The essay prompt is "Another group with an ambivalent realtionship to the religion and culture of the American republic were African Americans.....What were some of the issues and challenges facing African Amercians ( free and enslaved)? How did they respond in these descades when slavery was still legal in much of the country?<br /><br />Adittedly, I have a weak intro and cocnlusion ( in my view), but i wanted to give you soemthing to work with<br /><br />The key points of emphasis in the  essay are the professor wants <br /><br />*******- a strong, clear, direct topic sentence at the very beginning ( first, and no later than second sentence ) of each paragraph- In his words, "tell me why I am reading this"-......He notices at times students will delve straight into the evidence without a topic sentence at the start of each paragraph and has taken points off for that ( I put the asteriks on this one not to seem trite but rather to emphaisze how the professor desires and will take away points for a weak topic sentence)<br /><br />- a clear introductory paragraph- Almost like within the paragraphs he wants a strong intro paragraph ( He recommends in some cases switching the conclusion paragraph with the intro because he has noticed in some cases the intro is weak because the writer does not yet have a firm idea on what he/she is writing on or arguing unlike the conclusion which is written at the end<br /><br /> - avoid passive voice<br /><br /> - be clear and concise, use less words to say the same message to give the same message but in a stronger manner rather than using "wordy sentences"