History
Paper Guidelines
Spring 2018
- A) The following are central questions to review to help shape students’ papers in an effective manner:
- Does the paper provide a concise one-paragraph introduction with a specific historical context to frame the topic?
- Does the introduction contain a specific thesis that outlines the key areas of the paper effectively?
- How quickly does the paper proceed from general framing ideas to a specific argument supported by an analysis based on areas of the reading?
- In most cases, a more specific analysis should start to occur by page two (2) of the essay.
- How well is evidence from the readings applied to support the argument?
- Does the paper effectively integrate one primary source (document) and one outside secondary source (academically based)?
- Does the paper provide a concise one-paragraph conclusion to bring the main argument together.
The above criteria are the main parameters used to evaluate and grade papers. Other areas considered include:
- Demonstrated effort in analyzing the main book
- Originality of the argument
- Writing style and complexity
- Integration of outside source and primary document
- B) Paper 1: write a two to three-page paper (700 to 800 words) that makes an argument about relations between two different Native American groups and European colonists. Choose two specific Native American groups and address the following questions to form your argument:
How would you describe relations between these two groups and Europeans? What key
challenges did each group confront because of European colonization? What major conflicts developed (choose one to focus on)? Make sure to use specific references to the readings, primarily the Taylor, American Colonies, book, but include a reference to one primary document and one outside secondary source.
The paper is aimed at making a concise argument and analysis based on course materials. The paper should be based primarily on the Taylor, American Colonies book, to reflect the student’s engagement with the course readings, but should also include a reference to one primary document (preferably from the course) and outside academic source (beyond history.com or other sites). The paper should include in-text citations of page numbers or footnotes/endnotes.
- C) Paper 2: write a two to three-page paper (700 to 800 words) that makes an argument about:
1) How the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement influenced each other, or 2) How the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War were connected to one another. What are two important connections between either the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement, or the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War? How do these time periods interact and influence each other? Make sure to use specific references to your readings, primarily two chapters of the Gerstle book, but include one reference to a document.
This paper is also aimed at making a concise argument and analysis based on course materials. The paper should be based primarily on the Gerstle, American Crucible, book to reflect the student’s engagement with the course readings, but should also include a reference to one primary document (preferably from the course) and outside academic source (beyond history.com or other sites). The paper should include in-text citations of page numbers or footnotes/endnotes.
Assignment Points: 10 for first paper; 12 for second paper
