Does the body offer evidence supporting the thesis? Does each paragraph advance a mini-argument? Does each paragraph support the thesis? Does the conclusion summarize the argument?

Analytical Essay II on Epidemic Invasions  (Espinosa, Mariola)

Book: Epidemic Invasions: Yellow fever and the limits of Cuban independence, 1878-1930 (Espinosa, Mariola) Published: Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2009

In chapter two of Medicine and Public Health in Latin America, Marcos Cueto and Steven Palmer argue that the appearance of yellow fever triggered sanitation reforms in several Latin American cities. For Havana, we can also state that yellow fever was an important trigger in the neocolonial relationship between the United States and Cuba. Craft an analytical essay that explains why yellow fever was a key element in the neocolonial relationship between the United States and Cuba. In what ways was this particular disease central to the power dynamic between these two nations in the early years of the 20th century? That is, why was it yellow fever that became wrapped up in neocolonialism? Your answer to these questions should be the thesis of the paper. Think about the following organizational questions as you develop that thesis and structure the paper.

How did the timing of serious yellow fever outbreaks overlap with a changing political relationship between the US and Cuba? Why do we characterize this relationship as “neocolonial?” What types of sanitation policies were enacted in Cuba?

Make sure your paper pushes beyond just summarizing the book. Your goal is to create a thesis (an interpretation) by incorporating material from our lectures on neocolonialism/US imperialism/US- Cuba and the Espinosa book. Papers based solely on the book with no content from the lectures will be marked down. Your paper will be evaluated on your familiarity with the book and with the relevant lectures.

Guidelines

Papers should be 4 pages in length, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, and typed in 11pt. or 12pt. font. Papers may not exceed 5 pages. The strongest essays will begin with a specific argument (thesis statement) related to the topic and develop themes and specific, concrete examples that support and illustrate that thesis. The thesis is explicitly stated in the introductory paragraph. Each of the paragraphs in the body of the paper begins with a topic sentence and contains evidence from the reading and the lectures to support it. The paper ends with a concluding paragraph that restates the thesis and the major ideas expressed in the essay.

Papers must be properly cited with footnotes. Remember to footnote your sentences when using direct quotes from the texts and when paraphrasing the author’s ideas. No citations are needed when you use material from your lecture notes. Footnotes should be formatted according to Chicago Style. If you are unfamiliar with Chicago-style citation, we have full access to the digital Chicago Manual of Style through the library’s website. Search for “Chicago Manual of Style online” in the library catalog.

Writing Checklist: Consider BEFORE You Submit

Is there a thesis statement? Is it a clear and strong thesis statement? Is it where it should be, at the end of the first paragraph?

Does the body offer evidence supporting the thesis? Does each paragraph advance a mini-argument?

Does each paragraph support the thesis?

Does the conclusion summarize the argument?

Do the paragraphs flow in a logical order and lead to the conclusion?

Are facts, dates, quotes correct? Are they used in appropriate places? Are they cited?

Are quotes properly explained?

Does the paper answer the question posed using evidence from the book and context from lecture?

Does the writing allow the reader to see the argument and evidence, rather than obscuring the

argument?

Does the writing convey the ideas as clearly as possible?

Is citation done correctly?

Is the writing appropriate for a formal paper? Is it free of contractions? Is terminology correct? Is the

grammar correct?