Issue in the past and how it has changed, or not, within the US from political cartoons
HIST 1301 – Final Paper Assignment (FPA)
Assignment: Past and Present Issues
Point Value: 120
Length of Paper: 4 pages MINIMUM and 6 page MAX (this does NOT include the Works Cited page)
Due: May 1, 2019 at the beginning of class, Canvas submission ONLY! Ten points will be deducted PER DAY Final Paper is not submitted and turned in.
Subject Matter:
There have been a few major topics we’ve covered, or will continue covering, from the Antebellum period through the Civil War in American history. There are certain topics/social issues/political issues/economic issues occurring in the “modern times” which mirror previous or past events/topics/etc. For the Final Paper Assignment (FPA), students will look at two different political cartoons (one from the Antebellum period) and one from recent publications (2015-2019) and discuss the issue in the past and how it has changed, or not, within the US in the last few years.
Both of the cartoons have to be addressing the same issue, or related to an issue in the same way (i.e.: they are both addressing women’s issues, race issues, political issues, etc.)
First, students will be analyzing the content of each cartoon, the message each is portraying, what issues they are exploring. Each cartoon should be analyzed for its content, message, meaning, what issue they are arguing for/against.
This should be anywhere from half a page to a full page of your paper.
For the remainder of the paper, students will discuss the ISSUE each cartoon is focusing on. What was the issue in the previous time period? Why was it an issue (give some background)? Was it resolved/argued against (or for), good/bad? What is the issue in modern times (again, give some background-what is the main problem/issue, what’s being fought for, etc.)? From the time of the first cartoon to the second cartoon has the issue(s) changed? What’s different? Have things gotten better (or worse?) in regard to that issue? What, if anything, can be done to prevent/make better/change this issue?
Responses CAN use 1st and 2nd person since it is your perception, but PLEASE stick to scholarly sources/language and information and make sure you CITE your source information. The paper still needs to follow the MLA guidelines and Works Cited page format.
Required Sources:
- Students will use a political cartoon from the Antebellum era (1815-1860) focusing on one of the issues covered by the instructor or the textbook during the time period (social, economic, political, racial, etc.). Instructor will provide cartoons for students to use. Students must use/analyze ONE of the older cartoons. This will compromise of ½ a page to 1 page of your final paper.
- Students will find a RECENT (last three or four years 2015-2019) political cartoon concerning the same issue as the older cartoon. Be sure that the political cartoons are coming from legitimate newspaper websites or SCHOLARLY websites (.org or .edu’s) and not just random .com websites (Buzzfeed, The Odyssey, blogs, etc.)
- Textbook
- 1-3 other SCHOLARLY Please use educational sources for your topic/analysis. One is MANDATORY, but it is STRONGLY suggested you use multiple scholarly sources. Your MANDATORY source MUST be a primary source focusing on the issue from the Antebellum period. There will be several websites listed on the FPA Assignment page on Canvas for students to consult.
Particulars:
-Paper must be TYPED! 12 point font, Times New Roman, 1 inch margins, paper should also be double-spaced, UPLOAD and do NOT copy and paste the paper, the formatting gets messed up
-MLA citations and a Works Cited page
-Inclusion of the political cartoons at the bottom of their Works Cited page or on a separate page at the end of the paper
-Students must use MLA formatting [double spaced, 12pt font, Times New Roman, normal margins]. The heading and title spacing on your paper must follow the example I have put on Canvas.
-There is the “Paper Pointers” link under the Unit Course information that has a small PowerPoint, which talks about tips for building a strong essay. The “Cheat Sheet for Flawless Papers” has some specific examples of citations, Works Cited page formatting, and the spacing/formatting for your paper in general.
Important Dates:
April 17th: Assignment #2 is due! Assignment #2 is concerning turning in sources, cartoons and thesis: 20points
-Also counts for 20 points to your FPA. If this is NOT submitted you’re FPA is automatically deducted 20 points! So it counts 20 pts for the assignment and 20 pts for your paper.
May 1st: Final Paper Assignment due to Canvas! Online submission only! Ten points will be deducted from your paper PER DAY that the assignment is not turned in.
Sourcing Information:
For the older cartoons: Instructor will provide a certain number of cartoons on Canvas. Students can search for their own but older cartoons must be approved by instructor first. For the other primary source, below is a list of resources that can be utilized:
-The Library of Congress
-National Archives
-Several education institutions have done primary source projects with published political cartoons
-Digital History from the University of Houston has some GREAT resources
-Collin College library’s online resources are pretty amazing too, including their catalogue of the New York Times historical catalogue which goes all the way back to 1850
For newer cartoons:
-Most newspapers across the country have published their papers online (as well as in print): suggestions-Washington Post, New York Times, The New Yorker, Dallas Morning News, Chicago Daily Tribune, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, LA Times, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Time magazine, USA Today
-There are newspapers that are more left leaning and more right leaning. As long as they are a legitimate news source, it can be used. If you’re concerned about this, ask instructor if that would be a good source. Blogs and other internet meme generators DO NOT COUNT.