Outline of Paper

Introduction

  • opens with general mention of the film, the play and the original novel of West Side Story
  • Developed argument that connects issues of racial tension within the film to real life events of the late 1950s and early 1960s
  • Main argument developed in thesis

First Body Paragraph

  • first discussion of film with mentioning of specific scenes
  • different gangs of the Jets and the Sharks are named and distinguished
  • The significance of Maria and Tony’s romance is explained
  • Conflicting attitude on foreign immigration to the United States at the time is mentioned

Second Body Paragraph

  • Common ground of conflict with police by both the Jets and the Sharks is mentioned
  • Lieutenant Schrank is first mentioned and labeled as a character representing law enforcement of the time period
  • Symbolic value of his despising of both the Jets and the Sharks is explained

Third

  • First New York Times article mentioning Puerto Ricans in New York is mentioned

For now, this is all the information I can provide on my essay’s outline. I had been waiting on my requested copy of The Puerto Rican Diaspora which I have only recently found out has been made available for check-out at the Newman Library. For my future paragraphs, I intend to incorporate 3 New York Times articles featuring a new one I have recently found that directly mentions the conflicting relationships between the Puerto Rican community and Law enforcement in 1965. I will also add information from my chosen listening portions along with West Side Story and the Music Man.