Student: Edward Abrams
Mentor: Melody Haymire
Clark v. Maryland Institute Case Study
W. Ashbie Hawkins Biography
Review of Clark v. Maryland Institute Case Study and W. Ashbie Hawkins Biography by Edward Abrams
Mr. Abrams has a very clear and lucid style of writing, which is quite easy to read and comprehend. He has clearly read and absorbed the history and facts of the case and the life of W. Ashbie Hawkins. His citations are frequently from the documents filed for the case, in addition to using newspapers and references to other court cases. The paper flows in logical order with clear breaks between topics. However, his paper suffers from a lack of analysis. There are passages where he begins a deeper level of examination, but does not continue, such as his discussion of Plessy vs. Ferguson or St. Mary's School vs. Brown. In his biography, he could have related the discrimination that Hawkins felt after being removed from the University of Maryland's Law School:" The law school cited to declining enrollment of white law students due to the presence of Hawkins and Dozier. As a result, Hawkins and Dozier were expelled. Dean Poe cited to the "exceedingly low record" of the two students as an apparent justification for their expulsion." to Hawkins' "life long advocate of social equality and justice for African-Americans."
His sentences could be more structurally complex. His footnotes are incomplete and in some cases leave blank spaces to be filled in late as if this paper is the rough draft (i.e. Appellees Brief at ____). One sentence ("Many time throughout his career, Hawkins represented the Most Worshipful United Grand Lodge of Free And Accepted Mason of Maryland.") could be removed from his biography, because it does not fit into the paper and occupies, slightly over a line of text. Also, there are occasional typing mistakes and one passage where the present tense and past tense are used interchangeably, when it is not necessary.
Overall, the paper is an excellent discussion of a complex case, but needs to be strengthened by analysis and comparison.
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