Directions for Assessment 3.05



Now that you have heard three different perspectives from historical diaries about daily life during the time of slavery, you are ready for your assignment. You will have two options for submitting your assignment.

Option 1: Article

You will write an article to be submitted for publication with a leading law magazine. The purpose of your article will be to explain the value of historical diary entries and to answer the crucial question of whether slaves were active or passive in their response to slavery. In your article you are required to use at least one diary example from each of the three groups of Americans you read about (Rural slaves, Plantation Masters or Abolitionists). Be sure to reference the diary’s author with each example. View an example of how your article might be organized.

Article requirements:

Explain the value of historical diary entries and what can be learned from them. Write a thesis statement (state your position or argument) about what you believe can be learned about slavery from diaries.

Use at least one diary example from each of the three groups of Americans you read about (Rural slaves, Plantation Masters or Abolitionists) to support your thesis statement. Be sure to reference the diary’s author with each example.

*The example you choose for each group of Americans should exemplify how their lives were affected by the institution of slavery and :The example you choose for each group of Americans should exemplify how their lives were affected by the institution of slavery and whether the slaves demonstrated active resistance or passive resistance.  Provide specific examples to support your answer.

View the Grading Rubric to see how you will be graded.

Your writing should be at least five paragraphs in length with no spelling or grammar errors

Option 2: Interview

You have just been asked to be a guest host on a local talk show to discuss the importance of a historical diary.  After reading through the diaries on slavery, your teacher believes that you can create an interview that will defend the value of learning from primary sources from our past.  You may use a video or podcast tool on your computer or an online tool. There are many 21st century tools available for effective collaboration and communication in the online environment.  For more information about tools your school recommends, please visit the resource tools area in your course or contact your instructor.

Interview requirements:

Introduce the topic of historical diaries.

State your position or argument about what you believe can be learned about slavery from diaries.

You must interview all three groups of Americans you read about (Rural slaves, Plantation Masters, and Abolitionists).   The example you choose for each group of Americans should exemplify how their lives were affected by the institution of slavery and whether the slaves demonstrated active resistance or passive resistance.  Provide specific examples to support your answer.

Wrap up your interview with a strong argument that convinces the audience how critical it is to learn from historical diaries and that we must preserve primary source documents from our past.

Be creative.

View the Grading Rubric to see how you will be graded        

Assignment 03.05 Perspectives on Slavery

Submit your completed assignment, "03.05 Perspectives on Slavery", to your instructor for a grade.