Ch 10

Here is a paragraph from a paper I wrote early this semester on whether or not I would choose to teach The Adventrues of Huckelberry Finn
After examining both sides of the controversy over whether or not to teach Twain’s novel in high schools, I came to my own decision that I would choose to teach the novel. Because the book is a classic piece of literature and history, it is important to share it with students. As Peaches Henry says in her article, “Active engagement with Twain’s novel provides one method for students to confront their deepest racial feelings and insecurities” (405). I fully agree with Henry in that the novel provides an opportunity for students to examine the harmful and corrupt views and stereotypes of society towards the issue of race. Although the novel is fiction, it has a very solid place in history. If students examine the novel with a historical context, they can see that the issue of racism is still just as prevalent today as it was during the time before and after the Civil War. Toni Morrison states in her article that “The 1880s saw the collapse of civil rights for blacks as well as the publication of Huckleberry Finn. This collapse was an effort to bury the combustible issues Twain raised in his novel” (378). By studying this, readers can hopefully see the harmful effects of these dangerous views. Only then can steps be taken to progress towards equality among different races and the problems described in the novel can be addressed.
I don't think that I used a lot of figures and tropes in this paragraph. The rewritten version that includes many more figures and tropes follows:
After examining both sides of the intense controversy over whether or not to teach Twain’s novel in high schools, I came to my very own decision (after much thought and research) that I would choose to teach this widely-banned novel. Because the book is a classic piece of literature and history, it is important to allow students to absorb all that is has to offer. As Peaches Henry says in her article, “Active engagement with Twain’s novel provides one method for students to confront their deepest racial feelings and insecurities” (405). I fully agree with Henry in that the novel provides an opportunity for students to examine the harmful and corrupt views and stereotypes of society towards the issue of race. Although the novel is fiction, it has a very solid place in history just like King's "I Have a Dream" speech. If students preform a close reading of the novel with a historical context, they can see that the issue of racism is still just as prevalent today as it was during the time before and after the Civil War. This issue is a virus in our society that can not be ignorned. Toni Morrison states in her article that “The 1880s saw the collapse of civil rights for blacks as well as the publication of Huckleberry Finn. This collapse was an effort to bury the combustible issues Twain raised in his novel” (378). By studying this influential novel, readers can hopefully see the harmful effects of these dangerous views. Only then can steps be taken to progress towards equality among different races and the problems described in the novel can be addressed. Wouldn't you agree?