A few days ago

Anonymous

using the “n” word in an English essay?

I’m writing an essay for English about “Through the Ivory Gate” by Rita Dove. I want to reference a certain scene, where the main character gets called the “n” word by her white friend. Must I actually spell out the word for my essay, or will ‘”n” word’ be acceptable?

Top 10 Answers

A few days ago

Anonymous

Favorite Answer

Is your vocab that limited that you couldnt think of the word, derogatory? As in she called her a derogatory name?

It is never “OK” to use that word not even in literature!

A few days ago

chooesy

Best answer is the one your prof or teacher gives you. NEVER be afraid to ask. Teachers WANT to hear from you and know you are actually present and thinking.

As you are making a direct reference to a text, there can be no reason to use a euphenism in place of the word. Avoid reference to the word specifially if you feel very uncomfortable using it.

****** is the title of Dick Gregory’s very touching and insightful autobiography from the 70s.

You are right the term is pejorative and he wrote that he’d chosen that term as a title so when his mother heard it she’d think people were refering to his work and be proud.

A few days ago

Anonymous

I believe that in an enlightened world it should be acceptable. However Mark Twain was taken out of many school curricula

because he used it. How silly… it was common parlance and Twain was actually the perfect anti-racist. But the academy is thick as a brick with misplaced PC. So I would advise against it.

A few days ago

Anonymous

Well your basically writting an assement on a book about the use of the word “******”. So in retrospect that would make sense for you to be able to use the n-word. Though I’d say it depends what grade you are in. Middle school=not acceptable whereas highschool=acceptable.

Those are just my two cents on the matter though.

A few days ago

Batgirl :]

I know its a horribe word but you have to quote an entire quote to get the mark. is there anyway you can skip the line or end the quote before the word. Or maybe if you can use words from the scene not entire lines.

A few days ago

Anonymous

Consult with your teacher first. This way the teacher will give an opinion on why the quote is acceptable or not. This way you’ll know if you have the green or red light to use the word or not.

A few days ago

Anonymous

Yes. Absolutely.

5 years ago

I think it would sound more professional to say ” A higher salary would mean the opportunity to buy better cars, houses, clothes, and more.”

A few days ago

Anonymous

if the book uses the full word hen you should to. at the end of the day its literature and although this word is not socially acceptable to use in normal circumstances it should be used here or else you could lose points.

A few days ago

[email protected]

Bless your heart for not wanting to offend.Personally,I would use the word ***** as opposed to the “n”word and there fore not causing any ill feelings while getting your point about the time period in which they were called the N word.good luck and if you can……send me a copy of your writings…….you sound very compassionate and insightfull……

Annette

A few days ago

lj1

I see that you have gotten a lot of mixed answers here. The “n” word is a very touchy subject. I suggest that you go to your teacher before or after class, and ask him/her which way would be correct.

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using the “n” word in an English essay?

using the “n” word in an English essay?

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