Your midterm will be a five-paragraph essay (minimum).
Choose ONE question below to answer:
1. Using at least FIVE of the sources you have encountered in this course so far, what aspect of the African-American experience has impacted modern America the most?
2. Using at least FIVE of the sources you have encountered in this course so far, analyze how black culture evolved from 1500 to 1774.
5 sources linked already.
History Paper Rubric/Assessment
20 pts
A
Strong thesis; clearly stated. Original, creative, thoughtful. Interesting (answers the “so what” question). Broad enough to convey importance of discussion to follow, narrow enough to support with available materials.
17 pts
B
Clearly Stated. Interesting (answers the “so what” questions). Factually correct.
15 pts
C
Ambiguous or unclear wording. Simply describes topic of the paper. Does not answer the so-what question. Factually correct.
13 pts
D
Ambiguous or unclear wording. Topically unfocused. Does not answer “so what” question. Factually correct.
11 pts
F
Missing, unrelated to topic, factually incorrect.
20 pts
30 pts
A
Persuasive, well organized and balanced. Develops and supports thesis. Contains cogent analysis that demonstrates a command of interpretive and conceptual tasks required by assignment and course material.
26 pts
B
Persuasive, well organized and supports thesis. Few to no factual errors. Solid understanding of the texts, ideas, and method of assignment. Minor gaps in reasoning.
23 pts
C
Fair organization. May not move logically from paragraph to paragraph in support of thesis. May contain minor factual errors or omissions of historical specifics. Shows an understanding of the basic ideas and information involved in the assignment; a tendency toward recapitulations or narration of standard chronology.
20 pts
D
Simply recounts chronology or series of events with little factually correct, but lacks relevance and/or importance. Inadequate command of course material. Fails to respond directly to the assignment.
17 pts
F
Simply recounts chronology or series of events with little effort to form an argument in support of thesis. Contains major factual errors, omissions, or both. Does not understand class material. Essay may not respond to question.
30 pts
30 pts
A
Excellent choice of examples relevant to thesis. Insightful analysis or interpretation of relevant portions of chosen documents that play an important role in the argument. Does not neglect documents relevant to thesis.
26 pts
B
Accurate use of examples relevant to thesis. May have neglected other relevant documents. Exhibits clear understanding of the meaning and significance of the documents and attempts to integrate them into argument.
23 pts
C
Refers to examples, but does not integrate them into argument in support of thesis. Overlooks important documents relevant to the thesis in favor of less relevant documents. Or, makes accurate use, as in B above, but with only one document.
20 pts
D
Use of document(s) out historical context or contrary to their historical meaning. Discursive and undeveloped. May digress from one topic to another.
17 pts
F
Neglects documents altogether. Little or no development. Lists of vague generalizations or misinformation.
30 pts
