Difficulty Paper: A Difficulty Paper is a short paper (no more than 2-3 paragraphs) in which you consider how the assigned readings presents obstacles to understanding. There is a pdf attached to give some info on how to do the papers.
Also below are the two readings you will read and write the docs on.
Be sure to clearly identify the readings. I.E headlines, separate citations
- Kato Hiroyuki, “Objections to the Memorial of SoejimaPreview the document, January 26, 1874”
HIS 40B
EXAMPLE DIFFICULTY PAPER
Length: 2-3 Paragraphs
Follows this guide:
https://canvas.ucsc.edu/courses/32481/files/2193159/download?wrap=1
Uses this source: Accounts of the Shining Red Lanterns
Reading the accounts of the “Shining Red Lanterns,” I had a few questions. The people
quoted said that the girls had supernatural powers, like being able to fly and deflect
bullets with fans, and that they “practiced spirit possession.” It is impossible for people
to fly or deflect bullets, so why did people write that they saw magic? Did they believe it
was happening or were they lying, and if they believed it, what were they really seeing?
Also, what was meant by “practiced spirit possession”? Is this a religious practice? Or is
this something I could understand more by looking at the original Chinese source?
Since I did not have a copy of the original Chinese source handy, I reread the document
in English a few more times instead. Then, I looked at who was quoted. None of the
people quoted said that they were Red Lantern girls themselves or worked with them. All
the people quoted were in the 70s or 80s when they were quoted, in the 1960s, so several
decades after the events. They also said that the girls liked to practice at night and did not
want people to watch. The girls are not often mentioned by name, so I do not think that
the writers knew them personally. This makes me wonder how much they interacted with
the Red Lantern girls, and if they were just repeating stories they heard from other
people. Sometimes when you hear and then repeat a story, it becomes corrupted and
embellished along the way. Therefore, I concluded that their memories may not be
completely accurate.
I then reread the introduction from the professor to see if there were more context clues
or explanations for what the girls were doing. I do not know have all my answers, but I
am satisfied believing that the girls were real, and that people at least thought they had
magic. I think re-reading and focusing on each section, and comparing them, really helps,
and I will do this in the future. I will also look up additional information and see if it can
help inform what I am reading.
Difficulty Paper
China Module 1
Basics
• Topic: 2 difficulty papers on any readings
from the China module
• Deadeline: Apr/25 (Saturday)
• Points: 6 total
• Guideline: Dr Christy’s introduction &
Difficulty Paper Online Guideline
Scott Hemsley Jr
Scott Hemsley Jr
Scott Hemsley Jr
Scott Hemsley Jr
It’s normal to
find something
difficult or hard
to understand
Knowing your limits will help you
have a deeper understanding of
the material
Wait, what?
Why?
What’s this?
Identifying
difficulty:
Where did you
stop? What
made you
wonder?
Which term/ example/ argument/
background of the reading that you
had a hard time understanding?
Why’s
Why write a
difficult paper?
Why is it a building
block of history
writing?
History writing is asking
questions to which you
find answers
Use “difficulty papers”
to find the question
you want to pursue
Why write a
difficult paper?
Knowing your limits will help you
identify to what extent you can
push your argument
Step 1: Identify your difficulty
So, how do I start?
Write short description of your
reading experience
What did you focus
on as you read?
What did you find
interesting or
confusing about
these sections?
What might you
want to know more
about?
Write down relevant
quotes from the text
Step 2: Identify your
Question
• Based on Step 1 exercise
clarify one main question
that you plan to answer
• Think about the plans and
strategies to answer the
question
• Do you need more info?
• Would discussion help?
Step 3: Implement your plan
• Readings, lectures, and discussions: What new insights did you gain?
• Remember that it’s OK to have some questions unanswered:
• But if you still have some unanswered questions, think about what hindered you from
understanding it (à could be useful for future strategies)
Step4: Reflect &
Evaluate your
strategy
How effective were your strategies in
helping you explore your question?
What might you do differently next
time?