English Final Assignment with provided Feedback

History of Labor and Work in the United States, 1880-1945 Paper Assignment 2

TOPIC: The 1930s was a pivotal decade for workers and their unions in the United States. At the height of the economy of the “Roaring Twenties,” the possibilities for unions and working-class political activism seemed to be at an all-time low. However, during the Great Depression of the 1930s, unions and workers brought the labor movement to historic heights. What were some of the major developments and events that created the possibilities for union growth and union power in the 1930s? What were some of the achievements of the labor movement in the 1930s? In what ways were union growth and union power still limited, notwithstanding the gains of the 1930s? In what ways were some of these gains shared unequally among workers?

NOTES: You are advised to focus strongly on the textbook for this assignment, although you may include other assigned readings and documentaries from this course. There is some overlap to the first and second questions. For the first subquestion, you should focus more on the causes of union growth and union power between 1930 and 1935. For the second subquestion, you should describe the achievements of the labor movement during the New Deal period that were solidified between 1935 and 1939. Achievements might be identified in particular industries or regions, or they might be national in nature. Put together, your answers to the first and second subquestions should comprise a kind of timeline, or sequence of events, or narrative, that describes both the causes and effects of union growth and union power.

In the third and fourth subquestions, you are being asked to pivot, and to speak to some of the areas in which the achievements of the labor movement, by the end of the 1930s, were incomplete. There is some overlap to the third and fourth questions. You are advised to focus, in the third subquestion, on how any limitations effected union growth and union power. In the fourth subquestion, you are advised to fcous on how any limitations effected workers, or particular groups of workers.

Finally, take care to clarify for yourself the use of the terms "labor movement," "union growth," and "union power." These terms are themselves interrelated, to be sure, but they each have a slightly different meaning.

INSTRUCTIONS: Write a 6- to 7-page, double-spaced paper in 12-point Times New Roman (or Times) font with 1-inch margins on each side that addresses the questions posed above. Be sure to base your claims on the assigned readings, documents, and other materials assigned in this course. Your paper should not mention every possible example from these materials, but adequately analyze and discuss the examples you choose. Moreover, it is strongly recommended that you focus your research efforts on the textbook, and only then use the other assigned readings or materials as ancillary support. Your paper should follow standard grammar, punctuation, and citation methods. You should use the author-date system of the Chicago Manual of Style. See the citation guide on the course site. Also please note that this assignment is not a 5-paragraph essay. Please use a paper structure and paragraph breaks as you might ordinarily find them in standard reading material, such as books, newspapers, or magazines.

DUE DATES: Please check the syllabus for due dates. The first draft of your paper will be used for an in-class peer review exercise. The second draft will be reviewed by the professor or your writing instructor. The third draft will be graded. You must complete all drafts to receive full credit for this assignment.