Final Essay Topic: The Role of the Harlem Renaissance in Shaping African American Identity and Cultural Expression
Sample Thesis:
The Harlem Renaissance was an important movement that not only provided a platform for African American artists, writers, and musicians to express their creativity but also played a crucial role in shaping the collective identity and cultural consciousness of African Americans during the early 20th century.
For example, if you’re interested in Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance why not get very specific? Look at his work for signs of pessimism as well as seeming optimism, for example? Rather than show how the whole period affected identity, why not make a claim about the kind of Black identity he created in his work? Langston Hughes “Ballad of the Landlord”, “Mother to Son”, and “I, Too”.
You should use specifics from the texts you discuss, but you do not need and should not use outside source material. If you do and it isn’t cited, you’ll fail the paper immediately.
Be sure that you have a point you want to make about the topic you choose. Then, choose careful examples to support your point. Make sure you cite your support from the texts carefully.
Both your introduction and conclusion should keep your readers’ attention. The introduction should state your point and roadmap your paper while the conclusion should explain why your point was important.