Research Précis #2

Description

Research Précis #2 Barbara Fields’ “Who Freed the Slaves?”   You’ve completed this process once for James McPherson’s article of the same name.  Now you’ll be able to work on a second of the five required sources for the research paper.  The source you’ll be reading, analyzing, and writing about this week is Barbara Fields’ “Who Freed the Slaves?”  You will need to read the article in depth and detail and take extensive notes in order to produce a half-page (2-3 solid paragraphs minimum), detailed summary and analysis.  The helpful aspect you have at your disposal this week is that I’ve already provided you a copy of my detailed notes for this source: Click HERE to once again review the detailed notes I’ve taken from Barbara Fields’ chapter titled “Who Freed the Slaves?” As you read the chapter, use the notes I’ve given you as a guide.  But, also take your own notes and put together all of the information you’ll need to write an effective summary and analysis of Fields’ chapter, keeping the following prompt in mind: Research Paper Prompt:   These historians offer different views on the following question: who played the key role in ending slavery in the Civil War and Reconstruction era?  Was it Abraham Lincoln?  Congress?  Union Army officers?  The slaves themselves?  Or was it a combined effort of several key players?     In your research paper, summarize the work of each author in the required articles and chapters. Describe the main point of each source.  Who do they say played the most important role in liberating the slaves? Describe in detail how each author supports their viewpoint.  What specific facts and information do they use as evidence to support their claim? Compare the various viewpoints presented by the authors and describe how they differ from or relate to one another. Evaluate the strengths and/or weaknesses of the evidence and logic presented by each author in their respective article, and the strengths and/or weaknesses in their methodology (how effectively they deliver their viewpoint to the reader). Conclude your project by determining which historian has the correct answer to the question “Who Freed the Slaves?”  In other words, which historian makes the most compelling argument based on their evidence?   Your summary analysis of Barbara Fields’ chapter  for this week’s assignment (and all authors as you continue your research) should include: A clear description of the  main point (who played the key role in freeing the slaves?) Specific details and examples of the facts that the author presents in support of his/her main point (evidence) An assessment of how effective the author was in their writing style and in their use of evidence to support their main point.   Your half-page (minimum) summary analysis for Barbara Fields’ “Who Freed the Slaves?” is due by Saturday, 2/27. By clicking on the name of the source above, you can link you directly to the article, or you can find the PDF located within the Week 4 module. As with Précis #1, this assignment is essentially an opportunity to earn an extra 10 points for completing work that you’ll need to do for the research paper anyway, so your best work is required and I will grade results with a higher level of scrutiny.  This is a good opportunity so please take advantage of it!  Plus, in producing your best work, the entire class will benefit from sharing each other’s analyses in the discussion forum.