READ the source provided CAREFULLY:
CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK to download the PDF file of the primary source: Gast_AmericanProgress_1872Download Gast_AmericanProgress_1872
On a separate Word document, analyze the source by doing the following:
After reading the source:
What CRITICAL HISTORICAL QUESTION can you generate?
Include this question in your first paragraph.
Include your answer to your question in the first paragraph.
Your analysis should be an attempt to address your question using your observations about the sources AND how they connect to lectures and/or readings.
In other words: How can you use your question to help you analyze the source?
Your answer to your critical historical question is your main argument (thesis statement) about why this source is important and connected to the histories we are learning in lectures, readings, and discussions.
Hint: Review the Primary Source Analysis Video for how you might begin writing about the source and generating your critical historical question.
Analyze the source by identifying and expanding on the following information:
Title, Date Created, Author/s, Type of Source (Image, News Article, Speech, Law, Novel, Autobiography, etc.)
The author’s main argument/s. In other words, “what did the creator/s of the source/s want to convince its audience to believe?”
Images also have arguments and main ideas. Think about how you might identify them and connect them to class materials.
At least 1 piece of evidence used in the source that supports the author’s main argument. You may use short, direct quotations from the source.
At least 1 Value and 1 Limitation of the source.
In other words, “how does this source help us understand the historical moment in which it was written (Value) and what is underemphasized or unclear in the source based on the historical information given in lectures and weekly readings (Limitation)?”
Another way to think about a limitation is: how does the source reinforce a Master Narrative?
Why do you think this source is significant to understanding the themes and events presented in class? This is also yourmain argument about why this source is important.
Hint: You can use the template from the Primary Source Write-Up to help you structure or outline each part of this assignment.
Include in-text parenthetical citations in your analysis. You may abbreviate these citations. Citations do not count toward the final word count.
Example in-text citation: (Lecture, date); (Perspectives on American Imperialism, page #); (Takaki, page #); (Lost L.A.: Wild West film)
Include a title. You do not need to include a reference section. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME ON THE DOCUMENT.
Save your document as: LastName_FirstName_PSWU_Hist17A_Sec#.
Upload your document as a Word file or PDF onto the class site by the due date listed above.
Note/Hint: An excellent analysis will incorporate the class materials into the student’s main arguments. Students SHOULD NOT REFERENCE ANY OUTSIDE MATERIALS (from Google, Wikipedia, etc.). Everything students need to write a thorough analysis will be in the provided class materials.
