Essay 1 Primary Sources
History 115 Essay 1 Primary Sources
Objective: CLSLO #5: Formulate clear and concise written arguments by completing online written assignments in world history since 1500.
Before you begin: Visit the folder with the PDFs from Hamilton College “How To Write a Good History Paper”Links to an external site.; read parts 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Directions: Write a paper of 1000-1200 words analyzing a primary source that you are using in your research project. It could be one of the sources in this folder. For background information you may use one or two secondary sources, but you must make sure that most of your analysis is your own work and deals with the actual text of the source.
Acceptable sources for background information include course materials (the textbook in particular, and Perusall materials), peer-reviewed articles from JSTOR, and encyclopedia articles from the Oxford Reference Books Online Collection, the History Compass journal that you can find on the library databases page under “Wiley Online Library” or Encyclopedia Britannica. Section 3 must be ENTIRELY based on what the primary source says.
Format: After the title page (page 1, see below), the second page of your text should include at the top your name and a full citation of the source (author, title, editor/translator, title of collection, publisher, year, pages). Skip two lines before beginning your analysis. If you refer to specific passages (paraphrase and summary, not just quotation), give chapter, verse, or page numbers in parentheses as appropriate. Pay close attention to grammar, spelling, punctuation, and paragraphing. Number the answers to the questions below and answer the questions in order.
While reading the source: Consider the original author’s purpose and biases (NOT the editor’s). Did the author have first-hand knowledge of the events? How did the author collect the information? Who was the audience? Which side appears in the most favorable light? Also consider the hidden potential of the source. What assumptions does the author make about attitudes and society? What aspects of daily life, government, or religion does the author mention in passing?
What to say in the analysis: Your paper should include the following information presented in numbered subsections:
Historical background of the source. What was happening at the time that the source was written? Be sure to indicate the source(s) of your information. Give priority to information that is likely to have a direct bearing on how you interpret the source. [about 150-250 words]
Context for writing. Who wrote it? When? Why? What is it about? For whom did the author write? Did the author have a personal stake in how events turned out? In the case of anonymous sources, what can you deduce about the author from the source itself? [about 150-250 words]
Usefulness of the source. What can be learned from the source? Give examples of things which can (or cannot) be learned from the source. How are the author’s circumstances reflected in the source? Give specific examples of statements that are particularly biased or particularly even-handed. Is the information easily quantifiable? If so, consider including a table as an example of how to analyze the source quantitatively. If not, discuss the most applicable interpretive approaches to the source (literary, historical, etc.). Is the work theoretical? Or does the author include a wealth of details that tell about what was happening around him or her? Does the author reveal anything about general societal attitudes (e.g. towards religion, kingship, family life)? Does the author offer insights into the specific historical events or personages? Does the author give information about things that are not the main topic of the source? (For example, in a source about religion, an author might barn- yard imagery that could tell you about peasant life.) Try to go beyond a consideration of the basic facts presented in the source to analysis of larger insights into history which might be gained from the source. Note that not all questions are applicable for all sources. [at least 600 words]
Conclusion. What is your overall assessment of the source? What are its strongest and weakest points? How could this source best be used for research? [up to 250 words, but at least 150 words ]
Note that none of these are simple yes/no questions and that not all are going to be relevant to every source. Address only those that are relevant and re-organize to create a coherent whole within each section. Question 3, in particular, requires an answer the length of a short paper
