Reference no: EM132299658
Description: Understanding media history requires us to consider both primary and secondary sources of information. A primary source originates within or in close proximity to the period or event being studied, while a secondary source originates from a time or place that is more distant from that period or event. For example, a newspaper from 1920 will contain some primary information pertaining to events of that year, while a scholarly book published today that uses the same newspaper would be a secondary source of information about 1920. To learn more about the nature and value of each type of source, and about how secondary sources can incorporate primary sources into a larger argument, this assignment asks you to read a primary source and write a paper describing how that source compares to class readings.
Part One: Select ONE of the following primary/secondary source pairings to work with: Pair 1) The Evening World (1916) and “Journalism as Entertainment” by M. Schudson (1978), Pair 2)Cosmopolitan (1922) and “Ladies of Labor: Fashion, Fiction and Women’s Culture” by N. Enstad (1999). These materials can be accessed from our Canvas syllabus readings for March 26.
After making your selection, read through the primary source text. If your primary source contains advertisements, examine those as well. Take notes: How does the primary source characterize the time period that it is commenting upon? What might the primary source tell you about the interests, values, and demographics of the people who were reading it at that time? After you have finished examining your primary source, read your secondary source. Take notes: How does the secondary source characterize the time period that it is examining? What does the secondary source say about the interests, values, and demographics of the people who were reading the primary source at that time? How did your reading of each source enrich or expand your understanding of the other source?
Part Two: Write a paper (minimum 1000 words) that compares the two sources. In your paper, develop at least four specific and detailed comparative examples to make your points. For example, your paper might say something like: “In Cosmopolitan there were advertisements for XYZ products (p. 154) and this connects to my secondary source, “Ladies of Labor,” where the author discusses her theory about why such products were popular with working class immigrant women in the 19thcentury (p. 88). Specifically, the primary source enriched my understanding of the secondary source because it ... [insert your detailed analysis here].” This would be one example. You would then develop three more examples.
Requirements: All papers must include the following features:
The paper must be a minimum of 1000 words, typed, double-spaced, 12- point font. The pages of the paper should be numbered.
The paper must have a research question to focus the paper and direct the choice of examples.
The paper must use at least four specific comparative examples to develop its thesis.
The paper must include a brief introduction to set up the examples used in the paper, and a brief conclusion that sums up the lessons you learned from this comparative analysis.
The paper must have a specific and original title that captures its thesis or argument. An effective title indicates you have given careful consideration to your paper’s focus and point of view. Papers submitted with a generic title (such as “Paper” or “Historical Sources” or “Media Studies Paper,” etc. will be deducted a full letter grade (e.g. a “B” drops to a “C”).
Papers will be evaluated based on their thinking, content, and form (see the “Evaluation of Writing” section of our syllabus for a detailed description of grading standards and practices). Be sure to edit and proofread the paper.