HIST 1302 MA 1: Evaluation of Historical Sources and Citation Styles
Section I: Evaluation of Historical Sources
INSTRUCTIONS:
For the first four questions, read the two historical sources below by clicking on the links provided. Then, answer the questions that follow by typing your answers in the text box below each question.
You may refer to different pages in Module 1 in order to accurately answer each question. Once you are finished, save this document and name the file “MA1 LastName FirstName,” replacing “LastName” with your last name and “FirstName” with your first name. Please do not change the format of the document: HIST 1302 MA 1: Evaluation of Historical Sources and Citation Styles.
SOURCES:
Source 1: Fannie Lou Hamer: Testimony at the Democratic National Convention, 1964. https://www.americanyawp.com/reader/27-the-sixties/fannie-lou-hamer-testimony-at-the-democratic-national-convention-1964/
Source 2: Smithsonian Magazine, “Fannie Lou Hamer’s Dauntless Fight for Black Americans’ Right to Vote.”
QUESTIONS:
- Describe the first Is it primary or secondary? Explain your reasoning.
| This is a primary source, as it is the original testimony given by Fannie Lou Hamer in 1964 during the Democratic National Convention. It provides firsthand insight into her experiences and the injustices faced by Black voters in Mississippi. |
Please use The Pocket Guide to Writing History found in 1.1.1 Sources and Reliability in Module 1 to help describe this source and differentiate between primary and secondary.
- Describe the second Is it primary or secondary? Explain your reasoning.
| This is a secondary source. It was written by historian Keisha N. Blain in Smithsonian Magazine and analyses Hamer’s activism using historical evidence, reflecting on her legacy within the Civil Rights Movement. |
Please use The Pocket Guide to Writing History, found in 1.1.1 Sources and Reliability in Module 1, to help describe this source and differentiate between primary and secondary.
- Answer the questions below for the first Please refer to 1.1.1 Sources and Reliability and the Evaluating Information Reliability link to understand what kinds of answers you should give to each question. Ask yourself if your answers make sense. For some questions, make sure your answers apply to the historical source, not the website currently hosting it. Type your answers below the question.
- Purpose and Intended Audience
- What is the original purpose of the source?
- Purpose and Intended Audience
| The purpose of this testimony was to expose racism against Black voters and persuade the DNC to recognize the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. The audience included the DNC committee, delegates, media, and the general public. |
- Who is the author’s original intended audience?
| The author’s original intended audience was the DNC Credentials Committee. This included party leaders and delegates able to address voter discrimination. |
- Authority and Credibility
- Who is the original author of the source?
| The original author of the source is Fannie Lou Hamer. She was a civil rights activist and a leader in the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. |
- What are the qualifications of the author?
| The author’s qualifications include her role as a prominent civil rights leader and co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. She gained national recognition through her activism, grassroots organizing, and firsthand experience with racial injustice in the Jim Crow South. |
- Who is the current publisher?
| The current publisher of Fannie Lou Hamer’s 1964 testimony is The American Yawp Reader, an open-access, peer-reviewed American history textbook collaboratively developed by historians. |
- Accuracy and Reliability
- Is the information well researched?
| Yes, the information is well-researched as it comes directly from Hamer’s personal experience. Her testimony aligns with documented events from the Civil Rights Movement, supporting its reliability. |
- Currency and Timeliness
- When was the source originally written?
| The source was originally written and delivered in August 1964 during the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. |
- Due to the age of the source (when it was written), is more information needed to understand the larger context of Fannie Lou Hamer’s contribution to the Civil Rights Movement? Or, does this source seem recent enough to have the most relevant information you need?
| While the source was written in 1964, additional historical context enhances our understanding of Hamer’s full contribution to the Civil Rights Movement. Her testimony provides powerful firsthand insight into the era’s injustices, but it does not capture the broader outcomes of her activism. Supplementing it with modern analysis ensures a more complete understanding of her legacy and long-term influence. |
- Objectivity or Bias
- Does the source contain opinions or facts?
| The source contains both opinions and facts. Hamer shares factual events from her life, such as being jailed and beaten, but also expresses strong personal emotions and viewpoints. |
- Is the information presented in the source objective (unbiased) or subjective (biased)?
| The information is subjective (biased) because it reflects Hamer’s personal experiences and emotions. Her testimony is shaped by her perspective as a victim of racial injustice. |
- Does the information promote a political, religious, or social agenda?
| Yes, the information promotes a social and political agenda by advocating for civil rights, racial equality, and fair representation for Black Americans in the political process. |
- Is advertising content (usually found in business magazines or newspapers) clearly labeled?
| No, there is no advertising content in this source. It is a historical testimony published for educational purposes and does not include commercial material. |
- Answer the questions below for the second Please refer to 1.1.1 Sources and Reliability and the Evaluating Information Reliability link to understand what kinds of answers you should give to each question. Ask yourself if your answers make sense. For some questions, make sure your answers apply to the historical source, not the website currently hosting it. Type your answers below the question.
