Write a paper on U.S. History from Reconstruction to the Present- A1
Over the course of the semester you will write a series of essays regarding the major themes of the course. You should write as much as appropriate but the majority of successful essays will be five to ten pages (5-10 pp) in length. It will be almost impossible to fully answer the question in less than five pages (typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12-point font recommended) but please try not to exceed twelve pages.
As a reminder, on the essays I provide numerous questions to guide you through each of the essays, but please do not simply answer the questions point for point. The ultimate goal is to write cohesive essays not compile a set of fragments. Please therefore provide an introduction and conclusion to each essay. You are strongly encouraged to write (or at least re-write) your introduction AT THE END, so that they actually introduce the essay you have completed. In addition, you will not cover all of the sub-themes equally but you will decide which are the most important points to cover IN ORDER TO make the most effective arguments.
You are expected to make arguments, which requires that all ideas are logically coherent and are supported with evidence. Without evidence you are only making assertions, which cannot be properly evaluated. Without logic and coherence, you are simply rambling. Any argument will be considered, as long it is coherent and supported by specific historical evidence. Deal with one topic per paragraph, use topic sentences and the active voice. See below for guidance:
http://www.bartleby.com/141/strunk5.html
You are expected to review all of the sources and all sections of the textbook in order to understand the issues, although for analytic clarity you will focus on some sections and but a few sources. The most successful essays will use sources from BOTH Yawp/Boyer AND Cobbs. That said, the greatest emphasis should be on the primary sources and interpretive essays from Major Problems.
No matter what, you are primarily answering the central question of the essay. You will tell me what is history, did reconstruction fail, and was the myth of frontier democracy true, providing specific historical evidence.
s?
