History The West and the World: Modern Comparative Argument

Description

Create an argument using two or more types of primary documents. One document (or small group of similar‐type documents) will come from our readings or course materials. The second primary document is one you will find on your own in the Library website or an acceptable website As in the first essay, you can also use material from the lectures and the textbook to support your argument about the primary texts.

As you construct your argument, explain how all of the documents support your thesis. The examples you present are valid because of or in spite of the similarities/differences between the documents (which you will explain). I recommend organizing your essay by topic rather than by document. This creates a stronger argument by presenting document comparisons close to each other rather than in separate paragraphs.

Reference each document as you present it, and avoid long quotes. I prefer to read what you conclude, in your own words. This essay builds on the skills you worked with in the first essay assignment. Rather than analyzing only one type of document, you are now asked to analyze two.

The assignment evaluates your skill in comparing more than one primary piece of evidence and your skill in creating an argument that makes use of that comparison.  The current relevance of historical issues Link to book https://www.gutenberg.org/files/34856/34856-h/34856-h.htm I attached two articles pick whichever works.

A. Emmiline Pankhurst wrote about her experiences during the women’s suffrage movement in her historical book, My Own Story. She also wrote about people in need that she helped, her ideas about how they lived (their condition), and what help they needed. Use her book as one primary text and find one modern text from the  database as another (2010‐2016). In this case the article you find will be considered a primary document, even if it is current. For this choice, use only scholarly articles, books (or chapters), or journalism articles that present evidence for their claims.

Your argument should compare the relevance of Pankhurst’s thoughts and theories with those of the second author to make a point about both of them. What, if anything, is similar (or different) in the two time periods? How? What examples can you show to illustrate that? Once you have determined the issue and the points of comparison, draw an overall conclusion and write up a thesis statement for your essay.

B. The following thoughts/questions may help you with your essay: What are issues (the problems) that Pankhurst talks about in her book (possible topics)? What groups of people does she talk about at length? (The second article can discuss any one of them and be valid.) Whatsolutionsdoessheofferthatwouldsolvetheissues/problems? What solutions does the second author offer that would solve the similar, modern‐day issue/problem? What can you conclude about the relevance of the issues at the turn of the twentieth century(and Pankhursts’ thoughts about them) to a similar issue today? Acceptable databases or Internet search sites. Any database from the Library site.

You should find links there to Artstor, Google Books, Google Scholar (ask if you find other sites you wish to use) Each step for the search process has been addressed in the skill‐building exercises. If you have given those due attention you should fairly easily be able to find a second document. Be flexible when you search – your argument is easier to change than the existing articles and books out there. Wikipedia articles or general Internet blog posts are NOT acceptable documents. Journalism sites should be in the Database system. Part of this assignment is for you to use your library’s resources to find primary sources that are not ‘made up’ and provide some support for their own claims.

Additional Essay specifications 5‐6 pages, essay format, Chicago 15th or MLA referencing format. Normal margins, doublespaced (no extra space between paragraphs), 10‐12 pt. font. MLA format requires an additional reference page. The History Dept Writing Center provides help with citation formatting Review the Essay One Instructions regarding the construction of an argument. Remember to restrict your opinions, judgments, and speculation to the penultimate paragraph.