Paper Assignment Instructions:
On the whole, your paper assignments have 4 requirements:
Craft an argumentative interpretation in response to the selective issue response questions
Engage with ALL of the secondary source readings related to the issue question. This means attending to the main argument of each source, not simply citing each source.
Utilize direct evidence, including at least 3 primary sources, to support your analysis. (You may not use any other source other than those provided without being granted permission by me prior to the assignment being turned in)
Papers must be 3-5 pages in length (~1000), size 12 font Times New Roman 1inch margins.
I do not care which citation style or format you use, but you MUST pick one (MLA, Chicago, APA) and stick to it. If you are selecting MLA, understand that means you must also include a works cited page.
In order to help you along on this point, I will offer a number of suggestions/common problems that I have found students often have when writing an analytical historical paper.
Do not spend too much time summarizing an event or another author’s argument. While it is important to assume your audience is not an expert on your topic, if you spend 2 pages outlining Joan Scott’s argument, you lose the space necessary to make your own. Try to summarize the main argument of each author in no more than 2 sentences. Likewise, the purpose of your paper is to convey an argument, not explain in detail the events leading up to the First World War. Context is important, but it is possible to introduce and properly establish context without simply summarizing historical events. This is an argumentative paper, not a book report or descriptive assignment.
Avoid passive writing. This includes most especially overusing the passive voice. You are to offer an interpretation, not tell the reading about other people’s interpretations.
Cite your sources carefully. Make sure you include a page number and the author’s last name. While I do not much care what citation format you use, if the reader cannot verify your information, you are technically plagiarizing. This is especially important when paraphrasing.
Introduce and choose your evidence carefully. Avoid direct quotations unless you are going to analyze the language of the original source. While it can be tempting to use another author’s language to convey an idea, in general, this limits your voice as an author. For this reason, if you are going to quote something, make sure you analyze the language directly.
A good rule of thumb is to remember this: Try to explain Why or How something occurs, not What happened. When you are doing the former, you are almost always writing analytically.
Do not include anything in your paper that does not directly relate to the topic or thesis at hand. This is a common mistake. Ask yourself, does the reader need to know this to understand my argument? Does this information support my argument? If the answer to both of these questions is no, don’t include it.
Your paper will be scored based on 6 criteria, although the overall score will be a holistic synthesis of the submission rather than a mathematical calculation. The criteria are listed below:
Thesis- (Articulation of the main argument)
Evidence- (Use of direct examples to support the main argument)
Analysis- (Explanation and development of argumentation—often includes degree of nuance and sophistication of argument)
Structure- (organization and coherency)
Counterargument- (refuting alternative perspectives—often also includes degree of nuance and sophistication of argument )
Mechanics- (following directions/grammar)
