interpreting primary sources

HIST 114, Spring 2021

Primary Source Assignment #1: Comparing Creation Narratives

DUE Tuesday 3/9 –upload to Blackboard

Background: Creation Narratives are accounts from cultures/societies explaining the origin of their people. Creation Narratives often began as oral traditions that were passed down verbally for generations, and then eventually written down. They are one type of source that historians can use to learn more about these groups. In this assignment, you’ll get to be the historian, and read and discuss Creation Narratives.

Required: Responses must be your own work, written in your own words, and in sentence/paragraph format. Write as much as you need to fully answer the question.

Instructions: Read the “Introduction: Contextualizing Creation Narratives” and the five creation narratives from different cultures in the document attached with this assignment on Blackboard. Choose TWO narratives and use them to answer the following questions:

· Choose the two creation narratives you will use. List the name of each, and which culture/society it’s from here.

· Narrative 1:

· Narrative 2:

· For each narrative, answer the following: Who/what is doing the creating in this narrative? Is there any explanation of why they are doing the creation?

· Narrative 1:

· Narrative 2:

· Analyze: What can we learn about each culture/society from its creation narrative- what does the narrative tell us about what’s important to the community that produced it, or how they lived? For each narrative, discuss 2 things we can learn, and give examples from the narrative to support your points.

· Narrative 1:

· Narrative 2:

· Overall, what role or purpose do you think creation narratives have in a culture/society—basically, why do cultures create and share creation narratives?

· This is an interpretive question--tell me what you think, based on what you read in the sources overall. Write at least 4-5 sentences.

Note: There is a rubric with guidelines on what I look for in grading attached to this assignment on Blackboard, for your reference. Any questions, email me at [email protected] ! I’ll be holding optional workshops during office hours next week to discuss using these sources & assignment—see Blackboard.