Labour History

Instructions Each student will be required to write three response papers based on assigned readings. Response papers are to be 5 pages in length, typewritten and double-spaced. Students will need to take into consideration the following when preparing their papers: How to Summarize 1. Read the article. 2. Re-read the article. Underline important ideas. Circle key terms. Find the main point/thesis of the article. Divide the article into sections or stages of thought, and label each section or stage of thought in the margins. Note the main idea of each paragraph if the article is short. 3. Write brief summaries of each stage of thought or if appropriate each paragraph. Use a separate piece of paper for this step. This should be a brief outline of the article. 4. Write the main point of the article. Use your own words. This should be a sentence that expresses the central idea of the article as you have determined it the from steps above. 5. Write your rough draft of the summary. Combine the information from the first four steps into paragraphs. Note: Include all the important ideas. o Use the author's key words/language. o Follow the original organization where possible. o Include any important data. o Include any important dates. o Include any important conclusions. 6. Edit your version. Be concise. Eliminate needless words and repetitions. 7. Compare your version to the original. Limit quotations – a summary needs to be written in your own words. But if you do quote be sure to quote correctly. Indicate quotations with quotation marks. Cite each quotation correctly (give the page number). Do not plagiarize. Cite any paraphrases/indirect quotes by citing the page number the information appears on. In the summary, you should include only the information your readers need. 1. State the main point first. 2. Use a lower level of technicality than the authors of the original article use. Do not write a summary your readers cannot understand. 3. Make the summary clear and understandable to someone who has not read the original article. Your summary should stand on its own. 4. Write a summary rather than list ideas. Wrong: This article covers point X. Then the article covers point Y. Right: Glacial advances have been rapid as shown by x, y, and z.) 5. Do not add new data or research. 6. Use a simple organization. 7. Unless the examples in the article are essential, do not include the examples in your summary. If you include them, remember to explain them. Adapted from: How to Summarize. The University of Idaho Here is an easy way to begin a summary: In "[name of article]" [author] states . . . . [State the main point of the article first.] For example: In "Computer Chess"* Hans Berliner states that the CYBER 170 series computer can perform well in a chess tournament. Cite the source with correct bibliographic form. So when you write a summary: 1. State the main point first. 2. Emphasize the main stages of thought. 3. State the article's conclusion. 4. Summarize rather than give a list of ideas. Example: Wrong: This article covers the topic of measuring the extent of global deforestation. The article discusses reasons for concern, the technique, the results, and the project's current goal. Right: According to the author of “Seeing the Forest,” the extent of global deforestation was difficult to measure until satellite remote sensing techniques were applied. Measuring the extent of global deforestation is important because of concerns about global warming and species extinctions. The technique compares old infrared LANDSAT images with new images. The authors conclude the method is accurate and cost effective. 5. Keep the summary short! I. Summary: What is the reading about and what does the author say? It is your challenge to state the main ideas succinctly. Look closely at the author's thesis statement, the introduction, and the conclusion to better understand the author's main themes and ideas. Treat this section as the 'introduction' to your response paper. II. Author's Perspective: Every scholar has some point of view and never merely reports “just the facts.” Try to think about what concerns the author expresses and whether he/she is discussing the past/present/future. Does the author seem to be arguing against another point of view? Is the author presenting new information and thus arguing against other scholars' neglect of this topic? Why does it seem important to the author to prove his or her view is right? These are just some of the many questions you may choose to consider. III. Your Views: Give this section critical thought! What do you think and feel about the article you read? Why do you feel this way? Does it change your outlook on the topic? Why is this labour/social movement important for students to study? – This section should not be more than 1 page of your paper. Response Paper #1 will focus on the reading: Craig Heron and Steve Penfold, “The Craftsmen's Spectacle: Labour Day Parades in Canada, The Early Years,” Histoire Sociale/Social History, 29:58, 1996, pp. 357-389. Response Paper #1 is worth 15% of your final grade.