Writing Assignments History 122

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS. Specific directions for each essay are listed below. At least one essay must include a report on a visit to a historic site. In order to do these projects successfully, your reading and writing skills must be at least at the entry level for English 111. That means that you should have completed ESL if you are not a native speaker. If you have not taken English 111, and are not sure about things like documentation, use of sources, etc., be sure to read all instructions carefully, including my Writing Tips for Online History Students and How to Avoid Plagiarism. Each essay should be based on original sources, including what you see during your site visit. Your grade on each essay will depend on the thoughtfulness and imagination with which you discuss the topics. The essays provide ample opportunity for enhancing your grade, and I do give credit for improvement. For that reason you should read my comments on returned papers carefully and follow any suggestions in your subsequent papers. See also tips on getting a good grade.

Each essay should include a cover page with your essay title or topic, your name, instructor's name and course number, and the date of completion. You should also include a source page, including all documents and other resources used, the name of the site you visit and the date of your visit. The list of resources consulted should be in proper format. Please read the instructions for each project carefully and follow them to the best of your ability. I will return ungraded any essay which does not conform to instructions. See Checklist below.

Essay 1: Description or Analysis. An essay based on original sources (4-5 pages, 100 points). This essay should discuss an issue or event during modern American history, using original source documents. Suggested topics are offered, but you may choose another if you like. Most important, do not write this essay based on your text or other secondary sources. Use the original sources linked from the assignment sheet or essay instructions, or find others original documents, hundreds of which can be found on the web. As an alternative, you may use an extra site visit as the basis for your essay. The purpose of this essay is to have you use original sources to form a conclusion about a certain aspect of American history. This essay may be written on any portion of this course and need not be the first essay submitted. The important point is that you base your essay on your reading and interpretation of original sources. Essay 1 Guide

Essay 2: Biographical sketch using original sources (4-5 pages, 100 points). This essay asks you to provide a brief sketch of a historic figure from the period of study covered by this course, that is from 1865 onward. The figure should be a real person from any realm of human endeavor: political, artistic, financial and industrial, literary or journalistic, or any other field which makes the person historically relevant. In writing your essay you should endeavor to draw upon original works of the person involved such as letters, speeches, or other documents, or writings about the person such as biographies or other articles. Essay 2 Guide

Essay 3: Critical film review essay (4-5 pages, 100 points). The purpose of this essay is for you to examine in a film about historic events and write a critical review in which you assess the success with which the film accurately portrayed historic events or people. While filmmakers are granted a certain amount of artistic license in making interesting and entertaining productions for the screen, they should nevertheless refrain from deliberate distortions of history. Your job for this essay is to assess the success with which they have accomplished that goal. A list of recommended films is provided. If you wish to do a different film, it must deal with real historic events or persons and be approved in advance. Essay 3 Guide

Essay 4: Modified Research Project, to include a report on a related site visit, (8-10 pages, 150 points). This project requires an essay on any topic relevant to your course, American history 1865-1980, and includes a site visit. You should research the topic and site you plan to visit in advance. Then draft your essay, make your site visit, taking notes on what you observe. After your visit, revise your essay draft based on your visit and any additional research you may need to do. Your research may be “modified” to the extent that you do not have to use sources beyond what is on this web site, though you are encouraged to do so.

Insofar as possible, each essay should be based on original sources, including what you see during your site visit. Note also that you may substitute an extra site visit for any of these essays. Site visits are always encouraged.

Note: You do not have to do these essays in order, but you should submit one essay by each due date on your course assignment sheet.

OPTIONAL PERSONAL HISTORY ESSAY: Please begin your study of history by emailing or posting in the introduction forum a brief personal history essay. Write about your origins and your family. Where did your parents and grandparents come from? How did they get to this country? How have events in American history affected you and your family? You may want to dig into your family past during the semester, and now is a good time to start. This essay is not graded and is optional, but you are strongly encouraged to do it. For an example see my own personal history statement. Your essay does not have to go as far back nor have as much detail as the sample does. Just write as much as you know or can reasonably find out. If you did this in History 121 you may or update if you wish.

To get 25 points extra credit, make an additional site visit to any site dealing with modern American history (to 1865.) Submit a brief report, 2-3 pages. Please note on your cover page that it is for extra credit. Extra credit work may not be submitted during the course extension period. More on “Extra Credit.”

Please observe the following guidelines for submitting essays:

Include a title page with your name, instructor's name course number and section and date.
Include a header with your last name and page number (which will appear on each page.)
Print essays double spaced on one side of the paper only, leaving 1 inch margins. (Double space everything, including quotations, but do not put an extra space between paragraphs.)
Use standard 10 or 12 pitch type font and format paper according to good practice.
Standard English is required—excessive grammatical errors may affect your grade.
There is no penalty for correct spelling; use a dictionary if you need to. Use computer spell checkers with caution.
IMPORTANT: All rules of attribution, quotation and fair use apply for any sources used.
- Web sites consulted must be identified wherever possible by the name of the site, author, and URL and date accessed.
- Indicate author, title and page numbers of written works.
- Place all direct quotes in quotation marks and indicate source.
If submitting by email, use MS Word, Word Perfect or Rich Text Format (.rtf).
List all documents used at the end of your essay.
Please note that this instruction applies to all sources used. You may in no case use that material as your own, and must always document your sources to the best of your ability

SUBMITTING PAPERS: I prefer that you submit projects by email as attached files, or you may use U.S. mail or drop off your papers at ELI.