Please use the attached file from WEEK 5/Module : Primary Sources
A well-organized analytical response includes the following:
Introduction: One or two sentences that describe the historical context.
Thesis: One sentence that answers the prompt.
Body Paragraphs: Each body paragraph describes one element of the complete answer. It includes direct evidence from the assigned reading materials and, if you directly quote a short phrase, informal citations of where you found that evidence.
Conclusion: One sentence restatement of the thesis. A description of why it is important to understand this analysis (how does it help us be better public citizens?)
We build analyses by starting with the evidence:
Look closely at the writing prompt, make sure you understand what you are being asked. Then take notes as you read, gathering evidence related to the writing prompt.
Evaluate the evidence you gathered and group your evidence into two or three separate points that you feel confident you can support.
For each group of evidence, create a topic sentence that describes how they help answer the writing prompt.
Create your body paragraphs: Start with one of your topic sentences, then list out the supporting evidence for each point.
Devise a complete thesis statement that combines your two or three separate points.
With your thesis in mind, write a one or two sentence introductory statement that puts your response into historical context.
Think about why understanding these historical points is important and craft that relevance into a brief conclusion.
Then organize what you just created into a standard essay format.
How to informally cite your evidence:
You can identify where you found information by adding in parens some basic information such as (Chap. 3 pg. 27) or (“Title of Primary Source,” paragraph 4). We are not using formal citations in our course, but we need enough details to find the information ourselves.
Interpreting primary sources within an historical context (If you are evaluating a primary source)
These primary source writing assignments are challenging. You are often being asked to read between the lines to find information conveyed by the source that may not be the author’s primary purpose. This is what Historians so. It is very helpful to have a good understanding of the era in which the source was written. You need to know what was happening at that time, what the author would have known, seen, understood, wanted, expected, etc. This is called the historical context. This is provided by the textbook chapters. Your written analysis needs to demonstrate an understanding of the primary source within the historical context.
Note: Writing assignments will be graded more strictly as the semester progresses. Be sure to focus on always improving both your knowledge and your ability to articulate yourself with evidence.
This assignment should be a minimum of 500 words. Feel free to write more if this is something you really want to dig into.
Specific Writing Assignment Description
Writing Prompt: From a close reading of Frederick Douglass’ “What to the Slave is the 4th of July?” what parts of the speech do you think surprised his audience?
Some considerations that might guide your approach to this assignment:
Carefully read Frederick Douglass’ speech
Review all the module materials carefully
Many folks in the audience were very proud of their independence
Many folks in the North did not have much direct experience with slavery
Submission Instructions
Your submission must be your own original work. Each response will be checked using multiple methods for originality. Be sure you are aware of how to correctly format the quote marks and spacing for any short quotations, “like this.” The TurnItIn similarity report should be 10% or less. If your similarity report is above 10%, your submission will not be graded. You will receive a zero. You will also receive a message from me with advice on how to proceed. You will not be able to resubmit the assignment, instead, you have the opportunity to turn in extra credit to make up for lost points.
First, the written response will be turned in as a writing assignment. Second, the exact same response will be pasted in as a discussion post in the discussion that follows this assignment. The discussion post will allow for other students to read and respond to your written response. Both submissions, the writing assignment post and the original discussion post are due on the same day. Responses to peers are due a few days later. Check all due dates. You will receive a score for your writing assignment in this posting. You will receive a score for your peer engagement in the discussion post that follows this assignment.
To submit your assignment, click on the “Start Assignment” button in the top right corner. But first, read the detailed instructions below:
You may only submit your assignment as a written response once. Do all necessary editing before submitting it.
At the top of each submission include:
Your name
Course
Assignment title
Date
Paste in the text of your written response. (Do not upload a document. Instead, copy and paste your text into the submission field.) You will only have one opportunity to turn it in, please give yourself enough time to carefully review and edit your responses.
If you have questions about this assignment, please ask in the Q&A: About this Class so that everyone can see the answer. Other students can also answer and might respond faster than I do.
You can do this!
