Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer

Representations of Indigenous Amazonians and their Consequences:

During the course of the semester we have examined various ways that indigenous Amazonians have been represented by outsiders, as well as ways that they have strategically represented themselves.  Each of these representations has had its consequences, whether intentional or unexpected.  

Write an essay in which you discuss various historical representations of indigenous Amazonians and the resulting consequences.  Your essay should cover representations from the time of first contact with Europeans to contemporary times.

Your essay must be written as an argument.  In other words, your task is to persuade your reader to accept your position by using evidence from course readings, discussions, and films to support it.  

It would be wise to refer to your previous writing assignments for the course, both for content, and guidance.  Try not to make the same mistakes that you have in the past!  

You must use appropriate citation conventions.  That is, if you present a fact about an indigenous tribe, or a proposition by an author, you must cite the source.  Similarly, if you are presenting an opinion or analysis of an author other than yourself, clearly indicate this.  In other words, you must provide sources for statements not made by you.  Use the social science citation form, with citations in parentheses at the end of a sentence, e.g., (Smith 1949:203-247) rather than in footnotes as in the humanities form.

Your essay should by typed, double-spaced, with the page number and your name on every page.  I expect the essay to be between 1,500 – 2,000 words (+/- 250), but this is neither a lower nor upper limit.  Your essay should also have a title and date.