Robert Kennedy's United States History Class
Book List
1. Coming of Age in Mississippi
3. The Making of Chicano Militant
15. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
16. Prison Writings: My Life Is My Sun Dance
17. The Autobiography of Malcolm X
19. The Autobiography of Martin Luther King
21. Riders on the Storm: My Life with Jim Morrison and the Doors
22. The Killing Zone: My Life in the Vietnam War
23. Stalking the Vietcong: Inside Operation Phoenix: A Personal Account
24. When Heaven and Earth Changed Places
25. The Spitting Image: Myth, Memory, and the Legacy of Vietnam
27. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
All books can also, of course, be ordered through Interlibrary Loan Request Form
United State History Literature Essay Assignment
The events of United States History II (Reconstruction to the present) provide for an amazing, tragic, inspiring, painfully universal, and, above all, interesting study. Many of the events of this time period have been encapsulated in a rich collection of literature.
You will read then write a review of a work of fiction that in some way reflects or in set in the context of the history of the United States since 1865. The review will be a full 5-8 pages in length, double spaced using 12-point New Times Roman font. . You will choose from the booklist in the side bar menu.
General Guidelines
Your review must contain each of the following. Write a narrative. (Do not number your paper.
- Full citation using Chicago Turabian
- You will begin with a brief summary of the book. No more than 2 paragraphs.
- What is the geographic setting of the book?
- What era/events in history are represented in this book?
- What issues related to politics, race, class, gender, nationalism, and/or culture is the author dealing with?
- With in your review you must cite at least five reference from the course content: lectures or assigned readings that are historically related to your book
Stages of the Assignment
Dialectical Journal Directions
1. Your journal consists of 25 quotes (quotes from the author’s characters voice or from the author’s narration) from the book.
2. Page number of each quote
3. Explanation of the quote consisting of the following:
- Why did you write this quote down?
- What made it interesting?
- How did it relate to the rest of the book’s plot?
- What was its historical significance?
- Cite relevant materiel from course content
First Draft Reviewed by the CLE
Paper must be complete and include all the stated guidelines
Final Draft
To be submitted through Blackboard
Presentation
You will present your review in class and answer any questions posed.
Presentation will be at least 8 minutes no more than 10 minutes
If you do use Power Point, adhere to the following guidelines
Writing Tips