This assignment introduces you to one feature of doing history: reading and analyzing the meaning of historical research or documents. You will carefully read and analyze the three readings listed below. You will find a link to each reading in “Files.”
1. Gary B. Nash, “The Hidden History of Mestizo America,” The Journal of American History, Vol. 82, No. 3. (Dec., 1995), pp. 941-964.
2. Barbara Welter, “The Cult of True Womanhood: 1820-1860,” American Quarterly, Vol. 18, No. 2, Part 1. (Summer, 1966), pp. 151-174.
3. Henry David Thoreau, “Civil Disobedience” (1849)
Articles/Document Paper: You will then write a two-page (600 words) response to each journal article (numbers 1 and 2 above) and the primary document (number 3 above) in which you: 1.) accurately summarize the content of the piece, 2.) thoughtfully analyze its meaning and offer well- reasoned insights at which you arrive, and 3.) express and explain your opinion of the topic. The papers will be evaluated for their substance (accuracy and detail of the summary), insight (level of analysis and thoughtfulness) and writing (adherence to format requirements, mechanics [spelling, punctuation, grammar], clarity and ease of expression). Use only your own words. Avoid the use of quotations in papers this short. If you must quote, keep it to a few words, use quotation marks and provide parenthetical page number citations
Paper Format: The combined papers you submit to me will be eight pages (title, six pages of content and a “Sources” page), typewritten and double- spaced. The title page includes your name, section number and date. Failure to attach a “Sources” page containing a full bibliographic citation (as seen above) for each of the three essays will result in the loss of one letter grade.
The three entries above are the full bibliographic citations you will need for your “Sources” page.
Be sure to double space. Use a conventional (readable) 12-point font and standard one-inch margins. Give each three-page essay its own short, single-line title. Make sure the text pages are numbered. Do not number the cover page.
Writing: This is not a research assignment. Do not
use unassigned sources. Your assignment is to respond to the reading before you. You are not expected to command a body of knowledge that is not in the assigned reading. The purpose of the writing assignments is to strengthen your ability to write clearly and logically. Good grades go to struggling beginning writers whose work shows learning and effort.”
