Type a three page or more, double-spaced essay analyzing Desert Exile and comparing/contrasting it with the experiences presented in Part II of Stories of Japanese-American Incarceration. Make sure to bring in specifics from the film. If you make a vague, general reference, that will earn you few points.
In your introduction, introduce your subject matter and pose a thesis about your topic. You must state your thesis in your first paragraph.
In the body, develop your arguments proving the thesis. Organize each paragraph around a topic sentence (the first sentence in the paragraph. The sentences that follow flesh out the topic while supporting your claims with evidence. Paragraphs should be linked by transitions.
Essays must primarily focus on the primary source evidence in the book and the information from the assigned video.
The arguments should lead to a conclusion that sums the logic of the arguments in the body and verifies that you have defended the validity of your thesis.
Evaluation: Papers will be evaluated on the following criteria: your introduction and thesis, your usage and analysis of Desert Exile (very important), your inclusion of material from Stories of Japanese-American Incarceration. your conclusion; spelling and grammar; syntax, sentence structure and formatting (includes appropriate use of quotes and citations). A rubric will be posted to blackboard.
Formatting and Guidelines for the Primary Source Essay
1. I will enforce the following page margins/font/page number requirements STRICTLY.
Make sure your computer margins are all set at 1″. You MUST use Times New Roman
12 point font, and the paper MUST be page numbered. The page numbers must be consecutive and they must appear in the top right corner or the bottom center of your page. Include your name in the numbering system (i.e.: Jones 2, Jones 3, etc.). The first page does not require a page #.
Do not include extra spaces between paragraphs. Many word programs add extra space by default. In order to solve this problem on Word first select all of the text in your essay.
Under “Home” click on “Paragraph.” Make certain that you have Spacing, both before and after, set to 0 pt.
Do not “stuff” your first page with unnecessary information (your student ID number, meeting times of the class, my office number, etc.)
Reminder on Heading: Please note that my formatting instructions require you to single space your heading. You will also note that there is no extra spacing between each line.
In order to achieve this, follow these instructions if you are using Word:
Highlight your heading
Click on “HOME” at the top of the screen.
Near the center of the screen, you will see the word “Paragraph.” To the right of this word you will see an arrow pointing down and to the right. Click on this
arrow.
A box will pop up on the screen. Under spacing set “Before” and “After” to 0 pt. it you have not done so already, set “Line spacing” to “single.”
Please do not insert extra space between paragraphs. This is a page stretching technique and will cost you points.
Reminder on Margins: If you are using a Mac, be warned that your program may automatically set the left and right margins to 1.25 inches rather than 1 inch. If you forget to change this, you may end up with a paper that is shorter than the required 2.5 pages.
Similar problems sometimes occur with Google Docs as well. Allow yourself enough time to edit your essay if you discover it is shorter than you originally thought.
Use proper formal English. Do not use abbreviations or contractions. For example, do not use shouldn’t, isn’t, etc. Spell out all words. For example, do not use “vs.” as a substitute for “versus.”
Invent a title. Do not write “History Essay” or “Assignment,” for example. Part of the writing process involves creating a title that will make someone want to read the paper.
You can be clever, incorporate a theme from the book
Do not rely on the spell-check feature on your computer to catch all mistakes. Misused words/awkward grammar often escape the spell-check feature. Grammatical mistakes will cost you points. Read and re-read your paper several times to find mistakes. Proofread aloud (and ask someone to help you with the proof-reading if you need additional help). I do this when I am editing a conference paper or anything for publication.
Quotations: If you quote from Desert Exile just include parenthesis at the end of the sentence with the page number (47). You do not have to include the name of the author as I will understand you are quoting from the book. Verbatim quotes are a useful as long as you utilize them to make a point (and not because “you could not have said it better”).
However, it is best to limit your usage of quotes in critical review essays. If you do use them, include them in your own sentences and try to limit them to phrases from the book.
Do not use quotes from the book as standalone sentences (a sentence that is only a quote from the book).
Citations: In addition to citing when you quote, you must also cite when you summarize or paraphrase the text. You can just give the page number or numbers in a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence, just as you would have done for a quote. You should also cite when you paraphrase the film. To simplify matters, if you are citing the film, just name the film in a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence (Stories of Japanese-American Incarceration Part II. Please be sure to include the time stamp in your citation or you will lose points.
