How It Feels to Engage in New Historicism

Author:

Sarah F.

Assignment:

This past week we have been reviewing historically significant points in American history that changed the social consciousness in the early 20^th century: Jim Crow laws after the reconstruction era, WWI, the Great Depression, the suffrage movement, Prohibition, and the 19^th amendment. Evidence for this change of consciousness in society is developed in Zora Neale Hurston’s and Nella Larson’s respective writings. Read their works, identify those threads that either tie into or were influenced by those significant points in history. Choose an author and discuss their work(s):

Zora Neal Hurston’s

• “How It Feels to be Colored Me” and
• “The Gilded Six-Bits”

Nella Larson’s

• “Quicksand.”

Your essay must contain:

• Summary of the selected reading
• Identify a main theme
• Select 1-3 significant points in history that are relevant to the text
• Compare your chosen 1-3 significant points in history with your main theme
• Answer the following questions: Are these texts still relevant? Why or why not?

Purpose/Goal:

The goal is for you to identify and understand how literature influences our view of history, providing both an analysis of values and personal reflection.

Minimum requirements:

• Standard MLA format (check Purdue Owl for guidelines)
• 4-5 pages in length
• no less than three quotes from the original text
• no less than three primary or secondary sources referencing significant points in American history

Additional information:

• Absolutely no late assignments will be graded.
• If you want me to review any drafts, they must be submitted 72 hours before the deadline.

Grading rubric is provided below:

CRITERIA	EXCEEDS STANDARDS	MEETS STANDARDS	DOES NOT MEET STANDARDS
Minimum Requirements--5pts	Met minimum requirements	Met minimum requirements	Does not meet minimum requirements
Development of Ideas--20pts	Clear thesis statement, supports ideas with effective examples and evidence, thorough analysis that goes beyond the obvious	Supports most ideas with examples, generally stated thesis statement, analysis is clear but general or obvious	Unsupported ideas, unclear or no thesis statement, discussion wanders
Quality of Research--20pts	Primary or secondary sources used	One or more source was not credible	All sources were not credible
Logic & Organization--25pts	Clear and easy to follow organization with effective introduction and conclusion, sound reasoning, useful transitions	Organization is fairly clear, transitions used sparingly, relating ideas, effective introduction, and conclusion	Poor or no transitions, flawed reasoning, off-topic or too general, needs clarity
Spelling & Grammar--5pts	Carefully proofread, little to no errors	Minimal errors that distract the reader	Numerous errors interfering with comprehension
Style--25pts	Unique voice, fluidity, precise and clear language, confident and appropriate tone, variety in sentence structure	Appropriate tone for the audience, readable and confident style, simple and connections with little detail	Style and tone do not have the audience in mind, vague