Silence on the Mountain by Daniel Wilkerson is not simply a book about why guerrilla insurgents burned down a plantation owner’s house in the coffee-growing region of San Marcos, Guatemala, in 1983. It’s also an exploration of the origins, course, and consequences of Guatemala’s internal war from 1960 to 1996. Write an essay (4-5 pages) that identifies and elucidates the author’s main argument in the book. Why was there so much silence surrounding Guatemala’s long and brutal war? Make sure to provide specific examples of the various “silences” the author encountered in the course of his investigation and how they were eventually broken. (1) Argument: (a) Your concise summary of the main argument of the book on the first page; (b) Your presentation in a concluding paragraph of a clear summation of the book’s argument and of the supporting evidence. This does not mean simply repeating your introductory paragraph. (2) Elucidation: (a) Your explanation of the book’s main argument in the body of the essay by examining key examples and turning points in the story. (b) Your demonstrated understanding of the information in the book. (3) Writing: (a) Your command of grammar, spelling, and clarity of expression in your sentences. (b) Your ability to arrange your sentences into coherent paragraphs with an effective topic sentence. (c) Your ability to develop your essay through a series of paragraphs that flow logically from one to the next. Double-space your lines Number your pages Have your name on the first page Use normal margins and font Cite page numbers as necessary
