Primary Source

These discussions should help you understand what a primary source for historical writing

is. Look at the following website, which discusses primary sources. http://uottawa.libguides.com/c.php?g=265053&p=1771067 (Links to an external site.) Be sure to scroll down the whole page to see the various types of sources that can be identified as primary sources for writing history.

In order for any article or book on history--including your textbook--to be written, the author

must use primary sources. These are the direct evidence, the building blocks of history, that

allow us to write about what happened in the past, and why it happened. If an historian were

going to write about the world trade center bombing in 2001, would the Declaration of

Independence [which IS a primary source for SOME U.S. history] be a primary source? Of

course not. It gives NO evidence on the world trade center bombing.

Prepare responses for each of the three topics below. Be specific with your suggestions for

primary sources. A WEBSITE IS NOT A PRIMARY SOURCE! It may contain primary

sources, but the site itself is NOT A PRIMARY SOURCE. What would be direct evidence/a primary source for the life of enslaved people in the

Massachusetts coloines before the founding of the United States? [Check online or in your

textbook.]

What would be a primary source for the Rosewood, Florida race riot of 1923?

What would be a primary source for the desegregation of the Biloxi, Mississippi beaches?

For this assignment you are to post your ideas of what two specific primary sources would be

for each of these three historical mileposts listed above. You will not be able to see your

classmates' postings until you have posted your own ideas. This first posting, containing all your

answers, MUST BE POSTED by July 30 in order to receive any credit for this assignment.

After you have posted your ideas log back in on at least two other days and respond to the ideas

of at least three of your classmates on this assignment. It is important to log in on at least two

days AFTER November 5 in order to fully participate in the discussion. In your

response identify by name each of your selected classmates and whether their posts are

correct, have good ideas or if you have a suggestion as to the sources s/he has chosen to list. Be

sure to name the person to whom you are responding. YOUR RESPONSE HERE WILL

HAVE NO IMPACT ON YOUR CLASSMATE'S GRADE. But if you praise another

student's posting and it is in fact NOT a good post, YOUR grade will be negatively

impacted. Just be honest in your analysis. In one of your responsive postings, respond to a post a

classmate has made to your own first posting.

You will receive full credit for this assignment if you complete correctly ALL FOUR of these

submissions. In addition, the ability to gently critique another person's work is essential for a

good grade on this assignment.

THE DISCUSSION CLOSES ON NOVEMBER 12. YOU WILL RECEIVE NO POINTS

IF YOU DON'T POST YOUR FIRST POSTING BY NOVEMBER 5.