Guidelines for Third Paper Assignment (Primary Source Analysis)

Your third paper assignment, due at the beginning of tutorial on December 2, is a 3-5 page critical analysis of one, or a critical comparison of two, photograph(s) from the Lewis Hine collection we discussed in class. The photographs can be found at “Child Labor in America: Photographs of Lewis W. Hine,” http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/ The purpose of this assignment is to: (1) improve your ability to do a close analysis of a primary source (in this case, a visual source), and (2) practice developing your analysis into a cogent and persuasive argument.

Your paper should include a close reading of your photograph(s) and a persuasive argument about how it illuminates an aspect of the history of childhood. It should refer to at least one of the reading assignments on child labour (most likely an article by Zeliser or McIntosh).

Begin your study by coming to grips with the photograph itself. Ask yourself the questions in the handout "How to Analyze a Primary Source,” and draw on your notes from in-class discussions and the photo analysis worksheet. Think about the photographer’s goals, his intended audience, and when the picture was taken. Remember that, while photos do capture a real image, the person who takes the picture decides what to show us (choice of subject), how it will look (framing lighting, and perspective), and possibly how we will react to it (with shock, sympathy, or anger). You must “read” these aspects of the photograph before you can properly understand it and put it in historical context. This can be difficult, because different people (and people from different eras) can read the same picture in different ways. “Read” the imagery and symbolism in Hine’s photograph(s), and imagine what lies outside the frame. What can the photo(s) tell us about gender roles, the work ethic, and/or perceptions of childhood? What can’t they tell us? To what extent does your photograph support or challenge the interpretations of Zeliser and McIntosh?

Your paper should have a clear and well-argued thesis, stated in the first paragraph of your paper. Pick out ONE issue to concentrate on, and try not to ramble. The body of the paper should consist mainly of sub-points, gleaned from a close and very concrete analysis of your photograph, that support your overall thesis. Since many different interpretations of the photograph are possible, the best way to convince readers that your argument is valid is to provide specific evidence to support your interpretation -- and to anticipate and respond to opposing views.

As always, your papers will be marked for grammar and style as well as argument and analysis. Please ensure that your essay is in paragraph form, your sentences are complete, your pages are numbered, and there are no grammatical or spelling errors. Late papers without an extension will be penalized. Please note: no paper will be accepted without notes and rough drafts.