Essay Prompt
E.P. Thompson famously argued that the English working class was not a naturalistic predetermined phenomenon, but was "present at its own making" (Thompson 1966, 9). This perspective fundamentally reshaped how historians approach the study of class formation.
In a well-structured essay, respond to the following questions:
- What are the key elements that Thompson emphasizes in the "making" of the English working class? Based on your reading, identify and briefly explain each of them.
- How does Thompson underscore the significance of these elements in shaping the formation of the working class?
- What are the potential advantages and/or disadvantages for historians in adopting Thompson's approach to class formation?
Be sure to draw on specific sections of Thompson's work (Thompson 1966, 9-14, 189-212, 314-349, 711-746) to support your analysis with examples of how Thompson constructs his historical narrative.
Additionally, you may consult John Tosh's chapter, "History and Social Theory," in The Pursuit of History (Tosh 2015, 180-203), which provides further context to Thompson's historiographical approach. This secondary source is not required but may be helpful.
William H. Sewell Jr.'s essay, "How Classes Are Made: Critical Reflections on E.P. Thompson's Theory of Working-class Formation" (Sewell 1990) is entirely optional but may be helpful for deepening your understanding of the topic.
References:
Sewell Jr., William H. 1990. "How Classes Are Made: Critical Reflections on E.P. Thompson's Theory of Working-class Formation." In E.P. Thompson: Critical Perspectives, edited by Harvey J. Kaye and Keith McClelland, 50-77. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
Thompson, E. P. 1966. The Making of the English Working Class. New York: Vintage Books.
Tosh, John. 2015. The Pursuit of History: Aims, Methods and New Directions in the Study of History. 6th ed. London: Routledge.
Essay Requirements- Length: 750-900 words (approximately three double-spaced pages in 12-point Times New Roman font).
- Citations: Include properly formatted in-text citations and a bibliography in Chicago Author-Date Style. The bibliography does not count toward the word limit.
- Submission: Submit your essay on Canvas as either a Google Doc or PDF.
- Evaluation: Your essay will be evaluated based on the criteria outlined in the course rubric document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O-PTHMha6CrIxlCwTCEJzKQeOKey-Q6A0BERnGcIcd8/edit?usp=sharing. Please refer to this document for detailed information on how your essay will be assessed.
- Your essay will be scanned through Turnitin for AI usage and plagiarism.
Your essays will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Does the essay have a clear, specific, and nuanced thesis statement?
- Does the thesis directly address the essay prompt and accurately reflect the ideas in the readings?
- Does the essay provide a coherent overall understanding of the work(s) discussed?
- Is the essay organized in a clear and logical manner that effectively defends the thesis, without unnecessary tangents or irrelevant information?
- Is the writing clear and concise?
- Does the essay use evidence from the readings to support its arguments?
- Does the paper adhere to the conventions of English grammar and usage, including proper in-text citations and a correctly formatted bibliography?