For this assignment, you will analyze a historical debate over an issue of your choice from the second half of U.S. History (1877-present). I have given you a file title Possible Topics for you to consider. You will also be working on selecting a topic in Skill Assignment 7. For the paper, you need two peer-reviewed journal articles by historians on a topic. (No websites unless approved by my — and they cannot be encyclopedia-style websites such as pbs.org, history.com, Britannica, NYTimes, Wikipedia etc.). This is not primarily a descriptive paper. It is an analysis of the way historians build their arguments and application to current issues.

Part I. Introduction: (30 pts)

Describe in general the issue. (For example, you may analyze the importance of this issue in terms of to the culture, economics, political system, or social structure at the time.)

Part II. Historical Debate: (50 pts)

Read two perspectives (articles) on this argument from different sides, and describe the authors’ perspectives on this topic: (This assignment is not an article review, however, you need to demonstrate that you understand the readings in order to address the application questions).
After reading the articles, what were the authors’ thesis?
What evidence did the authors use to support those theses?
Does the evidence support his or her thesis?
Did the author(s) of the readings demonstrate an understanding of important elements of the culture’s history, values, politics, beliefs, or practices at the time of the issue? How or how not?
Which author created the clearer argument? Why did you feel that argument is clearer?
Part III. Conclusion (40 pts)

How did the readings change the way in which you understood the subject?
How might your own background influence your perspective on this issue? Provide examples.
Compare and Contrast the cultural issues presented in the readings with a current national or global issue?

Format: (30 pts)

The paper must be a minimum of 1000 words. Typed, double-spaced, using 11 point font. The assignment will be uploaded as a file on Blackboard.

At the end of the paper, you need to include a Works Cited page in which you list your sources using Chicago/Turabian citation style. If you use web articles or ebooks, give me the full web address (not just the home page or search engine page that you used to find it). If you quote from any source, you need to cite your quotations in Endnotes using Chicago style citations.

Plagiarism Policy and punishment.: Any plagiarism is an automatic 0 for the assignment.