Historical essay

Historical Context Essay Assignment Description & Prompt Assignment Overview: For this essay, you will conduct historical research to better understand one aspect of a story or poem weve read this semester. You will then use that research to develop a historical criticism of the work. Historical criticism means analyzing how the time periodincluding political, economic, social, or cultural contextsinfluences or shapes the work. Your goal is to connect the text to its historical moment in a thoughtful and analytical way. Your Essay Must: Present a clear, arguable thesis that connects your historical research to the meaning or structure of the text Use 13 credible sources that inform your understanding of the historical context Use MLA format for both in-text citations and the Works Cited page Focus on historical, not literary, research (no essays about symbolism, imagery, or general theme unless tied directly to the historical moment) What Counts as Credible Research? Government (.gov) or educational (.edu) websites Articles from academic databases (e.g., JSTOR, Google Scholar, library resources) Books or published articles by historians or scholars Authoritative sources where the authors credentials are clear Not acceptable: Wikipedia, fan pages, blogs without author credentials, or sources with unclear authority. Strategies for Historical Research and Analysis: You can explore any of the following historical angles for your chosen text: The time in which the author lived: What were the major political, social, or economic issues of the time? The time in which the story/poem takes place: How does it reflect real events or cultural attitudes? Laws, customs, or norms related to race, gender, war, class, religion, education, etc. The cultural climate, including dominant ideologies, fears, or values of the time Language shifts: How have certain words, phrases, or concepts changed meaning over time? Questions to Ask Yourself While Doing Historical Research & Criticism: What historical events were happening when this was written or set? How might the author’s background and historical moment have influenced their perspective? What cultural, legal, or social norms are present in the story or poem that reflect its time? Does the story reflect resistance to or support for dominant ideologies of the time? Are there references or attitudes in the text that would have had different connotations then than they do now? How do the characters beliefs or conflicts reflect their historical period? Would a reader in the original time have interpreted this story differently than a modern reader? Important Reminders: This is not a literary essay about literary devices. Do not research “symbolism in ‘The Lottery’” Do research post-WWII suburban conformity and its connection to The Lottery Your thesis must be historically groundedyou are making a claim about how historical context enhances understanding of the text. 600-800 words (include word count at the end of your paper; before the WC page)