Final answer:
Historical references provide context and import to texts, engage readers by illustrating the connection between past and present, and challenge traditional narratives. Parallel reading enriches historical understanding, and a strong contextual introduction is selective and frames the narrative for scholarly analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author uses historical references in a text for various reasons, such as to provide context and import to the subject matter, making it more engaging and relevant for the reader. For instance, through the use of historical references, an author can illustrate how the past informs and shapes the present, contributing to a deeper understanding of modern-day situations. Additionally, historical references can be employed to challenge the narrative established by traditional sources, especially European ones, encouraging readers to consider a multitude of perspectives and to recognize the biases inherent in historical documentation. Including content, scholarship, and activities that explore different perspectives, especially those traditionally underrepresented in historical canons, is crucial in addressing this concern. By incorporating diverse historical and literary texts in parallel, scholars engage in what is known as parallel reading, which enriches their understanding of history by revealing not just what happened but also how contemporary societies perceived those events. This approach can yield a thick description that situates the literary text at the intersection of being both a product of and a contributor to its historical context. Lastly, the strategy of writing a strong contextual introduction involves being selective and framing the analysis effectively. By carefully choosing details about historical figures or events, an author can set the stage for a scholarly argument, as demonstrated in how discussions about Theodore Roosevelt or the American Museum of Natural History can lead up to a nuanced thesis on a contemporary issue like the statue removal debate.