The document provides guidelines for a researched argument essay in an English literature course, focusing on historical and cultural analysis of a selected text, such as a poem or short story. It emphasizes the importance of exploring how historical context shapes literary works and includes requirements for the essay, such as length, sourcing, and the need for a clear thesis. The document outlines the relationship between the selected text and its historical significance, using examples from Jomo Kenyatta's 'The Gentlemen of the Jungle' to illustrate colonial themes in Kenyan history.

1. General Instructions
ENG 200 Survey of World Literature Unit 4
COMPLETE
UNIT 4: HISTORICAL/CULTURAL ANALYSIS (Researched
Argument)
Works of art refract their cultures rather than simply
reflecting them, and even the most ‘realistic’ painting or story
is a stylized and selective representation.—David Damrosch.
The historian will tell you what happened. The
novelist will tell you what it felt like.—E.L. Doctorow,
Building on your work for Unit 3 “Complete,” you are to show
how the historical/cultural information you have researched
shapes your understanding of the selected text (poem or short-
story). You do not need (and should not try) to read an entire
historical period into the text; rather, select a significant
practice, event, or other element significant to the text with
which to support your thesis. You may discover that, after
further research, the tentative thesis you have proposed as part
of your previous assignment needs to be refocused and/or
refined. Important note: You must analyze the relationship
between the historical/cultural information and the text, not just
summarize each of them.
For instance, you may want to discuss the historical context for
“I Stand Here Ironing,” examining the era of the 1930s Great
Depression through the 1950s, spanning Emily’s lifetime.
Examine the events and attitudes and opportunities that
impacted the narrator's life and the way she raised her daughter
Emily and subsequent children. Consider the continual
interference of outsiders in this mother daughter relationship.

2. Address the title’s image as a symbol in the story. Pay
particular attention to the last two paragraphs and to how the
story ends.
To inform your literary argument, think beyond our course and
use the expertise that you have been acquiring in the Criminal
Justice and/or Emergency Management fields. Your literary
thesis can certainly address a socio-political, socio-economic,
or socio-cultural question concerning one or more of our course
texts and bring in the theoretical expertise you’ve acquired in
your profession or discipline.
The researched essay must be 3+ pages (900+ words) in length
and must include, at the very least, your primary source and a
minimum of two (2) secondary sources, including the scholarly
source you have annotated in the previous “Complete”
assignment. Feel free to include more sources. Your argument
must include a minimum of 7-10 short, but significant, carefully
selected details (key words, phrases, or short lines) from both
the primary and scholarly sources. Remember not to let long
quotes dominate argument. Always explain your evidence with
regard to the point you’re making and/or your thesis, as a
whole.
Your researched focus needs to be grounded in the work you’re
doing for this course. You may not reuse or rework a paper
from previous course. You need to start fresh. Have fun with
this endeavor! See where your scholarly pursuits lead you.
BRASS TACKS:
Your essay must have a clear thesis (an informed argument)
with strong researched evidence and expert opinion.
Your essay must be 3+ pages (900+ words).
Your essay must incorporate a minimum of 2 secondary sources,
1 of which must be scholarly/peer reviewed. Feel free to include
more.

3. Your essay must incorporate and analyze a minimum of 7-10
specific quotes from your research (i.e. both primary and
secondary sources). Use direct quotes to support and illustrate
the claims. Remember the significance of close textual reading,
and don’t let long quotes do the work for you.
Use MLA for in-text citations). See resources in our CM folder
and use Smarthinking.
Garrett 1
Garrett 7
Historical or Cultural Analysis of a Short-Story or Poem
Megan Garrett

4. Laura Walker
English 200
Historical or Cultural Analysis of a Short-Story or Poem
Selected story
Jomo Kenyatta, “The Gentlemen of the Jungle”
http://bhscurtright.weebly.com/uploads/4/9/0/9/4909154/the_ge
ntlemen_of_the_jungle__by_jomo_kenyatta.pdf
Part one: Summary
In “the gentlemen in the jungle” by Jomo Kenyatta; the author
features the various challenges that the Kenyan people faced
when they were colonized and also the selfless measures they
had to took in efforts to liberate themselves from colonial rule
that were eventually successful.
Part two: Main Ideas
1. Kenya was taken over by the colonial rule and slowly as well
as using deceitful ways misplaced the Kenyan people who were
already occupying their land, houses, and owned their
properties and animals
2. The colonial power made use of aggressive power to make
their subject comply with their demands without questioning
3. The Kenyan people complied with different rules and policies
set as a means of survival before strategizing on the best move
to take
4. The Kenyan people eventually strategized and made their
move though faced with massive challenges but finally managed
to overthrow the colonial government
5. The Kenyan people after massive bloodshed acquired back
what they had lost and lived happily ever after in their
motherland
Part III: Textual Evidence

