Romanticism
1.5 pages in MLA Format
4) Read Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself, by Frederick Douglass (1262 in Becoming America)
American Literature Dr. Armond Boudreaux
Reading Responses
Your reading responses are an opportunity for you to show me that you are reading the assigned
literary works––and just as important, thinking about them.
Use the following guidelines for your reading responses:
1) Read the assigned literary work(s) and the handout describing the historical period in which
it was written (i.e., the handout on the Enlightenment Period or the Romantic Period).
2) Go back through the work and find two passages in which the work reflects the historical
period in which it was written (i.e., the Enlightenment, the Romantic period, etc.)
3) Write a short reflection essay:
1) The essay should be at least one full page and no longer than two pages.
2) It should either discuss the work as a representative example of its historical period (i.e.,
how the Declaration of Independence reflects Enlightenment values; how Frederick
Douglass’ Autobiography represents Romantic values, etc.)
3) It should quote the two passages that you have chosen from the work (using MLA-style
parenthetical citations) and use them to discuss the ideas or historical period.
4) Be sure not to quote passages that are too long. If you choose long passages from the work,
select only a short portion of them to quote in your reflection. Three quarters of your
reflection should consist of your own words.
5) Use the following formatting guidelines for your reflection:
1) Times New Roman font (12-pt font)
2) Double-spaced
3) Put your name in the first line.
4) Title your reflection “Reading Reflection: Title of Literary Work.”
6) Do not consult any secondary sources for this reflection. I want to see you thinking about the
literary work. I don’t care what somebody else has to say about it. Take this as an
opportunity to think and to express your own opinion. If you’re relying on someone else to
tell you what your opinion or interpretation is, then you’re not thinking.
7) Plagiarized work will receive no credit. See the plagiarism policy in the syllabus.
