Homework: Historical Themes
We begin our most significant writing, emphasizing themes. We have been practicing so we can get to this point, doing more of what historians actually do.
As you know, historians do not memorize facts. They see trends throughout time, and use these trends to understand both the past and the present.
A historical theme is a trend, presented as an interpretive thesis, but supported by evidence from several different eras instead of just one or two.
A number of weeks throughout the semester, we have posted evidence from one particular time-frame or era on a Primary Sources Board, but our writing this week must include evidence from multiple eras.
Yes - the work you do here may be considered as the outline for your final essay, so long as you are happy with your subject!
Themes are narrow enough to have a point of view, even though they are broad enough to cover several eras. They show a repeating trend, rather than progress over time.
One way to begin a theme is to focus on a topic area, such as fashion, sexuality, class differences, cloth-making technology, the role of philosophy, ways in which literature reflects society, sports, games, furniture design, domestic architecture, dancing, political conflict, holiday celebrations, religious texts, expressions of spirituality, mass communication - the possibilities are endless.
Format
For this homework we start with a theme (in bold text), and use six sources in pairs with a topic sentence (in italics) that covers them both. The format will be like an essay, with no numbers or letters:
• Historical theme
• Topic sentence that supports the theme
o Primary source #1 with explanation
o Primary source #2 with explanation
• Topic sentence that supports the theme
o Primary source #3 with explanation
o Primary source #4 with explanation
• Topic sentence that supports the theme
o Primary source #1 with explanation
o Primary source #2 with explanation
• Brief conclusion
Avoid problems with themes
Here's a list of common problems to avoid for themes:
o The progressive theme problem.
The theme features advancement or improvement over time, when it needs to focus on a repeating trend.
o The "throughout history" problem.
The theme should not use phrases like "throughout history" or "across the ages".
o The "and" problem.
The theme should not try to cover more bases by using "and", unless everything in it is proven in every paragraph.
o The "or" problem.
The theme should not contain "or", which encourages paragraphs that focus on only part of the theme.
o The so broad it's obvious problem.
This is similar to the big, factual thesis problem.
Writing homework instructions:
Create an outline with a theme and three topic sentences, each supported by two fully-cited primary sources from various Primary Sources Boards, with a brief explanation of how each source supports the topic. All sources must be from a Primary Sources Board (you may add any fully cited sources to any Board at any time).
Format your homework according to the following formatting requirements:
o The answer should be typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), double spaced, with one-inch margins on all sides.
o The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
o Also include a reference page. The Citations and references must follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.