Description
In the two assigned readings, Mark Twain and Albert Beveridge present starkly different points of view on the issue of American imperialism.
Begin your response by addressing the question in an introductory paragraph. An introductory paragraph literally introduces the reader to the ideas you are going to present in the rest of your response.
In this paragraph, give your overall answer to the Twain question in one or two sentences. Then give your overall answer to the Beveridge question in one or two sentences. You will develop and support these answers in the body paragraphs that follow.
Next, write two body paragraphs that support the ideas you introduced in the introductory paragraph. In the first paragraph, show how Mark Twain expresses his opposition to imperialism by using satire to dismiss the idealistic notion that America has a mission to civilize and Christianize the Filipinos (Moros).
In the next paragraph, show how Beveridge uses both idealistic (religious or morality-based) arguments and realistic (economic) arguments to support an aggressively expansionist U.S. foreign policy.
Each body paragraph must be between 125-150 words and begin with a topic sentence that expresses the paragraphs main idea.
Once youve written each paragraph, go back over it and make sure every sentence in the paragraph is related to or develops the idea introduced in the topic sentence. If youve written a sentence that doesnt relate specifically to the idea introduced in the topic sentence, delete it and write one that does.
Each body paragraph must contain at least TWO specific examples from its respective reading that supports or illustrates what you are saying. Stronger essays will include more than two. Direct quotes from the reading are the best way to illustrate your points, but you need to choose quotes that are actually related to the point youre trying to make. Avoid repeating yourself and proofread your work.
In the concluding paragraph, you should write two sentences and only two sentences.
The first sentence should begin:
Overall, Albert Beveridge supports American imperialism because ..[complete the sentence in your own words.]
The second sentence should begin:
On the other hand, Mark Twain opposes American imperialism because . [complete the sentence in your own words.]
