Instructions: Drawing on your reading of the first two chapters of our textbook New Mexico: A History— find copies of these two chapters under Week 1 &2 readings—provide a brie 1 to 3-paragraph response to ONE of the two questions below.
You may include a footnote referring to particular pages or page in the textbook following this example: Zadie Smith, Swing Time (New York: Penguin Press, 2016), 315–16.
Questions: Choose 1 of the following
- The earliest people of New Mexico discovered the fluted blades or Clovis points, built irrigation systems, domesticated of corn, built religious centers or kivas, two story and roof-hole houses, and made baskets and pottery for ordinary, trading, and religious purposes. Based on your reading of chapter 1 of our textbook New Mexico: A History; which of these discoveries or developments helped the early peoples of New Mexico to thrive in such a difficult landscape?
- Motivated by the conquest of the Aztec empire in 1521, Spanish soldiers and Catholic monks set to conquer other peoples north and south of Mexico City. Based on your reading of chapter 2 of our textbook New Mexico: A History, how would you describe the experiences of Spanish explores in present day New Mexico? You may focus either on soldiers or monks experiences.
Grading
“A” Paper
Responds to the question with a strong and clear argument
Demonstrates great understanding of the reading
Shows good use of evidence: examples, quotes and/or examples from the reading
“B” Paper
Responds to the question with a good argument
Demonstrates familiarity with the readings
Provides lots of information, quotes, and examples, but important information is short-changed
