Primary source—evidence that comes directly from the people involved in the event or phenomenon in question, include theories, models, ideas, interpretations, definitions and practices as described and presented by their originators, rather than their commentators. Secondary sources— include material produced about the event or phenomenon, including the commentary or interpretation of others about theories, models, ideas, definitions and practices (reportage material in newspapers, magazines, reference books and on the Internet). References—items you have read and specifically cited.
Bibliography—a list of everything you read in preparation for writing an assignment, therefore will normally contain sources that you have cited and those you found to be influential, but decided not to cite. Central claim/focus: Referencing has to be seen, not just in an academic, but also in a social and political context. It is part of a societal value system that vigorously supports the idea of the intellectual property rights of others. This reading illustrates why referencing is so important, and the range of sources that can be referenced, and about the criteria for evaluating them. It also states when to reference, and when it is not necessary, and how to save time referencing.
Why reference?
- Tracing the origin of ideas: Referencing helps to locate and place ideas and arguments in their historical, social, cultural and geographical contexts.
- A web of ideas: You advance an argument in one section, but then counter it with connected group of ideas, supported by referenced evidence. However, you also have at the centre your own position, your point of view.
- Finding your own voice: Decide which direction to take in an assignment, select evidence that allows you to present a strong set of arguments or descriptions, summarize or paraphrase what you read, and write in a style that comes from within.
- Validity of arguments: To be taken seriously, you must present valid evidence in assignments.
- Spreading knowledge: Referencing also allows the tutor and other readers to advance their own knowledge, trace the sources you cited and use the same evidence for their own purposes.
- An appreciation: Referencing is about giving appreciation, showing courtesy and respect, and honouring the hard work of writers and commentators.
- Your reading, and influences on your work: Tutors will want to identify what sources have been influential in shaping your direction in your research. The tutors may offer comment on the absence of any particular commentator or theorist.
- Marking criteria: Relevant evidence and accurate referencing is an important element in the marking of assignments. Accurate referencing is also a demonstration of your research, intellectual integrity and the care you have taken in preparing to write the assignment.
- Avoiding plagiarism: Accurate referencing will help you to avoid being accused of plagiarism.
The ‘what’ and ‘when’ of referencing.
What to reference: information that have been written, recorded, filmed or presented into the public domain in some way to others, but not anything that cannot be read, heard or seen by another who wants to check the same source.
- Primary and secondary sources: Use primary source for your central definitions, main descriptions, quotations, etc.; and secondary material for lesser definitions, factual information, illustrative examples, and supporting points.
- Choosing sources: four main sets of questions you can ask of any source: Relevance and bias; currency; accuracy; and coverage
- What you do not need to reference: historical overviews; your own experiences; in conclusions; and ‘common knowledge’.
The big issue for students: time – and lack of it!
Muller Vs. Oregon: Supreme Court Cases
Muller vs. Oregon
Since its creation in the late 18th century, the Supreme Court has made numerous decisions that impacted the course of history. The Supreme Court has a very important job, to interpret the constitution principles and make decisions based on these important standards. Had it not been for the rulings made by this court, many laws and precedents may not have been adapted. One case that had an exceptionally important impact on history was the case of Muller vs. Oregon. This case is one of the most influential decisions in Supreme Court history and its impacts are still seen even today.
The case of Muller vs. Oregon was a landmark court case that took place in 1908. The major issue of the court case was an Oregon law passed in 1903 that set a maximum of ten hours a day for women employed in factories and laundries. The law fell in a category of “progressive” laws being passed during the time period in order to protect workers during a period of rapid industrialization. The right of a State to regulate the working hours of women rests on the police power and the right to preserve the health of the women of the State, and is not affected by other laws of the State granting or denying to women the same rights as to contract and the elective franchise as are enjoyed by men. The state of Oregon enacted this law restricting the length of women’s work days in order to protect their health and safety seeing as that women are the childbearing gender and their wellbeing is imperative. (http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0208_0412_ZS.html)
Curt Muller, the owner of a laundry business, was convicted of violating Oregon labor laws by making a female employee work more than ten hours in a single day. Muller was fined $10. Muller appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court and then to the U.S. Supreme Court, both of which upheld the constitutionality of the labor law and affirmed his conviction. Oregon’s attorney general agreed that Louis D. Brandeis should defend the law before the Court. Brandeis was a lawyer who supported reforms that protected workers. He filed a brief argument in the case that discussed previous legal cases for only two pages. Brandeis then presented much evidence showing a direct link between long hours of work and women’s health.
