historical fiction of at least 2,500 words dealing with the themes of this course (Milwaukee and issues of gender/ethnicity). This piece of creative writing must:
1) establish the time period in question in detail;
2) incorporate information from course lectures or readings in an interesting and non-invasive manner;
3) tell a story about human beings (it cannot be just a sketch of a location);
4) provide an arc for the characters that you present.
While the content is open to what interests you, it is absolutely necessary that you either cite information throughout your work with an appropriate notation or provide an annotated bibliography (a bibliographic entry of work that helped provide context, as well as at minimum one paragraph that establishes how you used that information in the final product). You are free to use outside sources so long as they are accurately cited, although at least one archival piece will be necessary to receive a satisfactory grade.
A passing project will incorporate information in a creative and fluid manner, telling the reader an accurate tale about gender, race, and/or ethnicity in Milwaukee. An A paper will further grapple with some of the major recurring elements of Milwaukee’s history that have been revealed throughout the semester.
Historical fiction can be a tough genre to write in for a variety of reasons. Although you don’t have to feel restricted to real people who have lived and died in Milwaukee, they have to feel real in the context. Similarly, you aren’t restricted to major historical events, but overriding seminal events is a tricky prospect. In other words, you can’t have a Polish woman spontaneously become mayor of Milwaukee, but you can have a story of her struggle to get the right to vote.
Also, no “time warps” or “body switching” or other shenanigans that require dips into fantasy to work.
