Option 1: Racism, Lynchings and the Court in the 1930a
Describe the Lyons case. Was a fair trial possible in southern Oklahoma in the 1930s? Why or why not? How did this case not draw national attention, while other cases did? Finally, Nicks uses numerous letters that W. D. Lyons wrote to Thurgood Marshall during the 20 years that he was imprisoned. Keeping in mind that Lyons was illiterate when he entered prison, analyze the progression of those letters. Describe the change that you see as you read them. What caused this change?
Class
Gender
Race
Nationalism
Ideology
Social Location
Essays should be 2-3 pages in length and should contain a clear thesis statement that answers the questions asked (see above). The strongest answers will draw upon specific examples and evidence from the course readings
and incorporate ideas from the readings/lectures to justify the response to these texts.
Option 2: Politics in America
There have been 45 persons to serve as President of the United States, in 59 elections. Some have been more consequential than others. We have studied the most recent 18 Presidents. Pick the President that you think had a profound impact on the United States and write a 2-3 page analysis of that person’s administration. What did they accomplish? What were the issues? What crisis did that President have to overcome? How did he lead the nation? Where did that President come up short and fail?
Be sure to utilize some of the terms that we have learned in class to substantiate your answer:
Class
Gender
Race
Nationalism
Ideology
Social Location
You should refer to the Cummins text, the lectures and the additional readings to support your thesis.
Essays should take the following form: The first paragraph should briefly explain the central argument and provide a clear thesis that expresses the goal of the essay (what will you show?). The body of the essay should analyze how specific evidence that you present relates to, illustrate, or support your thesis. That evidence should be explained through reference to at least one additional text from the lists above. It should conclude by discussing what the analysis can help us understand about contemporary American society.
