HIST 1301/ESOL 0310Writing Assignment 1 Instructions Purpose This assignment asks you to
read and analyze a historical monograph (Escaping
Salem). The purpose of the
assignment is to promote thoughtful reading, critical thinking, and clear
expression of ideas. The Assignment This paper is designed to get
you thinking about the book Escaping
Salem and its argument(s). This
assignmen
...[Show More]
HIST 1301/ESOL 0310
Writing Assignment 1 Instructions
Purpose
This assignment asks you to
read and analyze a historical monograph (Escaping
Salem). The purpose of the
assignment is to promote thoughtful reading, critical thinking, and clear
expression of ideas.
The Assignment
This paper is designed to get
you thinking about the book Escaping
Salem and its argument(s). This
assignment is brief, so don’t stray from the main points or spend too much time
summarizing.
Part 1: Introduction
In this section you should
briefly introduce the book and its main argument.
Part II: Analysis
In this section, you will
analyze the book’s argument(s) in more detail.
What is the book’s author,
Richard Godbeer’s, main argument in
this book (or arguments, if you think there are more than one).
- NOTE: an author’s argument
is different from the topic. The topic is a witch trial in Connecticut in
1692. But what does the author say about
that witch trial? What’s the broader significance?
- Another way of thinking about it is: what is Godbeer trying to convince the
reader of in this book?
- Here are a few questions to think about as you zero in on Godbeer’s
argument(s):
- Why is the 1692 witch trial in Stamford, Connecticut important?
- What does the trial tell us about Puritan society?
- How was the witch controversy in Stamford similar to and/or
different from the more famous one in Salem, Massachusetts?
What evidence does Godbeer
present to support his argument(s)?
Do you find his argument(s)
convincing? Why or why not?
Part III: Reaction
In this section, provide your
overall analysis of the book.
- Did you like it? Why or why not?
[Show Less]