For this essay, you must use the poem “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes and show
what it has to say about a current social or political issue that. You are to use use current media to
compare to the piece of literature to reveal a meaning or insight that the literature piece has to offer
on this contemporary topic. Remember, the intent is to analyze the literature, and simply use the
current media to show how it is still relevant, and how the literature can offer us wisdom that applies
your chosen issue.
Remember this is still a literary analysis, so while we need to understand the issue at hand, we are not
attempting to judge the merit of the issue at hand. We are simply attempting to analyze how literary
techniques translate to our everyday lives, and how a stronger understanding of literature can provide
insight in our modern settings. The goal is not to summarize the text or to explain what is obvious,
but rather to provide a new insight or a new perspective on the significance of the literary work in
regards to your chosen issue. In order to achieve this, you will need to interpret each quotation in
your essay thoroughly, dissecting the style and meaning of every word. To develop your analysis
work through the strategies of close reading outlined in the Writing
