Please use The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) in relation to your citations.
Mid-Term Examination:
Read:
1.Steven Luxenberg, “The Jim Crow Car: The North, the South, and the Forgotten Origins of Racial Separation,” The Washington Post Magazine: February 20, 2019.
2.Theodore Dreiser: Sister Carrie: (The First Half)
Search:An excerpt of the opening pages from the novel Sister Carrie, 1900.
Address the follow Prompt:
Essay Prompt
Which idea(s)—integration, segregation, accommodation—were most suitable for black Americans and immigrants at the turn of the 20th Century?
Was Van Wyck Brooks correct in his articulation of America’s cultural coming-of-age during the 1920s?
TIPS ON ESSAY WRITING: Here is what I will be looking for in your essay answers:
How well do you understand the material? An essay question usually asks you to combine information from several sources, perhaps in an unfamiliar pattern, and then draw conclusions that may be new to you. In short, you will be constructing a historical argument to answer the question, just as your thought papers do. State your thesis clearly in the introduction, and be sure it answers the question being asked.
How well have you organized your essay? Support your thesis with reasons (arguments) and evidence, arranged in a logical order. Think about the question and write a brief outline before you begin the essay. This will help you organize your thoughts, instead of just writing down ideas as they come to mind, and the result will be an organized, coherent essay.
Have you selected the most relevant material to illustrate your points? Because you have a limited amount of time, you must choose the most essential material, eliminating that which is less important. This requires a thorough knowledge of the subject, and the ability to separate relevant from tangential information.
Have you made specific references to required readings, when appropriate? A thorough answer should make use of the assigned reading. Would we get the same answer if we walked into the Union and asked someone who had not attended class or done the readings? If so, then you have not demonstrated your mastery of the material. Try to illustrate your generalizations with relevant specific examples, drawn from the lectures, discussions and readings. Remember the general rule of thumb: assume that a moron who knows nothing about history will be reading your essay–you must explain everything and show you are the master of as much as possible.
Note of importance: Time Frames and Citations are required on all written and typed responses.