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A Raisin in the Sun - Eng. 8: Home

"I, too, sing America" : The Abolition and Civil Rights Movements

In her play, A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry draws on the complex history of Black Americans' fight for justice and equality to explore her present reality living at the center of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

In this project, you will research a specific aspect of that history from early abolition movement through the activism and events happening around the time of play's production. Then you will choose/create someone who would feel invested in the topics and write an op-ed incorporating your research from their perspective.

  • When researching, keep in mind that every source was crafted and written by humans with specifics viewpoints and goals.  Ask yourself what those viewpoints and goals might be and think about how they might affect the information within that source. 
  • Look for more than one source about any particular topic.
  • Remember to preview a source before you decide whether or not it will be useful.
  • You must actually read a source in order to take good notes and use the information you gather from it.  Paraphrase facts and be selective and deliberate about your direct quotations. 
     

Schedule

Day 1 -Introduction to the project & op-ed

HW: At home, read ALL of the topic options/blurbs and think through your top choices

Day 2 -  Choose your topic and begin research.

HW: Continue researching at home, organize notes, start thinking about possible op-ed issues and positions

Day 3 - Continue research.

HW: Continue researching at home, organize notes, start thinking about possible op-ed issues and positions

Day 4 - Continue research and begin outlining.

HW: Continue research at home, organize notes, think about op-ed issues and positions; Draft your outline, DUE at the beginning of next class.

​Day 5 - Outlines DUE at the beginning of class.  Work on drafting your op-ed.

HW: Continue writing at home and developing your op-ed based on your outline and research.  DRAFT of your full op-ed due at the beginning of next class

Day 6 - Drafts due; peer editing in class

If you come with a partial or completed draft in hard copy, you can use the time to peer edit.​

Day 7 - Your final piece is due at the beginning of class.

Research Tips

  • You must use at least 4 sources; 1 of which must be print sources. 

  • Under each research question, there are a few recommended sources including books, websites, and databases.  These are sources to begin your research; you are not limited to using only those sources.

  • You should begin your research by seeking out an overview of your topic, usually from a reference source.

  • Using the prompt and the overview, identify a few keywords that you can use to search sources.

  • When searching for specific information within a print source, use the table of contents and the index.

  • Remember to dig beyond the first page of a website and use keywords and related terms to guide you in your investigations.

  • Your final piece must include at least 3 in-text citations and a works cited page.  You can use NoodleTools to keep track of your sources and/or your notes.