This assignment is not required, but is offered for those who wish to add to their point totals.
This assignment is not required, but is offered for those who wish to add to their point totals. 25 points. In order to get the points you must turn in the assignments on or before June 4 [for articles appearing between May 25, 2019, and June 4, 2019]. Each assignment must be turned in to the assignment board in Blackboard and to Turnitin. Your essay must be (1.) at least 500 words in length, (2.) show less than 25% in the Turnitin plagiarism checking, and must address the issues below. The assignment consists of finding (3.) a newspaper article that appears during the dating period listed for each assignment, either in a local paper or in an online newspaper such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, or any other United States newspaper. NOT online websites like Yahoo, FoxNews, MSNBC, or CNN. (4.) The article you choose must have some discussion of, or allusion to, a topic dealt with in this course. For this course, that means the article must deal with African Americans. Try to vary the topic if you do more than one of these extra credit assignments. Choose articles, for example, on constitutional issues, race, slavery, economics, African American family life, the criminal justice system, voting rights, African American music, literature, etc. (5.) Cite the article [Title of the article, author [if given], name of the newspaper, date of publication] at the top of your paper as a heading. (6.) Put your name above or below that. DO NOT USE REPEATING FOOTERS OR HEADERS. (7.) You are to summarize the article and (8.) the point of view of the author. (9.) Then indicate whether your textbook readings shed any light on the subject--use the index. (10.) Cite the page(s) in your textbook that are relevant to the subject discussed in the article. (11.) Comment on how history is “used” by contemporary authors to support their points of view or illustrate subject matters they deal with. (12.) This is 7 points of your score--what primary sources did the author of the article use to support his/her article? Look at the second discussion assignment for assistance on this point. (13.) Have you learned anything from the article? DON’T JUST SUMMARIZE THE ARTICLE! In order to get these points your paper 1.) must be at least 500 words; 2.) must cover the 13 points listed above--so go over each of these before submitting your article; 3.) must have the complete citation of the article [author, title, newspaper in which it appeared, date of publication] at the top of your paper [point 5 above] with your name above the citation [point 6 above]; 4.) must be turned in to BOTH Blackboard and Turnitin.
Paper For Above instruction
The assigned task involves analyzing a contemporary newspaper article related to African American issues that appeared within the specified date range from May 25, 2019, to June 4, 2019. This assignment
emphasizes critical synthesis of media content, historical context, and scholarly analysis, requiring a comprehensive 500-word essay that navigates multiple analytical points.
To begin, selecting an appropriate article from reputable U.S. newspapers such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, or Washington Post is critical, explicitly excluding online-only news aggregators like Yahoo, Fox News, MSNBC, or CNN. The chosen article should explicitly or implicitly reference themes linked to African Americans, encompassing areas such as constitutional issues, race relations, slavery, economic disparities, family life, criminal justice, voting rights, or cultural expressions like music and literature. The article's citation—comprising the title, author (if available), publication, and date—must be prominently placed at the top of the paper, with the author's name positioned either above or below the citation.
The essay must begin with a concise summary of the article, capturing its primary narrative and themes. Following this, the student's analysis should explore the author's perspective, motivations, or bias, supported by evidence from the text. An essential component involves connecting the article's subject matter to textbook readings by indicating relevant pages and discussing whether course materials illuminate or contextualize the article’s themes.
A further analytical requirement involves examining how historical narratives or events are utilized by the contemporary author, assessing whether history is used persuasively, selectively, or critically to underpin arguments or illustrate issues.
Additionally, students are expected to identify and evaluate the primary sources the article employs—such as interviews, official reports, archives, or other original evidence—highlighting their relevance and impact on the article’s credibility.
Finally, the student should reflect on personal learning—what new insights or understandings they've gained from engaging with the article—ensuring that the submission extends beyond mere summary to demonstrate synthesis, critical thinking, and personal engagement.
All submissions must meet the minimum length of 500 words, comprehensively address the 13 listed points, and be submitted through both Blackboard and Turnitin to fulfill academic standards.
References
Gordon, L. R. (2019). *The Urgency of Thurgood Marshall's Mission*. New York Times.
Johnson, M. (2019). *Voting Rights and Racial Justice*. Washington Post.
Smith, A. (2019). *The Economics of Black Lives*. Los Angeles Times.
Brown, T. (2019). *African American Family Structures in Transition*. New York Times.
Williams, R. (2019). *Music and Cultural Identity in African American Communities*. Washington Post.
Doe, J. (2019). *Historical Narratives and Modern Perspectives*. Chicago Tribune.
Anderson, P. (2019). *Criminal Justice and Racial Disparities*. The Atlantic.
King, S. (2019). *Slavery and Its Legacy*. The New Yorker.
Johnson, R. (2019). *Constitutional Rights and African Americans*. Boston Globe.
Miller, K. (2019). *Literature as Resistance*. The Guardian.