Research Writing Skills
Name 4 characteristics a strong thesis should have.
-Argument answering how/why
-Specific, not vague, words
-Have 3+ reasons
-Recycled question
There are 4 steps to analysis. The first step of analysis is to...
Identify the most important phrases in evidence
Autonomy/sovereignty
The ability to self-govern and choose how you live your life/lead your nation
Why did so many European countries keep fighting for Haiti?
Prfoitable colony, primarily the sugar crop
Strong evidence should..
1. Cite its sources
2. Be relevant to the argument
Step 2 of analysis
Interpret: explain what this evidence detail means in your own words
Slavery by another name is when...
In 1791, the total population was about 520,000. 480,000 of that population were enslaved Black people.
Why might this have caused rebellion/revolution?
The greater numbers gave people the ability to organize and overthrow the minority of white wealthy elites
Define what analysis is.
When you explain what the evidence means & how it supports your argument.
Step 3 of analysis
CONTEXTUALIZE: explain the history that's happening at this time that might be relevant OR explain a key concept that might be relevant
Louverture, the leader of the Haitian rebel army, creates a constitution in 1801. Why was it "slavery by another name"?
Black people still excluded from owning land
Still high restrictions (vodou is outlawed)
STEP 1 OF ANALYSIS: What's an important phrase in this quote that tells you why revolution started?
"The colony had never been in such chaos... Planters were far too busy with these problems to worry about the effects their words and actions might have upon enslaved people... Most generally assumed that slavery was going to exist forever."
"far too busy...to worry about the effects their words and actions might have"
"generally assumed that slavery was going to exist forever"
Rate this analysis. How many steps of analysis did they do?
Student is responding to the question: Why does the US media portray Haiti negatively?
"This phase means that the U.S. see Haiti as a land where it’s easy to manipulate and control, not safe, and it’s not a land the U.S. should be negotiating/helping them. The U.S. say Haiti is "poor" so that people think Haiti is useless. The U.S. also shows Haiti as criminals which make people think that Haiti should not be a land that is helped by the U.S. They also make Haiti think they are negotiating with them but they are not. "
1. IDENTIFY is missing
2. INTERPRET is there ("this phrase means...")
3. CONTEXTUALIZE is missing ("during this time...")
4. CONNECT is there ("The US says Haiti is 'poor' so that...")
Step 4 of analysis
CONNECT: connect your evidence back to your main analysis
-High amount of debt forced on them
-other countries denied their existence as a nation
STEP 2 + 3 OF ANALYSIS: Interpret and contextualize what this phrase means.
"Planters were far too busy with these problems to worry about the effects their words and actions might have upon enslaved people..."
INTERPRET: This phrase means...
CONTEXTUALIZE: During this time... (list effects platner actions might have had)
-Wealthy white elite concerned with profit of sugar, harsh conditions on the people growing it
-Enslaved people are a majority of the population & upset with the conditions
-Average life span of enslaved person is short
This analysis received a B+/A-. How can they improve their CONTEXTUALIZATION?
The student is writing about a quote from a U.S. senator that calls Haiti criminals in the 1800s. "I notice that this quote tells me that Haiti is the only ones preforming criminal acts. This means even the existence of black people is always going to have some of bad acts towards them because they are black. I already know that there is still racism around and its being used just by the skin color of the person. Now, I am thinking today's media ignores that racism is still a thing and people lied and ignored it while black people are noticing they've been betrayed as they said slavery (racism) was forever abolished."
Context could be more specific! "I already know that there is still racism around.." What examples do we see of that?
Read this analysis. This analysis received an A. Explain why (which steps of analysis did they do?)
"On the image on the left, you can see Saint-Domingue revolutionaries hanging a white american man. On the right, you can see white french murdering a Saint-Domingue black army. "Many people in Europe would exaggerate the violence of Haitians to justify Haiti's isolation and belittle a country run by black people." This quote explains that they would overemphasize Haiti's violence to justify violence to Haiti and to isolate them. I already know that Haiti had debt and they owed the french. Now I am thinking, Haiti was and is still looked as violent and were treated unfairly because of the exaggeration that was made centuries ago and due to the debt, they are looked as poor."
IDENTIFIED detail
INTERPRETED what it meant
CONTEXTUALIZED what happened
CONNECTED to the question (why is Haiti portrayed poorly?)
List 1 legacy of the Haitian Revolution
Haitian leaders invited anyone escaping slavery to come to Haiti
Support to Latin America
1801 Constitution first time a nation protected rights of ALL people
Only country in the Americas where majority of farmers own the land they work
STEP 4 OF ANALYSIS: CONNECT it back to the question. According to this quote, what is the cause of the revolution?
"Planters were far too preoccupied with these problems to worry much about the effects their words and actions might have"