5. 1. “As soon as the elephant put his trunk inside the hut, he
slowly pushed his head inside, and finally flung the man out in
the rain, and then lay down comfortably inside his friend’s hut,
saying: “My dear good friend, your skin is harder than mine,
and as there is not enough room for both of us, you can afford
to remain in the rain while I am protecting my delicate skin
from the hailstorm.”
2. “I command my ministers to appoint a Commission of
Enquiry to go thoroughly into this matter and report
accordingly.”
3. “My good man, please confine yourself to relevant issues."
Part IV: Response
The information featured provides a lot of information about the
author’s background, his nation of origin, different political
events that took place, the struggles of the time, the family
structures of the time, education, and social class. First, the
story features the life of the author which is represented by the
man in the story as a challenging, hard, and at some point
unbearable life. According to the story, the nation of origin is
one that is lucrative, peaceful, but not developed. During the
colonial era, there were numerous political events and struggles
that people had to endure. Unfortunately, a majority of political
events were carried out by the white people who only made sure
that the events only oppressed the Kenyan people. Again, the
struggles were mainly from the Kenyan people who lived in the
forests trying to search for freedom. Some of these struggles
include searching for ways to fighter the colonial rulers and
even killing them. Again, the people of Kenya were illiterate as
the white colonials did not grant them the opportunity to get
educated or even improve their social class. However, in the
midst of all challenges, the Kenya people maintained strong
family structure and cultures and these are the ones that formed
a strong pillar of unity. These biographical facts influence my
understanding of the text and question that the animals are the

6. whites and the man is the Kenyans in the jungle.
In the following passage, different writers have featured the set
information as presented in the five main points. Hughes,
(2011); in his article "Truth be told; some problems with
historical revisionism in Kenya" features different sufferings
and challenges that Kenya faces as a result of colonization. Just
as the Jomo Kenyatta's article raises the idea that the colonial
power made use of aggressive power to make their subject
comply with their demands without questioning, Hughes
secondary source support by featuring the aftermath. According
to Hughes, page 185 “Most importantly, Kenya has not
recovered from decades of state suppression of public memories
and histories of liberation struggle." This shows that the
sufferings that the Kenya people realized during colonization
had a long-lasting psychological, emotional, and physical
impact that still affects Kenya even after liberation.
Milhomme, (2005) in his journal “Political and Economic
Independence: The Kenya’s Case” page 247 states " This
colonization process of Kenya by the UK was part of a
worldwide process to explore the globe in search of more wealth
and resources. The first European descent settlers snatched
fertile land from Kikuyu's, Maasai's, and others. These settlers
again established themselves as large-scale farmers in Kenyan
highlands". This shows the deceitful way that the settlers used
to take away all the Kenya people possession for self-benefits.
Also, according to Dwyer & Zeilig, (2012); on "African struggle
today: Social movements since independence" page 7 states
"Revolution national liberation movements were composed of
different social groups temporarily united under the banner of
national liberation." This shows that for the Kenya people to be
able to fight back the colonizers, they formed temporary social
groups and movements and acted as a team.
Part V: Thesis Proposal
On my research essay, I will research about the Kenyan
MAUMAU after independence. The reason why I will research

7. about this topic is that according to Kenyan struggle for
independence history, the MAUMAU is featured as the
strongest social movement that helped in Kenya liberation from
the European colonizers. According to record, the MAUMAU
people are many in number despite the fact that some got killed
during the struggle for independence.
However, history does not show clearly what happened to a big
number of the MAUMAU who survived the struggles as only a
small number of approximately 100 people are regularly
mention. In some Kenyan history books and previous researches
done, it is said though not verified that some MAUMAU
freedom fighters still exist to date and that they live a poor and
miserable life while others who took over powerful positions
lived and still their generations lives a wealthy and comfortable
life. Hence, with this research, I intend to unravel what
happened to many other MAUMAU freedom fighters after
Kenya attained its independence in 1963. I need to know
whether the MAUMAU freedom fighters apart from those that
took over power and other political seats whether they were
compensated, given back their land or they were left for dead
and misery after they accomplished the desired mission.
Hence, the research shall focus on determining what happened
to the MAUMAU people after making a great sacrifice for the
Kenya people and nation. The research shall feature the
different benefits that the MAUMAU enjoys if any as well as
recommend what a country should do to honor such people. The
reason is that anyone who took part in the liberation process has
equal rights and it is proper and ethical to treat all the freedom
participants equally and not to hold some in high regards and
disregard the others.
References
Dwyer, P., & Zeilig, L. (2012). African Struggles Today: Social
Movements Since Independence. Chicago, Ill: Haymarket

8. Books.
Hughes, L. (2011). 'Truth be Told': Some Problems with
Historical Revisionism in Kenya. African Studies, 70(2), 182-
201. doi:10.1080/00020184.2011.594626
Milhomme, A. J. (2005). Political & Economic Independence:
The Kenya's Case. Journal Of American Academy Of Business,
Cambridge, 6(1), 246-254.
Unit 3

9. Complete
Grading Rubric
Excellent (A) 70-75
Good (B)
65-69
Adequate (C)
60-64
Inadequate 4
55-59
The student completes the first 3 parts of the assignment in an
effective way. The scholarly source is accurately summarized
and paraphrased. 15
The student’s response to the secondary source is both
thoughtful and thorough. 20
The thesis to be explored in the researched essay is clearly
stated. 10
Direct quotations are properly framed and documented
throughout. 10
The writing shows precise diction and correct word usage. 5

10. The student uses proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. 5
The student follows proper MLA format for in-text citations and
APA format for the Reference page. 5