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\centerline{MONT 104Q -- Mathematical Journeys}
\centerline{Second Writing Assignment}
\centerline{October, 2015}
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The second of the larger paper assignments this semester will be devoted to the {\it Adventures
of Huckleberry Finn}.  This one will also lead to an {\it argumentative essay} in which you make a 
{\it a particular response to a question} -- a {\it thesis} -- and then present
appropriate evidence and reasoning to support your claim(s).  Your essay should show that you have 
done some careful reading, and some serious thinking, about the subject.  You may, of 
course, disagree with ideas presented in class if you want.  The point again is for
you to develop your own thinking, and then clearly express it in writing.

Your essay should be 3-5 pages in length (double-spaced, single-sided).
Please submit as a MS Word .doc or .docx file to {\tt jlittle@holycross.edu} by 
5:00pm on Monday, October 26.

For this assignment you have a choice of which one of the two following
topics to address.  
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\item{1.}  Twain said that ``{\it Huck Finn} is a book of mine where a sound heart and a 
deformed conscience come into collision and conscience suffers defeat.'' What do you think he meant 
by {\it a sound heart and a deformed conscience?}  There are several key stages in the story and
important decisions made by Huck that show him {\it overcoming} the feelings of conscience 
he has acquired from his upbringing and his surroundings.  What are those stages and decisions?  
When and how do they occur?  Why specifically can we say that Huck's conscience was somehow
``deformed?''  How does Huck change over the course of the book?  And how does all 
of this connect with our CHQ cluster theme?  

\item{2.}  Twain often recounted the final chapters of {\it The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn}, 
beginning with Huck's arrival at the Phelps farm, as a sort of ``set piece'' in
the speaking tour he undertook to publicize the book.  He said those performances were always 
received well by his audiences.  Why do you suppose he chose {\it these chapters} to perform 
in that way?  How do they connect with the rest of the book?  Why do you suppose Twain chose 
to reintroduce Tom Sawyer and devote this last section to Tom's laughable 
``evasion'' schemes for Jim?  If the end of Chapter XXXI is kind of a climactic moment, do 
these final chapters build on that climax or do they have some other purpose?   And does this 
connect with our CHQ cluster theme?  

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{\it Guidelines for this assignment}
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Follow these specifications:
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\item{1.} It is OK to discuss preliminary ideas for what you want to say with
your classmates if you want.  I will also be happy to talk over things and/or read
a preliminary draft to give feedback if you like.
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\item{2.} In the paper itself, develop, and then clearly state your {\it thesis} in 
your opening paragraph.  As in the first paper this should be a clearly-articulated
answer to one of the two topic questions posed above.  
The thesis should be clearly stated and well focused.
The reader (me) should not need to guess what your point is.
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\item{3.}  In the following paragraphs, using
sound reasoning, present your evidence for making the claim in
your thesis.  Do not contradict what you said earlier.  Do not ignore
evidence that contradicts your ideas.  If, on further reflection, you 
find that you do not agree with what you said before, revise the thesis(!)
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\item{4.}  In this sort of writing, a ``move'' that is often very effective
is to temporarily entertain an opposing conclusion as a possibility, then
explain the evidence that leads you to reject that conclusion.  Try it!
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\item{5.}  Your evidence should consist of passages from {\it The Adventures of 
Huckleberry Finn}, and interpretations of those passages 
that come from your own thinking about them.  
Your evidence should be as specific, detailed, correct, and as varied
as possible (focus on small passages and mention
the little things that support your point). 
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\item{6.}  {\it Do not consult any other sources beyond Twain's novel -- this means 
no other books, no web sites, etc.}  
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\item{7.}  When you use direct quotations, 
at the end place the Chapter and page number(s) to identify the source.  
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\item{8.}  The paper as a whole should be well-organized and ``flow'' 
from one point to the next.  Your sentences should be clear, readable, and
not overly wordy.  Aim for a reasonably formal but lively style. Careless
or colloquial ways of saying things that are acceptable in casual conversation
are not appropriate in this kind of writing.
Also, {\it please do not use a thesaurus to find impressive-sounding words} 
when simpler alternatives are available. 
An important lesson to learn for writing in college is that thesauri 
do not capture the {\it nuances in meanings} that underlie good writing.  
If you must use a thesaurus, also look up any words you select in a 
dictionary to make sure they mean exactly what you think they do!
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\item{9.} Errors in mechanics and usage should not annoy the reader. 
(As a warning, I tend to be {\it easily annoyed by this sort of thing!})
Try as much as possible to avoid mistakes in 
grammar, spelling, punctuation, and word choice.
\bye
