Homework
Objective: You will choose one of the memoirs we are reading this semester, either Harriet Jacobs's Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl or Mary Matsuda Gruenewald's Looking Like the Enemy, and write a response to it. In this homework you will briefly summarize the text (1 to 2 paragraphs), situate it within its proper historical context (3 to 4 paragraphs), and analyze it as a primary source (3 to 4 paragraphs).
You should consider the following questions:
I. Summarize the text (1 to 2 paragraphs).
• What is the general subject matter of the book?
• Who is the author?
• Describe the author's tone. How do they feel?
• What was the author's purpose in writing a memoir?
II. Situate the text within the proper historical context (3-4 paragraphs).
• Describe the world surrounding the author's memories. What is happening around them that influenced their life? Does the author discuss any particular event, law/s, political debates, or societal shifts that impacted their life?
• How does the book provide insights into this period?
III. Analyze it as a primary source (3-4 paragraphs).
• Why was this source produced? Who is the audience?
• Is the source believable? Why or why not? Be specific.
• As a piece of historical evidence, how useful is this source? What does it help us understand about the period it describes?
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
• The answer must be using Times New Roman font (size 12), double spaced, typed, with one-inch margins on all sides.
• The response also includes a cover page containing the student's name, the title of the homework, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
• Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.