School Library.  The direct url to the Huckelberry Finn information is:

 

http://198.234.86.34:8080/linklibrary/LinkLibrary.form?categoryId=0f75e2402628b6&topicId=07c7c9c2ab896cf9