Make sure the format is correct!!
Along with the Open Stax text section 12.2, our unit on slavery contains readings from two authors, William J. Faulkner and Peter Kolchin. These authors provide different perspectives on slave culture, life, religion and resistance. While Kolchin’s work is scholarly, the excerpts from Faulkner come from the book The Days When the Animals Talked. This is an amazing book of folklore; I have provided a helpful review of Faulkner’s book from Amazon.com to give you a sense of his work:
By
Andre M. “brnn64” (http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AYPCUQS6ARWFH/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp) (Mt. Pleasant, SC United States) –
This review is from: The Days When the Animals Talked: Black American Folktales and How They Came to Be
This is unquestionably hands-down one of the best books ever written on Black American Folklore.
This was where William J. Faulkner (not to be confused with the the Nobel-winning Misssissippian author of the same name) recalled the tales told to him as a child by an ex-slave handyman named Simon Brown in rural South Carolina circa 1900 when the author was about 10 years old.
The title and cover may give you the impression that this is a children’s book. It’s not. Simon Brown’s recollections of slavery (the first half of the book) are often quite raw and similar to the kind of tales told by ex-slaves in the WPA Slave narratives of the 1930s, in regards to beatings, concubinage, and other atrocities. He also delights in telling young Faulkner some tall tales and stories about the religious and social practices of slaves. This is best for about teen age to adults. Faulkner also puts the Brer Rabbit and other animal tales (the second half of the book in the context of being thinly disguised analogies of slaves overcoming masters). The story about Brer Rabbit and the meeting with the long-tailed animals (not found in any of Harris’ Uncle Remus collections) deserves special attention as one of the most simple and brilliant analogies of racial injustice-this is a great wasy to articulate this subject with children!
Faulkner has done his homework and the tales are recorded in an entertaining style.
As with most educated Black writers of the time (Zora Neale Hurston being an important exception), Faulkner eliminates the dialect Simon Brown would have used as he wanted to discourage the use of dialect among schoolchildren (a stance that would horrify the politically correct utopian thought police of today), but the standard English is not unrealistic to the character and does help the stories to read better. This is important because part of the reason Black Folklore is such a lost art today is because most of the best books on the subject (see below) were written in a “Negro Dialect” so thick that ithey are almost unreadable today. In a sense, this book is kind of a flipside to Joel Chandler Harris’ Uncle Remus books in that Harris (with rare exceptions such as the opening chapter of “Daddy Jake the Runaway”) tended to show the softer side of slavery.
However, in reading this book, one really envies Faulkner as he graphically describes the joy of listening to an elder regale him with marvelous stories. Those of us who came of age when this was a common experience will truly identify with this, while those who did not will get an idea of what this was like and wish they had the pleasure of such an experience.
I would place this book with other classics of the genre such as Julius Lester’s “Black Folktales,” Edward C.L. Adams’ “Tales of the Congaree,” Ted Poston’s “Dark Side of Hopkinsville,” Charles W. Chesnutt’s “The Conjure Woman,” Zora Neale Hurston’s “Mules and Men,” and of course the Harris Brer Rabbit books. Read, think, learn, and enjoy.
Once you have read the excerpts from Faulkner, the review on Amazon, the Kolchin article, and the Open Stax text, you can begin the assignment.
Assignment: Revising and Expanding an AI-Generated Essay on the Culture and Resistance of enslaved peole.
Purpose:
This assignment is designed to help you practice your writing and editing skills by revising a draft essay originally written by artificial intelligence (AI). You will learn how to strengthen ideas, improve organization and clarity, and integrate evidence from course materials. This is a skill-building exercise, not just a writing taskyou are expected to engage deeply with both the content and the process.
Assignment Overview:
You will revise and improve an AI-generated essay that answers the following historical question:
How did enslaved people use folklore, religion, and African practices to create a unique culture under slavery? How powerful and effective do you think culture would have been in the slaves’ efforts to resist the oppression of slavery?
Your job is to transform the AI draft into a clear, well-organized, and historically supported essay. Make sure that you underline all content that is added by you. I want to clearly see your revisions. You will submit your revised version on the last day of the unit.
What You Need to Do:
1 Edit and Improve the AI Essay:
Below you will see a draft essay generated by AI. Your task is to:
Improve clarity, grammar, and sentence flow.
Reorganize ideas into smooth, connected paragraphs.
Strengthen the argument by adding specific examples and insights from the assigned readings.
2 Integrate Four Key Ideas Smoothly:
The AI draft includes four listed points (labeled 14). Do not include numbered lists in your final version. Instead:
Remove the numbers.
Integrate the ideas into your own paragraph structure.
Make sure the ideas flow logically and build upon one another.
3 Use Assigned Readings as Evidence:
Support your analysis by referencing specific primary and secondary sources from this unit.
Do not bring in outside sources. Use Chicago Style endnotes for all citations.
4 Underline all content that you add to the essay!
5 Submit Final Version:
Upload your revised and improved essay to Canvas by the last day of the unit.
There is no follow-up post for this assignment.
Academic Integrity Reminder No AI Use Allowed:
This assignment is specifically designed for you to practice and demonstrate your own writing and critical thinking skills. You may not use AI tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, or other writing generators or editors to help with your revision. Submitting AI-assisted work for this assignment is considered plagiarism and a violation of Valley Colleges academic integrity policy.
