History 465 Assignments

All of your assignments must contain a thesis (a statement of your argument) that is supported by evidence drawn primarily from your assigned readings. It must conform to the instructions provided in "Kennedy's Assignments Sheet." Be sure to properly cite your sources. For more information on how your grade will be determined, see my grading chart. Late papers will be accepted at my discretion and will be penalized 5% per day late; however, no late papers will be accepted for assignment #1

Assignment #1: For this assignment you must write three short papers based on the readings assigned for the week that you choose. The paper is due at the beginning of class on the Monday following that week’s reading. While you may choose when you hand these papers in, you must hand in your first paper by May 3 and your second paper by May 24. (You may hand in more than one paper by those due dates.)

Paper	Due Date
Week Two	April 12
Week Three	April 19
Week Four	April 26
Week Five	May 3
Week Six	May 10
Week Seven	May 17
Week Eight	May 24
Week Nine	June 1
Week Ten	June 7

For this assignment you must write an essay between 750-1000 words that addresses one of the major historical questions raised by that week’s readings and lectures. Your paper should be based on the readings assigned and not discuss material outside of those readings. You may use lecture material for context. Your paper should also show recognition of how to use primary and secondary sources when writing an historical essay.

This assignment is designed to evaluate your ability to formulate historical questions and to answer them. Your grade will be based on the quality of the question you ask and how well you answer that question.

You must answer two of the following questions. Each of your answers should be between 750-1000 words. Your midterm is due at the beginning of class on April 30. Late papers will be penalized 5% per day late. Your answer to each question must have an argument that is supported by appropriate textual examples. Your midterm may not duplicate your paper for assignment #1.

1. How and why did the changes in constructions of sexuality in the late eighteenth century affect sexual relations between men and women?

2. Discuss the relationship between constructions of sexuality and those of race in early American history. How did constructions of sexuality give meaning to and help create racial differences?

3. Discuss the relationship between constructions of sexuality and those of class in the early nineteenth century. How did constructions of sexuality give meaning to and help create class differences?

Final Exam: Your answers must be no more than 1000 words each. I will accept no late papers, so plan ahead and hand-in your final on the day on which it is due to either my office or my mailbox.

1. Discuss how race is linked to sexuality in Puerto Rican politics. Be sure to consider not only the "fficial discourses" but also those of resistance such as the labor movement.

1. In My Dangerous Desires, Amber Hollibaugh writes that her background required her to create a world view "layered with my fusion of sex and color and class." Choose one aspect of Hollibaugh's political work as she describes it (AIDS activism, her work as a "sex radical," her work as a union organizer, etc...) and discuss how she attempts to construct political movements and ideas by fusing her sexual identity with class and race.

2. Both John D'Emilio and Amber Hollibaugh talk about the writing of history from the perspective of lesbian and gay people. How do both understand the purpose of this history and what it can accomplish? According to each, what should a gay/lesbian history look like? Give specific examples from their books.

Paper

Due Date