The purpose of the “Document Analysis” assignments is to help you to practice making evidence based arguments about history. There is a brief introduction to each prompt. Chose a topic that interests you. Take time to carefully study each of the sources given, keeping in mind what you might want to argue and sources that support your argument. Then write. The document analysis should be between 2-3 pages, typed and double spaced. There is no need to include a title page or section for your name and class information since Canvas keeps track of that. Focus your analysis on the content, which needs to include a clear thesis statement, evidence and facts that support the thesis, proper citation and a conclusion that summarizes your argument.

Answer only one question from one of the prompts. Be sure to type the question you are answering above your response. The first paragraph should clearly state your position and 2-3 points you intend to discuss as support for your position. The paragraphs that follow should be a discussion of your main points and should include an analysis (an explanation of how and why these points support your position) of the facts and referencing of the sources. Be sure to cite your references, from the prompt and the course text, within your your document (not at the end). The last paragraph (the conclusion) should be a summation of the points that support your position.

Be sure to see the rubric below for grading details.

Prompt 1

Since George Washington left office in 1796, presidents have used their farewell address as a means of offering the public and incoming president advice for the well being and preservation the nation. Dwight Eisenhower’s Farewell Address has become known as the “Military-Industrial Complex Speech” as the outgoing president warned of the dangerous relationship that was developing between the military, arms manufacturers and the government. As you read this document consider if his warnings have merit and are relevant today.

“Farewell Speech 17 January 1961 (Military-Industrial Complex Speech) (Links to an external site.); Dwight Eisenhower”

1. In his speech Eisenhower warned of a threat to liberty. What liberties were being threatened? Who was threatening liberty and how could it be protected?
2. What are the concerns that Eisenhower expresses about the relationship between the military, arms manufacturers and members of congress? Are these concerns legitimate or not?

Prompt 2

One of the most important desegregation cases of the 20th century was Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas 1954 which integrated public schools which reversed Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 which established separate, but equal among the races. The Warren Court employed one of the guiding principles of the Vinson Court, “apply separate, but equal in actual practice and examine if the conditions between white schools and black schools was equal or not” to decide the case. Southern States balked at integration and issued a response to the court’s decision known as “The Southern Manifesto”. As you examine the documents note the court’s rationale for integration and how the South countered these arguments.

“Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas 1954; Majority Opinion of Chief Justice Earl Warren (Links to an external site.)”

“The Southern Manifesto on Integration, 12 March 1956 (Links to an external site.)”

1. What did Warren conclude about the importance of an “equal” education? Are his comments still relevant today and if so, how/why?
2. What were the main objections of the South to integration? How did they justify their position and were their arguments valid?

In the story by Ursula LeGuin we’ve read, the narrator describes an imaginary city,Omelas, which is a Utopia. The existence of this Utopia rests on one condition –the child who is kept, alone and miserable, in the cellar. All residents of the cityare aware of the child, and of the condition. The only options are to accept thesituation and live with it, or to walk away into an unknown future. The story asks: do you believe it is acceptable to sacrifice the one child in the basement for the perfect happiness of the entire rest of the city?

We have also looked at other material, about the Trolley Problem and some real-life issues, that are simila.

Here is the prompt for this essay:

Do you believe it is acceptable to sacrifice a few for the benefit of many more? Why or why not?

What the essay must include:

• An introductory paragraph that introduces the main idea of the essay.
• A situation you find in real life that shows some dilemma or sacrifice similar to what we have been discussing.
• Thesis, discussion and support of your position, using clear arguments;
• Two research sources that will be used to support your position and which have in-text citations when they are used (the story “Omelas” does not count as a research source — you can use it but it’s not one of the two). One research source should be used to describe/explain the real-life situation; one source should be used to explain/support your position on the question I asked.
• In-text citations for all material used in the essay, and a Works Cited page, in proper format, that includes MLA citations for all sources.

See this page for tips on organizing and writing this essay.

The essay has an 1500-word minimum length. Essays not meeting the word-lengthminimum will receive a completion credit between 25-45 points at my discretion. There will be no opportunity for rewriting the final draft.

The essay must contain at least twoacceptable, relevant research sources, with at least twodirect cited quotes from that source. The source material must help explain or support what you are saying. See below for more on this.

RELEVANCE:

– It must be clear how the research material you use helps explain or support whatyou are saying in some way that is useful or necessary. That means you must tellus what it means and why it is important.

– Do not use research sources or quotes to state commonly known or inarguablefacts.

– Do not use quotes that come from Wikiquote, Brainy Quotes, or any other“quotation-aggregator.”

– Dictionary definitions, encyclopedia entries, and Wikipedia entries do not countas research. (Wikipedia entries can be very useful forlinks and general information, but never use Wikipedia as a cited source.)

– “Note” sites such as Schmoop, SparkNotes, etc. cannot be used or cited asresearch. Free-essay sites such as 123helpme also cannot be used and should neverbe part of your essay in any way.

– Do not plagiarize. If you are using the words of a source, use quotation marks. Ifyou are using just the ideas of a source, it still must be cited in the text.

Good luck!