The purpose of this assignment is to have you utilize your critical thinking and analytical skills by way of reading a primary source document of your choice from the list below and addressing a short list of criteria that will be the basis of your grade. Your grade will be based on how well you address those criteria (see rubric link) in a typed, two-page analysis. So, make sure you use the rubric as a guide to help you write your analysis. All analyses are to be handed on in hard-copy form on the designated due date. Any late submissions, by only one day, will receive a 25-point deduction for such lateness
Your analysis must be written in an academically acceptable manner, meaning there are to be no contractions, no use of the First Person/conversational tone, must have paragraphs, and all the proper grammatical requirements needed to be a well written essay. Avoid the use of quotes. Paraphrasing is preferred for this type of assignment. Proper use of titles and capitalization, where needed, are a must. It is imperative that you clearly identify each criteria topic as you write your essay, ie “The historical context in which the speech was give took place…”.
Primary Source Documents Selection
You are to choose ONE document from the list below and use the link provided:
(To open the link, just highlight it and click on “open hyperlink”)
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/mlk01.asp
Rubric’s Criteria Terms Description
Historical Context:
Historical Context is the political, social, cultural, and economic environment related to
historical moments, events, and trends. Historical artifacts and sources were created within
particular worlds and are tied to the political, social, and economic conditions of those worlds.
When looking at the past, a historian must separate personal experiences and feelings from those who lived in the time period studied.
Point of View:
Participants in historical events naturally have different points of view, or opinions, on the causes
and meanings of events. Students should be able to determine a primary source’s point of view
and analyze why participants in a historical event differed in their opinions on the event’s causes
or meaning. Reproduction rights granted only if copyright information remains intact.
Bias:
Bias can be described as having a prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group
compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. When examining primary and
secondary sources, it is important to understand many speeches, personal writings, reporting of
events often have bias attached to it. Inference:
Inference is an idea or conclusion that’s drawn from evidence and reasoning. An inference is an educated guess. Through the analysis portion of the exercise, students will learn to surmise/infer
the overall purpose of the author’s work.
