“The Only Man Barred Out” Cartoon Analysis

The purposes of this assignment are to foster a deeper understanding of the historian’s craft and to hone critical analysis skills using primary sources that are not necessarily text-based. Select ONE of the primary source items (available ONLY on Blackboard) and craft an essay in which you dissect its meaning and significance. If you are already familiar with the specific non-text source (you can identify the specific artist, for example), pick another source. This assignment is an exercise, not a report. To complete the exercise, try to answer the following questions:

First, identify and summarize the source (approximately 1-2 pages). Try to answer the following questions.

Who created it? (Not just a name, what is this person’s background? Is he or she rich or poor? Egyptian? Italian? Male or female? Etc. Why is this significant? Do we even KNOW who the creator is? If not, why might this be important?) Perhaps ask, instead, what sort of person would have created this? If you identify the creator by name, be prepared to justify this claim with evidence!!!
 
What type of object is the source? Consider the intended audience (e. g. public or private, educated elite or “for the masses,” etc.)
 
BRIEFLY describe the source. For example, if it is a painting, what is happening in the painting? If it is a work of architecture, what are its characteristics?
 
Second, analyze and contextualize the source (approximately 1-2 pages). Use the following questions to guide your analysis.

In what historical context was it created? (What is going on at the time? Location?) What assumptions are made by the creator about the events or ideas of the time?
 
Expand upon the role of the audience of the source. How do you think they would have reacted to this source?
 
What was the creator’s motive? (WHY did the author choose make this item?)
 
What purpose did it serve? (Think short term effects.) What was the impact? (Think long term effects.) Were there any unintended consequences?
 
How is this source useful to historians? (This might be the most important question to try to answer!!!)

These questions are suggestions. Depending on which source you select, some of these questions might be impossible to answer. Treat this assignment like a detective looking at a clue. You are not supposed to be able to know many specific details about the object. This is not a research paper. Most of these questions can be answered using your own interpretation of the work and what you have learned from class (and from your textbook). Feel free to speculate (and, thus, demonstrate your critical thinking abilities). IF YOU CONSULT AN OUTSIDE SOURCE, YOU ARE NOT DOING WHAT THE ASSIGNMENT ASKS YOU TO DO!!! I am most interested in seeing how you apply critical thinking in your analysis. Back up your claims using evidence such as quotations from the primary source. Be certain to connect the source (or your argument) to SPECIFIC COURSE MATERIAL. Do this citing a specific page in the reading or a specific class meeting.

Your choices of sources can be found on Blackboard under “Paper Options.”

 ALL sources that you consult MUST BE CITED in your paper using MLA format. This means that a parenthetical citation must be made whenever researched material is presented. This parenthetical citation must correspond to the complete bibliographical entry on your Works Cited page. For the purposes of this class, the only sources that you may consult are the textbooks, the class lectures, and the sources, themselves. DO NOT CONSULT ANY OTHER OUTSIDE SOURCES!!! These are not research papers. They are analysis papers. You are expected to analyze the sources using your brain and course material. That is all that you need. If you present information that is obtained from other sources, YOU ARE NOT DOING WHAT THE ASSIGNMENT ASKS YOU TO DO!!!

To be clear, all papers must contain at least two citations: the source you are examining and the course material that you reference. Otherwise, there is no way to earn the points for citation. Any paper that contains a Works Cited page but no in-text citations will receive zero points for the Works Cited page. For guidance on citation procedures and format, please consult the paper writing aids included in your reader.

Your paper should be 2-4 pages in length, typed, double spaced, and in 12-point Calibri, Times New Roman, or Courier New font with 1” margins. There should be no breaks between paragraphs (just an indentation). All papers must be in MLA format. Points will be deducted if a paper does not fit the format.