The Autobiography of Malcolm X Historiographical Essay
DUE: ____________________________
The work an author creates does not exist in a vacuum. Their family, their lived experiences, and the historical
moment influence their voice. Our final project for The Autobiography of Malcolm X will be a historiographical
essay (a research paper based on primary and secondary sources related to the topic, synthesized to tell a story.)
Your paper will answer the following question: How did the event you selected impact Malcolm X and the
country in a historical and a modern context?
This assignment will count as a text/project grade (remember, tests/projects represent 25% of your grade for
this course), so spend some time developing it. Please see the attached rubric that I will use to evaluate your
essay.
A strong synthesis claim/thesis statement and valid/reliable sources are key to being successful on this
assignment. Make sure your synthesis claim/thesis statement is specific, arguable and expresses one idea (if
you need a refresher about how to write a strong synthesis thesis statement, check your notes from quarter 3.)
You should focus your historiographical essay on a significant event in American history that occurred during
Malcolm X’s lifetime. These events include, but are not limited to, the following:







The Great Depression
The Harlem Renaissance
World War II (the draft)
The Vietnam War
The Korean War
The assassination of John F. Kennedy
Racial Segregation in the United States (ie:
Jim Crow Laws, Black codes)






The Red Scare/McCarthyism
Joe Louis and his world championship win
in Boxing
Jackie Robinson and the integration of
Baseball
Brown vs. Board of Education
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
Freedom Rides (student bus integration)
If you would like to cover a topic that is not on this list, please see Ms. Walker for approval.
Once you select your event, you will be responsible for writing a 5-7-page paper in college-bound format
(Times New Roman, double-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins.) You paper should be structured using the
following format:
Section One: Historical Context (2-3 pages): Give some background knowledge about the event. What took
place? Why was it significant? Who/ what did the event effect and how? What were the short-term impacts of
the event? You should have at least two sources for this section (required).
Section Two: Relationship to Malcolm X (2-3 pages): How did this event impact Malcolm X? Where does he
directly discuss it or allude to it in The Autobiography of Malcolm X? Did this event have a long-lasting effect
on his life? How? The primary source that you should use for this section is The Autobiography of Malcolm X,
but you can also include up to two additional sources (optional.)
Section Three: Connection to the Modern World: (1-2 pages): How do you see the effects of this event in
2014? How does this event affect you personally? Did the event change the country for better or worse? Why?
The majority of this section should be from your personal perspective, but you should also include one
additional source (required) that talks about the event in the modern context.