SOAN 309: Colonization and Development
DUE IN CLASS FRIDAY 11/5
Last Updated 11-2-99
Write a 4 to 5 page (1200-1800 word), typed, double-spaced, essay on ONE of the topics
below. Be sure to consult the general instructions, How to Write
Essays for Professor Hall.
Paper form: NO Cover pages or binders Name, course, paper, & topic in the upper LEFT-hand
corner:
Your Name
SOAN 309
RP 2, TOPIC X, where X = topic letter
Page 1
If you do not know how to set running headers, you may write it in by hand!
References: For references to class texts you need only put
author and page in parentheses [e.g., "blah, blah, blah...." (Wolf, p. 133)].
For references to material OUTSIDE OF COURSE TEXTS use " blah, blah,
blah,....." (Smith & Weson 1938, p. 45) and a bibliography at the end (NOT on a
separate page).
Remember: Essays are FORMAL exercises, no slang,
no contractions, correct spelling and grammar are required. In your FIRST draft,
work at getting your ideas on paper. In your SECOND draft, work on getting the
argument in order. In your THIRD draft work on grammar, spelling etc. Keep the
introduction, BRIEF, get right to the point. Write it last!
*** NO Bibliography for course books ***
** Label Your Topic**
GENERAL: Pramoedya Toer's Child of All Nations
is part 2 of a four part series about live in Java, called the Buru Quartet.
It tells the story of a Dutch educated, Indonesia writer, Minke. The events
of the first book are summarized in the beginning of this one. This book follows his
early life as a writer and reporter and his attempts to expose some of the negative
aspects of colonialism.
Topic A: Use Child of All
Nations and The Colonizer and the Colonized to
critically analyze each other. That is, how does Memmi help you to understand the
events portrayed by Toer and conversely how do the events in Toer illustrate the general
processes Memmi describes? What does each add to the other? Do they contradict
each other at any point? What does Ancient Futures
illustrate, add, or contradict with respect to the other two books?
NOTE: Do NOT say that one is a novel, the other an analysis--I know that! Indeed, that is why I assigned them! Rather, what new insights or understandings can one gain from each book with respect to the other regarding the colonial situation.
Topic B: Memmi discusses how both the
colonizers and the colonized are "deformed" by the colonial relationship.
Does Toer's account support this contention? Give examples. Is there any
contractory evidence in Toer's account? How does the latter part of Ancient
Futures illustrate this distortion or deformation? How does it
contradict it?
Topic C: Memmi describes how the colonized
must move through assimilation into revolt, and how that process often entails a special
kind of racist thinking against colonizers or anyone associated with them. How does
the life of Minke in Toer's book illustrate this process? What stage[s] does he pass
through? How is his life different from this pattern? Where it is different,
try to construct an explanation for these differences. How do you think the pattern
will finish for Minke? Do think any of the residents of Ladakh will have similar
experiences? Why or why not?
Note: Those reading the Stoler book may want to read the first few chapters as
background for this topic.
Note: the answer to "WHY" is the heart of each essay.
That is, logic and evidence, not position on the issue, is the key factor. Try to think of
arguments FOR & AGAINST your position, and state why those FOR it are more persuasive.
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at thall@mail.colgate.edu