With his first published works in the 1950s, Amos Tutuola became the first Nigerian writer to receive wide international recognition.
Central Topic / Purpose
Nigerian writer Amos Tutuola / Clarify a Misconception (Challenge Position)
Main Point
Some of Tutuola's critics think he was a novelist who was ripping off and retelling local tales, but in reality Tutuola was more of a teller of folktales than a novelist.
Passage Map
P1: Intro to Tutuola / Misconception -- He was the first famous Nigerian writer. Lots of critics praised him, but other critics thought he wrote very derivative, unoriginal novels. P2: Author's Clarification -- He's not writing novels. We should approach him as a folktalist in the African oral tradition. P3: Background on African oral folktale tradition -- you tell familiar stories with a personal twist. P4: Relating Tutuola back to African oral folktale -- examples of Tutuola doin' folktale stuff.
Other Commentary
Most Humanities passages will either defend an artist against criticism (often with a "these critics just don't get it" feel, like Clarify Misconception) or they will simply present an informative summary of that artist / art movement (in which case the Purpose is just to Highlight Something Noteworthy) .
The main point/purpose of this passage is foreshadowed in the most common spot: right after a "but/yet/however/recently" pivot, at the end of the first paragraph.