Instead, use this as a chance to challenge yourself, develop your writing voice, and build confidence in your ability to analyze and express historical ideas.
Grading Criteria:
Your final revised essay will be evaluated based on the following:
Thorough Revision: Clear improvement over the AI-generated draft in structure, clarity, and depth.
Integration of Key Points: All four main ideas from the original are effectively woven into smooth paragraphs.
Use of Evidence: References to course readings and sources are accurate, relevant, and cited using Chicago Style endnotes.
Clarity and Organization: Paragraphs are logically structured, and writing is clear and cohesive.
Authenticity: Your writing shows personal engagement and effort. No AI-generated or assisted content is used.
Need Help?
If youre unsure how to get started, how to cite sources, or how to revise effectively, please reach out! Im happy to meet with you during office hours or by email to support your progress.
Here is the ChatGPT essay:
Slaves in the Americas, particularly those of African descent, faced immense challenges due to the brutal system of slavery. However, they managed to create a unique culture that drew from their African roots, combined with elements of the new environment they were thrust into. This cultural fusion was a form of resistance and survival, allowing them to maintain their identity, find solidarity, and cope with the harsh realities of their lives.
1 Folklore and Oral Traditions: Slaves brought with them rich oral traditions, including storytelling, music, and dance, from their various African cultures. They used these traditions to preserve their history, share wisdom, and subtly criticize their oppressors. Folktales often contained hidden messages and lessons that provided guidance and encouragement, contributing to a sense of community and resistance.
2 Religion and Spirituality: Slaves frequently adapted their African religious practices to the new context, resulting in syncretic religions like Vodou, Santera, and Candombl. These spiritual practices not only helped them connect with their ancestral heritage but also provided a means of resistance and hope. By worshiping deities that symbolized resistance and liberation, slaves could find solace and strength in their faith, even when it was subverted by the dominant culture.
3 African Cultural Practices: Slaves found ways to maintain various African cultural practices, such as music, dance, and communal gatherings. These activities not only provided moments of joy and release but also served as outlets for expressing their emotions and frustrations. Drumming, for instance, was often prohibited by slave owners due to its potential for communication and inciting rebellion.
4 Creating a Unique Identity: By blending their African cultural elements with aspects of European culture and the new American environment, slaves forged a distinct identity. This identity allowed them to assert their humanity and autonomy in the face of dehumanizing conditions. They created new languages, art forms, and traditions that became symbolic of their resistance and resilience.
The power and effectiveness of this culture in resisting oppression can’t be overstated. Culture provided slaves with a sense of belonging, unity, and purpose. It fostered a collective consciousness that helped them withstand the physical and psychological hardships of slavery. By maintaining their cultural practices, slaves affirmed their dignity and existence as human beings, countering the attempts by their oppressors to strip them of their identity.
Furthermore, cultural practices provided subtle ways to communicate and organize resistance efforts. Songs, for example, could contain coded messages about escape routes or planned uprisings. Spiritual practices also offered a framework for gathering and discussing plans without arousing suspicion.
Overall, culture was a formidable tool for resisting the oppression of slavery. It gave slaves the emotional and psychological strength to endure and resist, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. The enduring legacy of African cultural influences can be seen in various aspects of modern African-American culture, highlighting the enduring power of these practices even in the face of extreme adversity.
Essay Revision Assignment Rubric
Assignment Total: 50 points
1. Integration and Organization of Ideas (15 points)
1315 pts Effectively integrates all four required ideas into smooth, well-organized paragraphs without listing or numbering; demonstrates strong coherence and transitions
1012 pts Ideas are mostly integrated and organized; minor issues with flow or structure
69 pts Some ideas are disconnected or listed; organization is unclear or choppy
05 pts Essay lacks organization or fails to incorporate the required ideas cohesively
2. Editing and Improving the AI Text (10 points)
910 pts Substantially improves clarity, flow, and depth of the original AI essay; shows strong editing choices and original contribution
78 pts Makes solid improvements but retains too much of the original phrasing or structure
46 pts Minimal editing; relies heavily on AI text with few additions or improvements
03 pts Little to no revision or improvement over the AI-generated content
3. Use of Course Readings and Evidence (10 points)
910 pts Incorporates specific examples or evidence from unit readings to support key points
78 pts Refers to readings generally but lacks specific examples or clear citations
46 pts Minimal or vague reference to readings; lacks evidence to support claims
03 pts No reference to course materials or relevant historical sources
4. Clarity, Grammar, and Writing Style (10 points)
910 pts Writing is clear, polished, and mostly error-free; shows strong command of academic tone and grammar
78 pts Some grammatical or stylistic issues, but writing is generally understandable
46 pts Frequent grammar or clarity issues that distract from content
03 pts Writing is difficult to follow due to consistent errors or unclear expression
5. Historical Insight and Analysis (5 points)
5 pts Demonstrates strong historical understanding; offers thoughtful commentary on the role of culture in resistance
34 pts Shows general understanding; analysis is present but not fully developed
02 pts Lacks insight or analysis; mostly descriptive or superficial
Grading Scale
Points Earned
Letter Grade
Description
4550 points
A Excellent
Thoughtful, well-edited, well-supported, and clearly written
4044 points
B Good
Strong revision with some areas needing more clarity or evidence
3539 points
C Adequate
Meets minimum expectations; needs further development
Below 35
Not Passing
Lacks revision, clarity,
Requirements: Follow all instructions carefully