Review the rubric carefully:
Final Primary Source Paper: Your final paper in this class is a primary source analysis (8–10 pages). You may choose one of the documents in The Essential Historiography Reader or you may choose another primary source author. Please consult and confirm your selection with your professor. The final paper should be uploaded under “Primary Source Paper” by the end of Wednesday during finals week. The paper will be graded according to the following criteria:
1. Thesis & Purpose for Writing (10 points): The paper includes an innovative thesis and explains the purpose of the argument.
2. Organization (10 points): The work includes a clear structure with introduction and thesis, body with evidence, and conclusion. The paper is 8–10 pages in length and it includes a bibliography.
3. Grammar, Syntax, and Turabian Citation (10 points): The paper uses Turabian Notes-Bibliography Citation Style (pp. 144-215) for footnotes and bibliography. It should follow Turabian style precisely and be free from error. The work cites all quotations and other sources used therein.
4. Context & Content (10 points): The paper demonstrates a solid grasp of historical information. The information is taken from sources with enough interpretation and evaluation to develop a comprehensive analysis or synthesis. Viewpoints of experts are questioned thoroughly.
5. Sources & Use of Evidence (10 points): The work selects and uses information to investigate a point of view or conclusion. More specifically, you answer the following questions (see The Essential Historiography Reader p. 290 regarding these questions):
a. Who was the author of the work? What was their background (gender, race/ethnicity, region, religion, profession)?
b. When and where was it written? Does that date have any significance (political, social, or economic events)?
c. Who was the intended audience for the work? Why was it written (purpose)? How does the piece relate to other texts of the period? Does the work aim to reinforce or to challenge views of the time period?
d. What is the topic of the work? How is the topic related to the author’s historical context?
e. What is the work’s thesis (main argument and/or conclusion)? What are the most important supporting arguments?
f. What evidence does the author use and how does the author use it? Can you detect evidence of bias or outside influences upon the author’s work? What does the work not tell us?
g. What has been the impact of the work? Where and among whom is it likely to have circulated?
h. What are the author’s methodology and/or philosophy in the work? What is the genre of the work?
i. Does the thesis tell us something about the author’s historical philosophy? What is the author’s perspective on historical agency?