- Purpose and Intended Audience
- What is the original purpose of the source?
- Purpose and Intended Audience
| The original purpose of the source is to educate readers about Fannie Lou Hamer’s life, activism, and lasting impact on the Civil Rights Movement through historical analysis. |
- Who is the author’s original intended audience?
| The author’s original intended audience was the general public, including students, educators, and readers interested in African American history and civil rights activism. |
- Authority and Credibility
- Who is the original author of the source (not the website where it is located now)?
| The original author of the source is Dr. Keisha N. Blain, a historian and scholar specializing in African American history and social justice movements. |
- What are the qualifications of the author?
| Dr. Keisha N. Blain holds a Ph.D. from Princeton, is a professor at Brown University, and is a published expert in African American and civil rights history. |
- Who is the current publisher?
| The current publisher of the article is Smithsonian Magazine, a reputable publication known for its scholarly and educational content on history and culture. |
- Accuracy and Reliability
- Is the information well researched?
| Yes, the article is well-researched, using primary sources and historical context to accurately present Fannie Lou Hamer’s activism and lasting civil rights impact. |
- Currency and Timeliness
- When was the source originally written (not the website where it is located now)?
| The source was originally written and published on September 22, 2020. |
- Due to the age of the source (when it was written), is more information needed to understand the larger context of Fannie Lou Hamer’s contribution to the Civil Rights Movement? Or, does this source seem recent enough to have the most relevant information you need?
| The 2020 publication date makes the source recent enough to provide relevant, comprehensive insights into Fannie Lou Hamer’s contributions. It benefits from both historical distance and modern scholarship, allowing the author to place Hamer’s work in a broader civil rights context. Therefore, no additional sources are needed to understand her legacy, as this article offers updated and well-rounded coverage. |
- Objectivity or Bias
- Does the source contain opinions or facts?
| The source contains both facts and informed opinions. It presents accurate historical details about Fannie Lou Hamer’s activism while also offering the author’s interpretation of her significance. |
- Is the information presented in the source objective (unbiased) or subjective (biased)?
| The information is mostly objective, supported by historical evidence, but it also includes subjective elements reflecting the author’s admiration for Hamer’s legacy and impact. |
- Does the information promote a political, religious, or social agenda?
| Yes, the information promotes a social and political agenda by highlighting the importance of racial justice, voting rights, and Fannie Lou Hamer’s role in the Civil Rights Movement. |
- Is advertising content (usually found in business magazines or newspapers) clearly labeled?
| Yes, any advertising content in *Smithsonian Magazine* is clearly labeled and separated from the article, maintaining the integrity of the historical content. |
Section II: Citation Styles
- Use the following link to access the TSTC Learning Resource Center (LRC) Databases. If this link does not work for you, follow these steps.
- Search the database named eBook Academic Collection, and find one academic source that you believe relates in content to both the first AND second sources you read in this assignment.
- Please provide the citation for the source you find using Chicago Manual of Style.
- Try using the following search terms to find a good source in the LRC Databases: Civil Rights Movement, Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee, 1964 Democratic National Convention, Fannie Lou Hamer, etc.
- Write the Chicago Manual of Style citation for the source you found:
| Dierenfield, Bruce J. The Civil Rights Movement. New York: Routledge, 2021. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315545578. |
- Fill in the following chart to help determine your knowledge of Chicago Manual of Style and some differences between CMS and others like MLA. Use the OWL Citation Comparison Chart to help provide the essential differences between the CMS and MLA citation formats for a book, an article, and an online source. Please see the bottom row which has already been completed for you as an example of how to fill out the CMS and MLA sections of the chart.
Generic formats like the APA example are preferred. You do not need to find specific sources to cite.
| Article
(See Articles in Periodicals) |
Online Source (See Online
Sources General Format) |
In-Text Citation when author is not named
within the sentence. (sentence= signal phrase) |
|
| American Psychological Association (APA) EXAMPLE |
Last name, First initial.
(Publication year, month). Title of article. Periodical title, volume number, page numbers. |
Author. (Year, use n.d. if not
given). Article or page title. Larger Publication title. Retrieved from [URL address]. |
(Last name of
author, Year of publication, p. #). |
| Modern Language Association (MLA) | Last name, First name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, vol. #, no. #, Year, pp. pages. | Author Last, First. “Title of Webpage.” Website Name, Day Month Year, [URL] | (Last Name page #) |
| Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) | Last name, First name. “Title of Article.” Journal Name volume, no. (Year): pages. | Author Last, First. “Title of Webpage.” Website Name. Last modified/accessed Month Day, Year. URL. | (Last Name Year, page #) |
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Question 
Section I: Evaluation of Historical Sources
INSTRUCTIONS:
For the first four questions, read the two historical sources below by clicking on the links provided. Then, answer the questions that follow by typing your answers in the text box below each question.
