Final Exam
In a 4 to 5-pararaph essay response, answer one of the two questions below. Be sure to have a clear thesis that you defend with relevant evidence from the textbook. Use concrete examples and direct quotes from the textbook, and cite your sources like this, (Chap 11, Section III).
*You may use other course materials, but do not use outside sources, this will result in a loss of points.
Include the question you’re responding to at the top. Organize your paper with a logical structure and use clear topic sentences and transitions. Edit your paper thoroughly to avoid errors and to improve readability. Practice academic integrity – any sign of cheating, plagiarism, or AI use will result in an automatic zero; the similarity report should not exceed 20 %.
Questions: (Choose one)
How did the interplay between diverse religious beliefs and reform movements, particularly the Second Great Awakening, shape American society in the 19th century?
Delve into the complex web of factors that led to the Cotton Revolution, analyzing both its immediate economic consequences and its long-term impact on American society, including the institution of slavery.
Explore how the concept of Manifest Destiny fueled U.S. territorial expansion westward, examining its influence on the government’s policies and the devastating consequences it had on Native American populations and their ancestral lands.
Analyze the key events and political, economic, and social issues that culminated in the outbreak of the Civil War, considering the escalating tensions between the North and South.
Evaluate the successes and limitations of Reconstruction in addressing the deeply entrenched social, political, and economic legacies of slavery, including the ongoing struggle for racial equality in the United States.
Grading criteria:
Argument: 25% Does the paper have a clear, singular, specific argument that answers the question?
Evidence: 25% Is all the relevant evidence used to defend the argument?
Organization: 25% Does the paper have a logical structure and use clear topic sentences and transitions?
Clarity: 25% Is the prose efficient, crisp and polished, free of excessive passive voice or distracting spelling or grammatical errors?
Formatting:
Include heading – Name, Class, Date, etc.
Don’t put it in the margin because it will repeat on every page.
Use the standard 1-inch margins and leave text to the left (don’t center or justify the text).
12-pt., Times New Roman font, and double space your response.
