HIST – Critical/Integrative Thinking Writing Assignment (______/60 points)
Value of Assignment – At least 10% of overall grade.
Requirements: 3 ½- 4 pages of a narrative essay, 12 font, Times New Roman, double spaced, include a cover page and bibliography, use the CMOS – Chicago Manual of Style citing method. Cover Page and Bibliography not included in page count.
Learning objective: The student will analyze a specific historical event from the content of the course in order to gain a better understanding of its historical significance. Use various types of academically reliable evidence (Sources) and consider multiple perspectives. The student will select and present a paper topic to the instructor for approval or choose an event from an approved list provided by the instructor.
Evidence use: The student will integrate scholarly sources in the text of their paper (In-Text Citations). Students must incorporate at least one Primary and one Secondary source into their narrative essay. Although a minimum of one Primary and one Secondary source is required, it is recommended that students utilize a variety of academically accepted sources.
Primary Source – A primary source is a first-hand or contemporary account of an event or topic. Examples of Primary Sources – archives and manuscript material, photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, films, journals, letters and diaries, speeches, scrapbooks, published books, newspapers and magazine clippings published at the time, government publications, oral histories, records of organizations, autobiographies and memoirs, printed ephemera, artifacts, e.g. clothing, research data, e.g. public opinion polls.
Secondary Source – Secondary sources were created by someone who did not experience first-hand or participate in the events or conditions you’re researching. Examples of Secondary Sources – research reports, government reports, censuses, weather reports, interviews, the Internet, reference books, organizational reports and accounting documents.
Footnotes are required for your in-text citations in accordance with… CMOS guide. Proper scholarly citation information is expected in the student’s work. **Link to CMOS –
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_edition/chicago_style_introduction.html
Scoring – The student will earn points based on the quality and inclusion of the expectations in the below sections.
Explanation of Topic Based on your research, provide a brief summary overview of the event. This will include: who was involved or affected by the event, when the event occurred, where the event took place, and why the event occurred, and how it is historically significant. This should brief summary should be at least one paragraph, typically 5-8 sentences. The final sentence of this summary paragraph should be your Thesis Statement. This introduction summary requires analysis and synthesis. **Note – A thesis statement usually appears at the conclusion of the introductory paragraph of a paper. It offers a concise summary of the main point or claim of the essay, research paper, etc. It is usually expressed in one sentence, and the statement may be reiterated elsewhere.
Evidence/Supporting Data Based on your description/characterization in section A – use more detail by discussing the various components of the event. This should include a more detailed description of the various people/groups involved or affected, the time period or context, the causes and effects of the event, various perspectives about the event by (people/groups for and against). Specific, reliable data should be included in this section. (An organized and clear narrative of evidence is required, with various perspectives and data.) **Note – This section should consist of 1-3 paragraphs of typically 5 – 8 sentences each and contain in-text citations of reliable sources.
Influence of Context/Assumptions based on reliable sources. Based on the data you provided in Section B, elaborate on the perspectives of people or groups (for or against) the various aspects of your topic. Provide additional details of the context or historiography (how historians view the topic over time) of your topic. Of the various aspects of your topic which do you think is the most significant? A definitive statement is required. Explain your position: why you believe (this) based on the research you presented. Defend your choice by integrating reliable sources as evidence of the validity of your position, (you cannot just mention them), properly cite them. (A clear position of organized contextual analysis of evidence is required based on sources you provide.) **Note – This section should consist of 1-3 paragraphs of typically 5 – 8 sentences each and contain in-text citations of reliable sources.
Visual Representation. Within the text of your essay, insert two relevant images/ pictures/ paintings/drawings/sketches etc. that are emblematic of your chosen event, or of the effects of your chosen event into your essay. They should be symbolic examples of the major theme(s) of the chosen event. Briefly describe the images and explain how each image represents your event. **Note – Each image and explanation should be approximately one-quarter of a page – consider your formatting here to meet the size requirements.
Conclusions/Outcome. Are the effects of your event reflected in society today (make a definitive statement about this) If so, explain with at least one specific example from current events/conditions. If not, explain with at least one specific example what may explain its decline. **Note – This section should consist of 1 – 2 paragraphs of typically 5 – 8 sentences each and contain in-text citations of reliable sources.
Required Elements
Receive Instructor Approval for your topic by Week 3, or utilize a topic from the approved topic list.
Cover Page
Sections A – E
Bibliography Page
Length – 3 ½ – 4 pages, excluding Cover and Bibliography Page
Font – Times New Roman, 12 – Double Spaced
Citing Method – CMOS – Chicago Manual of Style
