Assignment Goal: To create an argumentative research essay that explains what the play Party People tells us about the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party and/or Young Lords Organization Party. In your essay, you will focus on two characters to provide evidence for what their experiences tell us about the rise and fall of the Black Panthers and/or Young Lords.
You must add at least one thesis-driven, argumentative paragraph that connects claims you’re making about the paragraphs to research you conduct for the assignment, and incorporate sources using our research methods.
1. Introduction
a. Opening. Contains attention grabbing statement for readers, and then transitions to thesis statement. This could be a personal reflection or a direct observation about the play.
b. Thesis Statement.
The thesis statement will be from 2-5 sentences long. If you look at the assignment goal, consider something like this:
In this essay, I will focus on the characters of ___ and ____. I argue that the character of ___ helps to explain the rise and fall of the BP and/or YL because ____ [1 or 2 ideas?]. I also argue that the character of ___ helps us to understand ____ [1 or 2 ideas?]. Optional claim: These transformations are significant because _____.
Please note, there are other options you can make up. These are provided to you for ease of writing.
Avoid direct quotes in your introduction. Avoid general or vague opening statements.
2. Summary Paragraph.
Summarize the play for readers who haven’t read it but who are curious about it. Using summary and paraphrase, put the play into your own words.
The summary paragraph should contain all the major characters, and account for the plot of the play across all two Acts. All two of the Acts should probably be summarized.
We also need to know the basic information about the setting, and any changes to the setting.
A solid summary will be about one page in length (double spaced, of course), but no longer than 1.5 pages.
In terms of what to share per character, you’ll want to emphasize what’s important to the plot. Consider Act 1 and Act 2.
No direct quotes are necessary. If you want to offer short snippets of quotations, feel free…but focus on using your own words. If you do use direct quotes, remember you must follow citation rules.
3. Supporting Body Paragraph: supports claim from thesis
[Follow College Argumentative Sequence]
Focus on the character and what they tell us…
Support your claim with a summary of key moments and one key textual passage from the play.
4. Supporting Body Paragraph: supports claim from thesis
[Follow College Argumentative Sequence]
Focus on the other character and how reveal…
Support your claim with a summary of key moments and one key textual passage from the play.
5. Supporting Body paragraph: supports claim from thesis
[Follow College Argumentative Sequence]
This paragraph will explain your research claim.
6. Conclusion
For additional info
Watch: “The Black Power Mix Tape”
Read: “Berkeley Rep’s ‘Party People’ Puts Black Panther Movement to Music”
Read: The Party People program