The Court had suggested in previous court cases that it would support kinds of state laws with a direct link to health or safety. In his brief, Brandeis tried to show the Court that Oregon’s law was a valid use of its power to protect the health of women. This presentation to the Supreme Court became known as the “Brandeis Brief.” It provided social authorities on the issue of the impact of long working hours on women. This was the first instance in the United States that social science had been used in law and changed the direction of the Supreme Court and of U.S. law. The Brandeis Brief became the model for future Supreme Court presentations. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muller_v._Oregon#Significance)
When the justice’s voted on this matter, the constitutionality of the Oregon state law was upheld by a 9-0 vote. They decided that there was no violation in the 10-hour limit on the work day for women, which effectively proved that Muller broke the law. The court’s opinion was based on the belief that physical and social differences between the sexes warranted a different rule regarding labor contracts. This appeared to be a victory for the progressives pushing for protective labor reform and it was viewed as a positive because it benefited the health and welfare of women. Although this case promoted the wellbeing of women as a whole, some argued that the Oregon state law that was upheld by the courts decision was a violation of women’s fourteenth amendment right to due process by preventing her from freely contracting with her employer. Many equal rights feminists were angered by the decision because they believed that it supported gender stereotypes, in turn limiting the socioeconomic opportunities of working class women. (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/396898/Muller-v-State-of-Oregon)
This case had a great deal of significance in during the progressive era when it was argued as well as today when it is a tale for the history books. Not only was it important for the obvious reasons such as limiting the work day of women to 10 hours and protecting their wellbeing in the workplace, it was also significant for some other less obvious reasons. Some may believe that this case facilitates gender discrimination in the workplace, an issue that has been debated for countless decades. If the Supreme Court can rule to deny women their fourteenth amendment rights – even if it is claimed to be “for their own good,” then how can women ever escape the common stereotype of being inferior to men? It is difficult for feminists of the time who were fighting for equality to contend with this court case that basically encourages different regulations for men and women in the workplace.
The ruling in Muller vs. Oregon has not been overturned by the Supreme Court. It has remained constitutional for state law to mandate the amount of hours women can spend in the workplace, in order to protect them physically. Some argue that it was a victory for progressive reformers during a period of increased industrialization and an important step in labor reform, while others argue that it violated women’s 14th amendment rights and stripped them of their freedom to negotiate terms with their employer. Regardless of what the case is viewed as, a victory or a setback, it will live in history as one of the most influential cases determined by the Supreme Court to date. It truly is a landmark event in American history.
Works Cited
“Muller V. Oregon.” The Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. Web. 26 May 2013. . “Key Supreme Court Cases.” American Bar Association. N.p., Web. 26 May 2013. . “Muller vs. Oregon.” The Fourteenth Amendment and the Rights Revolution. N.p., Web. 26 May 2013. . “Muller v. State of Oregon.” Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., Web. 26 May 2013. .
Formal Analysis, “Pariah” By Dee Rees
“My spirit takes journey, my spirit takes flight, could not have risen otherwise & I am not running… I am choosing.” Alike is an intelligent and poetically talented 17 year old girl. On the surface, Dee Rees’s Pariah (2011), is the coming of age story of African-American lesbian, Alike. Growing up in a traditional household that is sexually repressed and a society that is hateful towards her for being homosexual she finds solace in poetry and academics. Through her plight, the film intelligently layers the dark themes associated with the struggles of a gay teenager growing up in the inner city- gender, sexuality, family relations, hate, religion, ignorance, etc. But the film is very hopeful in that it contrasts the dark themes with pleasant moments of optimism. I am analyzing one of the final scenes in the Dee Rees’s Pariah (2011). The scene [@ 01:15:11] where Alike is reconciling with Arthur, her father, on the rooftop of Laura’s building. The rooftop scene encompasses the beauty of the morals of the narrative really well and at the same time contrasts the dark themes of the film in a manner that compliments the overall aesthetic of the production.
The scene’s Mise en Scene sets the tone for the conclusion of the narrative. The scene takes place on the rooftop of Laura’s apartment building overlooking the sun setting over Brooklyn. Throughout the film we see Alike deep in thought several times; on the bus, in school, at the club- in all these circumstances the film utilizes dark, incandescent lighting and shadows to extenuate the tone of the emotions and events Alike is reflecting on. In this scene however the lighting comes from the bright, vibrant yellow-orange sunset. The film uses this in order to help visualize an appreciation of Alike’s silver lining; almost as if to say that Alike see’s the art and the beauty that came of her pain and suffering- this is expressed in the poem she reads against the montage of her leaving for California. Alike’s outfit shows a more developed sense of style. This expresses to the audience that she has grown and maturated from the sequence of events that have taken place in the narrative. The social blocking of the conversation between Alike and Arthur brings Arthur down to a more human level. Although Arthur is angled slightly above Alike to maintain his domineering male complex, this is the first time in the film we see him venerable. Alike and Arthur face the opposite direction on an equal plane, this is supposed to demonstrate naturalistic interaction between the two as well as give a sense of the subjective perspective of the film.
The cinematography in this scene is utilized to expresses the subjective point of view of Alike. The scene starts with a close up shot of Alike followed by a hand held long shot overlooking the sky & Arthur and Laura entering. Shift in focus in depth of field demonstrates the importances of Alike’s line “I’m not running, I’m choosing,” and Arthur’s reaction to it. We see that Arthur is man enough to accept his daughter for who she is and that he is not going to try to get her to run away from who she is, unlike his wife. The color balances of the yellow/orange spectrum is displayed in an aesthetically pleasing manner to help provide a strong sense of optimism, which is also complimented by the background noise of the wind and birds. The scenes in which Nina and Alike are bonding is a very optimistic time for Alike as well. And in those scenes the yellow/orange color spectrum is used to illustrate this but in a much darker tone. The reason for the darker tone being is that Alike’s optimism was eventually destroyed after Nina tells her she’s “not really gay.” Therefore, in using brighter tones in the rooftop scene, we get more of a sense of closure as an audience.
The rooftop scene encompasses the beauty layered in within the dark ominous narrative of Pariah. The film is very aesthetically pleasing and has many layers to it. It does not follow a formulaic structure like most “coming of age” films do but instead uses poetry and pays attention to metaphoric details in order to tell Alike’s story. Alike’s growth from the confusion of her sexuality and identity is illustrated eloquently though the use of light, blocking, depth of field, and audio.