You may refer to different pages in Module 1 in order to accurately answer each question. Once you are finished, save this document and name the file “MA1 LastName FirstName,” replacing “LastName” with your last name and “FirstName” with your first name. Please do not change the format of the document.
SOURCES:
Source 1: Fannie Lou Hamer: Testimony at the Democratic National Convention, 1964. https://www.americanyawp.com/reader/27-the-sixties/fannie-lou-hamer-testimony-at-the-democratic-national-convention-1964/
Source 2: Smithsonian Magazine, “Fannie Lou Hamer’s Dauntless Fight for Black Americans’ Right to Vote.”
QUESTIONS:
- Describe the first Is it primary or secondary? Explain your reasoning.
Please use The Pocket Guide to Writing History found in 1.1.1 Sources and Reliability in Module 1 to help describe this source and differentiate between primary and secondary.
- Describe the second Is it primary or secondary? Explain your reasoning.
Please use The Pocket Guide to Writing History found in 1.1.1 Sources and Reliability in Module 1 to help describe this source and differentiate between primary and secondary.
- Answer the questions below for the first Please refer to 1.1.1 Sources and Reliability and the Evaluating Information Reliability link to understand what kinds of answers you should give to each question. Ask yourself if your answers make sense. For some questions, make sure your answers apply to the historical source, not the website currently hosting it. Type your answers below the question.
- Purpose and Intended Audience
- What is the original purpose of the source?
- Purpose and Intended Audience
- Who is the author’s original intended audience?
- Authority and Credibility
- Who is the original author of the source?
- What are the qualifications of the author?
- Who is the current publisher?
- Accuracy and Reliability
- Is the information well researched?
- Currency and Timeliness
- When was the source originally written?
- Due to the age of the source (when it was written), is more information needed to understand the larger context of Fannie Lou Hamer’s contribution to the Civil Rights Movement? Or, does this source seem recent enough to have the most relevant information you need?
- Objectivity or Bias
- Does the source contain opinions or facts?
- Is the information presented in the source objective (unbiased) or subjective (biased)?
- Does the information promote a political, religious, or social agenda?
- Is advertising content (usually found in business magazines or newspapers) clearly labeled?
- Answer the questions below for the second Please refer to 1.1.1 Sources and Reliability and the Evaluating Information Reliability link to understand what kinds of answers you should give to each question. Ask yourself if your answers make sense. For some questions, make sure your answers apply to the historical source, not the website currently hosting it. Type your answers below the question.
- Purpose and Intended Audience
- What is the original purpose of the source?
- Purpose and Intended Audience
- Who is the author’s original intended audience?
HIST 1302 MA 1: Evaluation of Historical Sources and Citation Styles
- Authority and Credibility
- Who is the original author of the source (not the website where it is located now)?
- What are the qualifications of the author?
- Who is the current publisher?
- Accuracy and Reliability
- Is the information well researched?
- Currency and Timeliness
- When was the source originally written (not the website where it is located now)?
- Due to the age of the source (when it was written), is more information needed to understand the larger context of Fannie Lou Hamer’s contribution to the Civil Rights Movement? Or, does this source seem recent enough to have the most relevant information you need?
- Objectivity or Bias
- Does the source contain opinions or facts?
- Is the information presented in the source objective (unbiased) or subjective (biased)?
- Does the information promote a political, religious, or social agenda?
- Is advertising content (usually found in business magazines or newspapers) clearly labeled?
Section II: Citation Styles
- Use the following link to access the TSTC Learning Resource Center (LRC) Databases. If this link does not work for you, follow these steps.
- Search the database named eBook Academic Collection, and find one academic source that you believe relates in content to both the first AND second sources you read in this assignment.
- Please provide the citation for the source you find using Chicago Manual of Style.
- Try using the following search terms to find a good source in the LRC Databases: Civil Rights Movement, Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee, 1964 Democratic National Convention, Fannie Lou Hamer, etc.
- Write the Chicago Manual of Style citation for the source you found:
- Fill in the following chart to help determine your knowledge of Chicago Manual of Style and some differences between CMS and others like MLA. Use the OWL Citation Comparison Chart to help provide the essential differences between the CMS and MLA citation formats for a book, an article, and an online source. Please see the bottom row which has already been completed for you as an example of how to fill out the CMS and MLA sections of the chart.
Generic formats like the APA example are preferred. You do not need to find specific sources to cite.
| Article
(See Articles in Periodicals) |
Online Source (See Online
Sources General Format) |
In-Text Citation when author is not named
within the sentence. (sentence= signal phrase) |
|
| American Psychological Association (APA) EXAMPLE |
Last name, First initial.
(Publication year, month). Title of article. Periodical title, volume number, page numbers. |
Author. (Year, use n.d. if not
given). Article or page title. Larger Publication title. Retrieved from [URL address]. |
(Last name of
author, Year of publication, p. #). |
| Modern Language Association (MLA) | |||
| Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) |