2000 words essay. Analyze 4 news article historiography

INTRODUCTION

Your introduction

should catch your

reader’s attention and

outline what your paper

is about.

•

Problem (state the issue

you are examining)

•

Background

(contextualize the

problem, provide

background information)

•

Thesis (what is your

main argument, what is

the paper about)

•

Question (what are some

questions the paper

wants to answer)

BODY/ANALYSIS

This is the main

content and bulk of

the paper, where

you make your

argument that was

presented above in

your thesis.

•

Structure (should follow the order of

the thesis, should flow logically from

each other, transition words and/or

sentences)

•

Sentences (keep paragraphs short,

short sentences, clear and pithy)

•

Language (formal language, not

conversational)

•

General to specific (when making

points, start with a general

argument, then provide specific

examples to back up your

argument)

•

Quotations (try and use quotes from

your sources to back up arguments)

•

Class resources (incorporate things

from the class, readings, lectures,

films, try and link concepts from

your paper to those we’ve discussed

in class

CONCLUSION

This should

summarize your

overall paper

with a few

concluding

points.

Summary (make

final points about

your arguments,

what you learned

from this paper,

final analysis)

Finalize (make

sure your

arguments are

closed, no gaps)

Purpose of the Paper

(Examining the Production of Contemporary Historiography) -

The goal of this paper is to allow you to analyze how “historiography” is an ongoing process largely influenced by the news media. History is a subjectively generated product. History incorporates the biases and viewpoints of those who produce it. The news media today is a key source in providing us with “meaning” connected to newsworthy “historical” events. In fact, the news media is in fact a major part of the process that generates "history.” Although news media reporters and editors frequently claim that they are presenting “just the facts," the way in which

these “facts” are presented often carry a number of biases that strongly influence public perception and interpretations of current events.

Questions to consider

1. What is included in each article?

2. What is left out?

3. What is emphasized?

4. How is the issue contextualized

5. Are predictions made?

6. Who is the intended audience

7. How “foreign” is the issue to the intended audience

Writing the paper

· Examine and critique the differing ways in which the issue is being presented in your articles. 

· Think about how the news reports of today are the “historiography” of tomorrow.

· How is the event being presented to the reader in each article?

· Are certain “facts” emphasized in one article that are dismissed, ignored, or presented differently in your other selected article(s)?

· Is only one side of the issue being presented in an article? If so, why do you think this is happening?

· In what ways has the event you have selected for this assignment been reported differently in each of your articles? 

· In what way might these differences influence the reader to draw a different conclusion about the event? 

· In what way might ethnocentric perspectives or national interests be influencing how the issue is being presented differently in each of your articles?

· Do you see any biases built into the way that the issue is being presented or reported by the authors of your articles? 

· What have you learned through this process? What have you come to understand about the production of "news" and the power of the news media over the reader by comparing these different articles? 

Thesis

· When you write an essay, you MUST clearly state your thesis in your introduction.

· A thesis statement is a direct statement that explains the topic of your essay, what you believe about that topic, and why you believe it.

· Can be multiple sentences.

· Identification of Topic + Claim (Belief about topic) + Evidence (reason 1, reason 2, and reason 3).