Response to Readings and Statement on Research Topic

Abdulallah Arbabzadah

1/27/16

History 209S

Response to Readings and Statement on Research Topic

Assignment One

David Waldstreicher Reading

     David Waldstreicher writes about slaves in 18^th century Mid-Atlantic States. He specifically writes about runaway slaves. He talks about their culture, how they lived, and what they did. Waldstreicher uses good primary sources. His use particularly of slave narratives like of Henry Bibb, William Wells Brown, and Solomon Northrup show his knowledge of the topic (Waldstreicher 248). His use of primary sources is superb. One problem that might occur with his use of primary sources is their reliability and accuracy. They might not tell the whole story of runaway slaves during that time period. Waldstreicher engages well with other historians who have written on similar topics. His use of secondary sources particularly Graham Russell Hodges and Alan Edward Brown’s work “"Pretends to Be Free": Runaway Slave Advertisements from Colonial and Revolutionary New York and New Jersey” shows his understanding of the material (Waldstreicher 244). I can learn a lot from this article. Specifically I can learn how to use primary and secondary sources and how to engage critically with them.

George Chauncey Reading

     This reading deals with “gender, urban culture, and the making of the gay male world: 1890-1940” (Chauncey Cover). He begins by talking about the gay world in New York City. He then talks about the social world, the cultural world, and other parts of the gay world during this time period. His use of primary sources helps his article establish flow and continuity. His use of secondary sources also helps that as well. Particularly his use of George W Henry and Alfred A Gross’s “The Homosexual Delinquent” shows his use of secondary sources (Chauncey 3). I can learn how to cite sources from this article. The author cites sources well and this shows his dedication to his writing.  

Assignment Two

     1.  President Obama, Senate and House Democrats are the key figures of my research paper. The time period is the early 2010s. This is taking place in Washington D.C. and America more broadly.

     2.  I expect to argue that the Affordable Care Act has been successful in accomplishing its goals of reducing the uninsured rate, controlling healthcare spending, improving health outcomes of beneficiaries, providing high quality affordable care to Americans, and reducing medical debt.

     3.  My proposed argument is historically important and interesting because the topic of healthcare reform and whether or not it was successful is important to the nation as a whole since millions of Americans are affected by the law either indirectly or directly.

     4.  I expect to use news and current articles and congressional budget office reports about the laws projected coverage and whether or not it was successful in reaching its goals.

     5.  I expect to use books written about healthcare reform and more broadly about the Obama presidential years.

     6.  I expect to see little problems with my topic and sources since there is a lot of literature on the Affordable Care Act.