Heart of Darkness

Respond to the following prompts, integrating evidence from at least six (6) sources (one which is Heart of Darkness) to support a clear thesis that answers the prompt. The paper must be a minimum-length of eight (8) pages (7 full written pages, plus your Works Cited).
******ALL SOURCES MUST BE SCHOLARLY WORK
Prompt:
What is the environmental “horror” in Heart of Darkness?

Throughout the book, readers are exposed to brutal evidence of the ravages of colonialism. Use Conrad’s descriptions in the book to illustrate the environmental rape that colonialism brought to Congo. Research for this prompt should inquire into the effect that colonialism has had on the environments of the colonized countries. What were the impacts on indigenous plants and animals? How did it affect the countries’ abilities to feed and clothe their people? How is this illustrated in the novel? For this prompt, you might want to take a specific look at Congo and what happened to its environmental resources when it was under control by Belgium. One of the sources is

Approaches for this prompt: Your paper should be an analysis that is informed by other scholarly opinions. Conrad’s own essay, as well as essays from the Norton Critical Edition including the “1902 Encyclopedia Britannica: Congo Free State,” “Geography and Some Explorers,” in the Norton Critical Edition might also provide some insights on how the author regarded the exploration and exploitation of Africa’s resources. In addition, your own research should seek out what other scholars have written about this question. Use your analysis of these articles to affirm your arguments or address counter-arguments to your own.

HOW TO WRITE A PAPER
RULE #1 (the only rule): The purpose of writing an academic paper is to convey information.

DO NOT RELY ON GENERALIZATIONS, YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, OPINIONS, OR ANY OTHER UNSUPPORTABLE ABSTRACTIONS; THESE THINGS ARE DEVOID OF ANY REAL INFORMATION.

Examples of “Bad Habits”:
Many people say that gay marriage should not be protected by the law.
Who are these “many” people?

Some agree that gay marriage should be protected by law.
Who are these “some” people?

Abortion is a common topic debated throughout the country.
What makes it “common”? This is a bland and vague descriptor. Also, introducing “abortion” as a “topic” is redundant writing; it’s like writing, “this thing is a thing.” Refrain from describing issues as “topics.” For example, why not just write, “Abortion is debated throughout the country.”? I know what you’re saying, “this is still a bit vague.” Right, you are! We’ve fixed the sentence a bit but it’s still far too general and certainly too obvious. Consider omitting all forms and constructions of sentences like this; they are general and obvious, they rely on speculation, and (most importantly) they are devoid of any information.

Both authors do a good job of getting their points across.
While I’m glad you approve, this statement is opinion oriented and devoid of any real information. Rather than admit your approval why not explain what exactly the “points” are?

The author makes the reader feel that abortion is murder.
The reader is irrelevant. When you evoke “the reader” you’re doing one of two things: 1. You’re talking about every reader, at every time, in every place, across all cultures, from every socioeconomic background, from the past, present, and future, or 2. “the reader” that is you. Such constructions are devoid of any real information; they rely on opinion and speculation. Omit this construction from your writing.
So, how do I write a paper without using all these useless constructions I’ve been encouraged to use since I’ve been able to type a thought??? Glad you asked.

STEP #1: SUSPEND YOUR JUDGMENT.
An academic paper is not about you; it’s about the text(s) and how they work. The first step is excluding the word “I” from your writing. Again, refrain from using generalizations, your opinions, experiences, abstractions, etc. When you rely on such things it’s a clear indication that you didn’t read the text, or rather, you didn’t “actively” read the text. When you have read an article, essay, book, etc. and have really engaged with the information there is never any shortage of things to write about. If you have trouble with this I would refer you to “How To Be A Demanding Reader” by Adler & Van Doren. Active Reading is the most crucial part to writing an academic paper; you can’t do one without the other.

STEP #2: STICK WITH THE TEXT(S).
Write about the text(s) and only the text(s) and focus on how they work.
If you don’t know where to start here are some templates. You can begin EVERY paper you will EVER write with these templates. These templates works across all subjects (English, History, Sociology, Economics, Psychology, etc.; any class where you have to write about articles or books—hint: it’s all about books).

TEMPLATE #1 FOR EVERY INTRODUCTION—THE SETUP:
In (the article, essay, book, etc.) X by Y, the author states…

For example: In the essay “Death and Justice: How Capital Punishment Affirms Life” by Edward I. Koch, the author argues in defense of the death penalty.

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