http://web.archive.org/web/20021213220105/http://www.acs.ohio-state.edu/history/isthmia/teg/hist60701/chron.htm
Answer the required question in an essay of between 1100-1250 words. The essay must have a developed introduction with strong thesis and three established points, an essay body “defending” each of those points with evidentiary support from the readings, and a separate conclusion. The essays must be well-organized, well-written, and well-argued with a good balance of generalizations and specifics.
Questions: Choose one of the following topics. Use D&S Chapter 13 as your foundation and four associated readings that you choose, one must be a primary source (use the Internet History Sourcebook) and two must be peer-reviewed articles from Academic Search Complete (MSU library online database) or books (including e-books) from the MSU Library. The fourth item is an item of your choice, either a primary source from the Internet History Sourcebook or an appropriate secondary source (book or peer-reviewed journal article from Academic Search Complete). You must have a bibliography this time. Use Chicago, Turabian, or MLA, for the bibliography but say in the bib title what you are using, ex. Bibliography as per MLA.
1. What are the three “essential” elements of Byzantine culture? Which element was the most important, and why?
Additional Comments—and yes, they get a bit repetitive:
It should be obvious from the essay that the student thoroughly examined the required materials and considered the question. Provide as many examples as possible from the materials to show how thoroughly you understood them. Use plenty of evidence to support your comments. This is where the balance between generalizations (comments) and specifics (evidence) is important. Cite all examples parenthetically as indicated. Use your own words to exhibit understanding so no quotes are allowed.
Examples: Cite the textbook per part (ex. D&S 13-2c) and primary sources by title (ex. Justinian’s Code) and articles by author and page number, ex. (Smith, 152)
Stay focused on the question, but this essay does have an element of research. Make sure, however, that the research is appropriate. Do not use any websites or encyclopedia articles or “popular” journals such as History Today. If you make sure your secondary sources are peer-reviewed then you will be fine.
