Questions

1. What is June Jordan’s purpose in writing this essay? How would you classify it—as biography? Literary criticism? Political analysis? Polemic? Tribute? Other?

   Question

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   Questions: - What is June Jordan’s purpose in writing this essay? How would you classify it—as biography? Literary criticism? Political analysis? Polemic? Tribute? Other?
2. What is the effect of Jordan’s repetition of certain sentences, such as “It was not natural”? How is she using the word natural? Why does she repeatedly ask, “Was it a nice day?”

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Questions: - What is the effect of Jordan’s repetition of certain sentences, such as “It was not natural”? How is she using the word natural? Why does she repeatedly ask, “Was it a nice day?”
3. What evidence does Jordan provide to support her statement that “Phillis Miracle, she managed, nonetheless, to write, sometimes, towards the personal truth of her experience” (par. 39)?

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Questions: - What evidence does Jordan provide to support her statement that “Phillis Miracle, she managed, nonetheless, to write, sometimes, towards the personal truth of her experience” (par. 39)?
4. Where in the essay does Jordan address counterarguments? What does she concede? How does she refute those arguments?

   Question

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   Questions: - Where in the essay does Jordan address counterarguments? What does she concede? How does she refute those arguments?
5. Identify places in the essay where Jordan focuses on her own experience. Do these add to the interest and authenticity of the essay, or does the subjectivity lessen the credibility of her argument? Consider Jordan’s own poetry at the end of the essay as part of your response.

   Question

   ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=

   Questions: - Identify places in the essay where Jordan focuses on her own experience. Do these add to the interest and authenticity of the essay, or does the subjectivity lessen the credibility of her argument? Consider Jordan’s own poetry at the end of the essay as part of your response.
6. Why does Wheatley appeal so powerfully to Jordan? What is the nature of the relationship between these two women, as Jordan characterizes it?

   Question

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   Questions: - Why does Wheatley appeal so powerfully to Jordan? What is the nature of the relationship between these two women, as Jordan characterizes it?