What to do:
Choose Two (2) Primary Sources from Module 3 or 4, from two different contexts: Check the Readings in these modules to know which ones are acceptable.
Write your Primary Source Analysis using the instructions below. Also view the grading rubric (see below) to guide your writing and to understand how it will be graded.
Primary Source Analysis Instructions:
Address the following FIVE sections/requirements:
1. Paragraph 1: Historical Context for Primary Source 1
What was going on in America when the primary source was written? Discuss the general time period/era/location in which the source was written and the relevant people, places, and events (cultural, political, economic, religious, etc.) that help set the stage for understanding the primary source.
All of this material should come from ONLY lecture and the Foner textbook. You must also have several correct, appropriate in-text citations from lecture and Foner in this paragraph. Do not discuss the primary source in this section.
2. Paragraph 2: Discussion of Primary Source 1
What is the main idea and the key points of the primary source?
Provide details about the author and their purpose for writing (the immediate events that led to the writing of the source).
A summary of the main points of the primary source. Make sure to include several short key quotes from the source that help illustrate the main ideas, with in-text citations.
3. Paragraph 3: Historical Context for Primary Source 2
This paragraph must be significantly different than your paragraph 1. If you have picked two sources from the same general time period, you will need to distinguish between the people, groups, location, events, etc. that pertain to each source to show your historical knowledge.
For example, you might have chosen the John and Abigail Adams letter (that are from the start of the American Revolution) in which your historical context paragraph will include a discussion of the early events of Boston in the 1760s/1770s and the status of white women at the time. If your second primary source is the Benjamin Banneker letter (which is written just after the Revolution) your historical context paragraph should include a discussion of the free and enslaved Black experience during and after the war). Same general period, slightly different contexts.
What was going on in America when the primary source was written? Discuss the general time period/era/location in which the source was written and the relevant people, places, and events (cultural, political, economic, religious, etc.) that help set the stage for understanding the primary source.
All of this material should come from ONLY lecture and the Foner textbook. You must also have several correct, appropriate in-text citations from lecture and Foner in this paragraph. Do not discuss the primary source in this section.
4. Paragraph 4: Discussion of Primary Source 2
What is the main idea and the key points of the primary source?
Provide details about the author and their purpose for writing (the immediate events that led to the writing of the source).
A summary of the main points of the primary source. Make sure to include several short key quotes from the source that help illustrate the main ideas, with in-text citations.
Paragraph 5: Historical Analysis
Compare the two primary sources. How do the primary sources support or challenge one another? Do they show different sides of an issue/event? How do they show different aspects of liberty? Do they show how different groups of people are advocating for liberty? Do they show different aspects of unfreedom in the colonial and Revolutionary Period? Do these sources show change over time? (For example, by looking at them together, can we see how slavery is changing/developing in America?)
FAQs
Q. Should I do outside research for the historical context?
Not necessarily. The goal of this assignment is to utilize your Foner text and our material/ideas from lecture. Your goal is to demonstrate the historical material you have learned in this class. If you do need to look up an outside detail (perhaps about the author) make sure that you have 1) already adequately demonstrated the historical knowledge/details from the class readings/lecture (with in-text citations) and 2) chosen a reputable source and cited it with both proper in-text citations and in the works cited list at the end of your paper.
Q. How long should the quotes be?
You must have quotes from the source, however, you want your narrative voice to be the strongest part of the writing! Therefore, you want to choose short quotes that help you make your points. DO NOT use block quotes (indented, multiple lines of quoted text). Do not use a quote longer than about two lines in length. Select the most important parts of the quote that best serve the points that you are making.
Q. How will this be graded?
Make sure to view the rubric below to guide your work and to see how it will be graded.
Q. Do I need citations? Do I need a works cited list? What style should I use?
Throughout your paper, you should have proper, sufficient in-text citations following all quotations and also summaries and details for your material. For example, (Foner, 456) or (Lecture 3). At the end of your paper, also include a works cited list. You can typically find the citation for the primary source at the top of the page in the reader. You can use whatever citation style you are most familiar with (although historians do use Chicago style citations).
https://www.americanyawp.com/reader.html
https://www.americanyawp.com/reader.html
