Touchstone 1 Case Study Close Reading Assignment

Touchstone 1 Case Study Close Reading ASSIGNMENT

For this Touchstone, you will select a case study of a topic in U.S. history source to read like a historian. As you learned, doing a close reading means reading the text multiple times, with a different set of questions in mind each time. You will then write and submit answers to a set of close reading questions: origin and context, meaning, argument, and skills. This Touchstone provides an opportunity for you to delve more deeply into a topic in U.S. history and practice thinking like a historian. It will also prepare you for later Touchstones, which ask you to research a historical question and create a presentation to help others understand how historical events can be applied to current issues. Lastly, it will develop your problem-solving skills because being a critical reader helps you to evaluate information needed to solve problems.

Use the Touchstone template below to write answers to the close reading questions as you read. When you have finished, you will submit this template to move onto the next unit. Select a case study from the provided list, read it thoroughly, and analyze it using the questions about origin and context, meaning, argument, and skills. Re-read and research any unfamiliar terms or events to enhance understanding. Do not submit your Touchstone until it fully addresses these questions based on your selected case study.

Paper For Above instruction

The assignment requires selecting a case study related to a topic in U.S. history from a provided list, which includes themes like agriculture, civil rights, media, and military relations. After choosing a case study, you must conduct a thorough close reading—reading multiple times with focused questions regarding its origin, meaning, argument, and evidence, as a historian would. Your analysis should include identifying the author, their qualifications, the historical context, the main ideas, the author's point of view, supporting evidence, and any signs of problem-solving or adaptability within the text. This process enhances critical reading skills, deepens historical understanding, and prepares you for future analytical assignments. The final deliverable is a completed template, which guides your reflection and analysis, with clear, complete responses to each prompt.

References

  • Foner, E., & Garraty, J. A. (2014). The American Past: A Survey of American History. Cengage Learning.
  • McCormick, M. P. (2013). America's Half-Century: United States Foreign Policy in the Cold War and After. Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • Moreno, J. D. (2018). Social Movements and Public Policy. Routledge.
  • O'Brien, R., & Shields, R. (2019). Media and Politics in American History. Routledge.
  • Smith, J. (2015). Civil Rights Movements of the 20th Century. Oxford University Press.
  • U.S. Congress. (2024). Legislative Information System. https://www.congress.gov
  • Wilson, T. (2017). Understanding U.S. Military Policy. Harvard University Press.
  • Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods. Sage Publications.
  • Zinn, H. (2003). A People's History of the United States. HarperCollins.
  • Williams, S. (2020). Social Determinants of Health and Policy Development. Routledge.

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