Essay Instructions
Over the course of the semester, students will select primary sources on which to write brief, one-page essays. The student need not write an essay on every primary source; please consult the syllabus for the number of essays that must be submitted. If more than this number of essays are submitted, the top grades will count toward the course average. Whether or not the student chooses to write an essay on a given document, the document is still "fair game" for the exams.
These essays should briefly introduce the document (who wrote it? When? What was happening in the world that serves as context for the document?), analyze the argument, and then explain why the document is historically significant (what does it tell us about a particular society or moment in history?)
The key here is to succinctly demonstrate an understanding of the document and how it fits into the context of what we are reading in the textbook.
Students will be graded based on the following criteria:
1) Quality of document summary. Does the summary succinctly capture the main points?
2) Quality of document contextualization. Does the student demonstrate and understanding of how this document fits into larger historical context?
3) Quality of argument analysis. How well does the student analyze the argument the writer makes?
4) Quality of historical significance. Does the student explain fully why the document is historically significant and/or what it tells us about a particular place and time in history?
5) Quality of writing. Grammar, spelling, clarity will be assessed. Poor writing can make wonderful thoughts hard to decipher. Make sure you do your thinking justice by editing.
Essays must be typed in Times New Roman 12 point font, be double spaced, and utilize standard margins. No header information is required.
Galileo, Letter to Christina
Colbert, "Mercantilism, Dissertation on Alliances"
Bacon, "Novum Organum"
Evidence Given Before the Sadler Committee
Mickiwicz-Excerpts from the Books of the Polish Nation
Pearson-from National Life from the Standpoint of Science
Himmler-Speech to SS Officers
Drakulich-"Make Up and Other Crucial Questions"