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Antebellum Reform Project: Gordon: Assignment

Assignment

You will research an Antebellum reformer and write a teacher's letter of recommendation for this person. Your "student" is applying to the United States University, a prestigious New England institution. You've known this student since about 1820, and it is now 1860 (the fact that some might be dead should not stop them from applying to college).

Your recommendation letter is not a story of the student's life, but rather an effort to convey the uniqueness of the applicant, her/his strengths, character, accomplishments, and gifts that s/he would carry to the university. (When I write a recommendation, I try to support each claim I make about a student by providing specific supportive examples).

The completed letter should be approximately 1000 words (not including the bibliography!).

For this assignment you will be demonstrating your skill in using note cards (with NoodleTools), outlining, paraphrasing, and citations (with NoodleTools).

Requirements

Research Notes: You will use the note card program in NoodleTools, which we will discuss in class. You will need to register under the assignment and make sure that you register to share with me. You will also use the citation program (Chicago style) for your bibliographic entries.  Because much of what you're reading will be considered "common knowledge," you won't need to included any footnotes. And, because you are creating this, you should not need to use quotations.

Quotations: This kind of paper should not call for any quotes, but please be sure that if you include any quotes, that you cite them properly. Failure to do so will be considered plagiarism.

Sources: A minimum of four sources, one of which must be the book American Reformers,* found on reserve in the library. In addition, one of the four sources must be a primary source. Use the sites provided in this guide to be sure you are working with valid information.

* A couple of the reformers are not mentioned in the book, so you cannot meet that requirement, but most are in there.

Content

Look at the individual's life, and especially the work for which s/he was best known. As you research, think about the ultimate goal--the recommendation.

  • What was his/her work, philosophy, contribution, etc?
  • What qualities/strengths/skills are necessary for such accomplishments?
  • What does this tell you about the individual's intellect, priorities, independence, sensitivity, creativity, self-discipline, aims, values, integrity, initiative, and character?
  • You will often have to make inferences. Again, you should discuss your candidate's assets rather than describe his/her life.

The Applicants

  • William Lloyd Garrison
  • Harriet Robinson
  • Lucretia Mott
  • Angelina Grimke (Weld)
  • Susan B. Anthony
  • Margaret Fuller
  • Adin Ballou
  • Catherine Beecher
  • Dorothea Dix
  • Horace Mann
  • Wendell Phillips
  • Bronson Alcott
  • David Ruggles
  • Sarah Grimke
  • Clara barton
  • Elizabeth Cady Stanton
  • Theodore Parker
  • Sylvester Graham
  • Thomas Wentworth Higginson
  • Abby Kelley (Foster)
  • Maria W. Stewart
  • Lucy Stone
  • Theodore Dwight Weld

Suggestions for Starting the Process

Make use of the resources you already have:

  • Start in the textbook (use the index) and read the sections in Chapter 12 and any other chapters on reform to get context.
  • The library has Biographical Dictionaries and reference materials on reserve for you to use, (see American Reformers *1 - on reserve in the library).
  • You do not have time to read 2-3 biographies on your subject. Remember, you are just getting an overview and your real focus is on outstanding qualities. Use the databases available on the resource page of this guide.
  • Read sample recommendation letter provided below.

*1 - David Ruggles is not in this book (American Reformers), so if he is your candidate, you do not need to use it.