| Episodes |
Writing and Discussion Assignments
There are writing and discussion assignments already here in the prior documents in this Teaching section of episode 12, but send your additional assignments for inclusion on this list to Edward J. Gallagher at ejg1@lehigh.edu.
1) Ken Burns allocated only six minutes in his three-hour documentary to the Jefferson-Hemings Controversy. Compare that final product with the transcripts of the twenty-four interviews he conducted in preparation for the documentary. Look closely at the questions in regard to Jefferson's views on slavery and his possible racism, as well as on the Jefferson-Hemings relationship itself. What do you see? What did he include? What did he leave out? What did he add? Bottom line: what can you say about Burns as "historian," shaping and interpreting his material? (Edward Gallagher)
