Examine the historical details surrounding the source. What was happening in that time that might have influenced the author’s perspective? What do we know about the source that makes it reliable?

Dear Class,
Below is a description of your first essay assignment. Please read over this carefully and contact me with any questions. All work is due by the deadline.
First Short Essay (Article Analysis)
What is an article analysis? An article analysis looks to explain the point of view of the author of a document. To do this you need to do the following:
1) Examine the historical details surrounding the source. What was happening in that time that might have influenced the author’s perspective? What do we know about the source that makes it reliable?
2) Source the document further by separating fact from bias. Consider why the source was written and who was the intended audience? Figure out the goal of the source.
3) Examine examples within the source that explains/supports the author’s point of view.
4) Finally, use the above to help figure out why the author had this particular perspective and what this teaches us about this part of history.
Why do this?: This process of sourcing and contextualizing historical documents gives you, the student, a more well-rounded understanding of, not only what happened, but why events occurred as they did. We are looking at motive.
First Short Essay:
Our Task- Select one source from our readings from this week or the prior week (one document- not an entire reader or chapter from any textbook) and do the following:
1) Develop a one to two page, double spaced article analysis.
2) Your article analysis must do the following:
a) establish the background of the document.
b) identify the purpose of the source and the author’s point of view.
c) determine outside historical factors that influenced this perspective.
d) Explain how the author argues this point of view with multiple examples from the source that are thoroughly interpreted by the student.
e) Explain the historical significance of the source to our understanding of the causes of the American Revolution (why is this document important to my understanding of this chapter of U.S. history?)
You do not need a work cited page. Use quotations when making in-text citations and note the author at the end of the sentence (author.)
Due Date: Monday, September 13th by midnight
Submission format: Turnitin essay.
Process of Submission:
1) Go to our “Assignments” module on the left side of the screen and select “First Short Essay.”
2) Open the link in a new browser (Use Chrome and not IE).
3) Attach or type your essay.
4) Submit your essay.
No late work will be accepted. You must submit your work through the Turnitin link.
As always, please contact me via Canvas with any questions concerning the course.
Note: There is no discussion board for this week.

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