Homework: A People's History of the United States
In Nikole Hannah-Jones's introductory essay to the 1619 Project, she writes about her complicated relationship to concept of "being American" and the pain she felt as a child watching her father take such good care of this American flag. Using information and direct quotes from Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, write your response to the following question: Why might it be, for many people, a painful and complicated thing to call themselves American? Notes for the successful completion of this essay:
I. Begin your essay with a clear and concise response to the above question. -There's no single answer to this question, which means that whatever you write will necessarily be an argument. The first few sentences of your response must make it clear to the reader (me) exactly what point you plan to argue.
II. Support your argument with knowledge you've gained from reading chapters 1-5 of Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States. DO NOT USE ANY OTHER RESOURCES.
III. You MAY make aspects of this response personal, but please balance that with the fact that a major component of this homework is to prove you've done the assigned reading. The name of the game with testing is always: PROVE YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
IV. Focus on what genuinely interests you from these first four chapters of our textbook and explain those topics clearly and well. You can't (and please don't try) cover every point Zinn makes in chapters 1-5, so narrow the scope of your writing down to what you feel is most crucial in order to support your argument.
V. Do not try to meet the word count by mainly dropping massive quotes into this text. Passing grades will be given to the responses that genuinely engage with the question, our text, and the writer's own intellect, insight, and experience. This question is important, so please find a way to respond to it from a place of sincere belief and urgency.
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
1. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.