Don’t make the writing level of the essay too high.
Choose one topic from 2 below
Plagiarism/Academic
Dishonesty: , no matter how minor, will be reported to
the Academic Integrity Office. Plagiarism includes: cutting and pasting text
from the internet without using quotation marks and footnotes; taking a sentence, phrase, or paragraph from
a book (even our textbook) and changing a few words (even if you footnote it); or otherwise presenting someone else’s ideas,
factual points, or words as your own.
Other examples of academic dishonesty include turning in: a paper
written by AI, another student’s paper, a paper from a different class previous
semester, or a paper that is fundamentally similar to that of another student.
See syllabus (“Information” on blackboard site) for further explanation of
penalties for cheating.
Instructions:
Answer
one of the following two
questions in a 5-6 page, double-spaced essay (approximately 1300-1600
words). Papers will be graded on 1) how
well you demonstrate knowledge of the course materials (textbook,
lectures, discussions, readings), 2) the clarity of your presentation and
argument, 3) how well you support your argument with primary sources,
and 4) the quality of your writing (spelling, usage, and grammatical errors
should be kept to an absolute minimum).
You must provide citations (footnotes) for quotes, interpretations,
or factual points that are not your own [see below for footnote
instructions]. This is not a research
paper, and you should not incorporate
sources from outside the course (including the internet). Other general guidelines for writing a
history essay are on the back of this page.
Essay 1. After the First World War, three European
societies – Russia, Italy, and Germany — embarked on radical new experiments
in political, economic, and social organization. Drawing on the textbook, lectures,
discussions, and all relevant primary sources compare and contrast TWO of these regimes (Communist USSR, Fascist
Italy, Nazi Germany). Your thesis
should state the concrete ways that the two regimes were similar or
different.
You will want to
demonstrate that you understand the core
ideologies and main policies of the two regimes. Points you may want to consider are the ideology
of each regime, the structure and ‘style’ of the regime, repression and terror,
the impact of domestic policies on society, economic policy, foreign policy,
ideological attitudes towards women and gender, and how much popular support
each regime enjoyed (and from which social groups). Good
essays will have theses that concretely state the ways in which the two regimes
were similar and/or different.
Essay 2. The Soviet
Union, Fascist Italy, and Nazi Germany have all been referred to as
“totalitarian.” Choose one of these regimes and argue whether or not you believe
it was “totalitarian.” Papers
should draw on the textbook, lectures, and discussions, and should support your
argument using all relevant primary sources (you must use these to prove your
argument). In the essay, define
totalitarianism, and then discuss whether or not the regime conforms to your
definition. In order to properly answer
the question, you will inevitably have to discuss the regime’s ideology, its
main policies, the use of terror, propaganda, and its relationship to society. Do not forget that these regimes change over
time. Good essays will have theses that
do not simply answer “yes” or “no,” but explain when and to what degree the
regime’s policies produced, or failed to produce, a totalitarian society.
Tips
for Writing a History Essay
1. Have a
clear argument. Include a thesis
statement in the first paragraph. The
paper should develop your argument and provide evidence in support of it. Include a conclusion which summarizes your
argument.
2. Avoid
generalizations; be specific. Avoid
vague terms like “people” when you mean “peasants” or “workers” or “the
nobility.” If the historical reality is
complex (i.e. not all nobles were selfishly hanging onto privilege, or the
delegates of the Third Estate were not so “representative” because they were
mostly lawyers), then say so.
3. When
possible, use the active voice rather than the passive. Example: “Robespierre introduced the Terror
in 1793” is stronger than “The Terror was introduced by Robespierre in
1793.”
4. Edit
carefully so that your writing is clear, making sure that each word effectively
conveys your point and is not wasted.
Avoid run-on sentences and sentence fragments.
5. When
writing about historical events, use the past tense. It is okay to use the
present tense when discussing a document or book; however, saying “Robespierre
implored the National Convention to introduce the Terror because. . . ” is more
dramatic and therefore more effective than writing “In this document,
Robespierre argues that the Terror is necessary because . . .”
6. Use
quotes, but use them sparingly, not just to fill up space. A quote should explain something, or capture
its tone or style, better than you could yourself.
7. Provide
citations for direct quotes and any factual or interpretive points that are not
your own Example (see citation guide below).
8. Last,
but not least, the essay should have a title!
__________________________________________________________________________
Citations: Use
footnotes
Some Select
Examples of footnotes:
First
mention:
1 Lynn
Hunt et al., The Making of the West:
Peoples and Cultures, Value Edition, Volume 2, Seventh Edition (New York:
Bedford St. Martin’s, 2021), 517.
Subsequent
mentions:
2 Hunt,
519
____________________________
First
mention:
1 Maximilien
Robespierre, “On the Political and Moral Principles of Domestic Policy,” in Course Reader for History 112, 16.
Subsequent
mentions
2 Robespierre,
17.
___________________________
First
mention:
1 Madame
de Remusat, “Napoleon’s Appeal,” in Course
Reader for History 112, 21.
Subsequent mentions:
2
De Remusat, 21.
____________________________
First mention:
1Napoleon
Bonaparte, “Diary,” in Course Reader for
History 112, 22.
Subsequent
mentions:
2 Bonaparte,
23
