History essay:

In this assignment you will choose three presidential elections from any time in U.S. history-these can be elections we covered in class, or others of your choosing. You will write an essay of 1500-2000 words in which you analyze the major themes of each election-then compare and contrast the three elections, paying special attention to historical continuities and discontinuities among the three.

Formatting:

The assignment must be typed, double-spaced, and you must cite your sources using either footnotes or endnotes.

Write formally. This means having a clear introductory paragraph leading to a thesis statement that states your position. Build the rest of your essay around your thesis. Everything else should support it. Everything should contribute directly to your argument. Get rid of anything that is not directly relevant to your argument. After writing your essay - revise it. Your ideas may have developed in the process of writing this essay. Make sure that your conclusions match your thesis statement and that you structured your argument in a logical manner that leads your reader to your conclusion.

Citations and Bibliography:

Provide citations for your quotes and where you refer to your sources in this format: Author, Title (Publisher), Date, Page Numbers (for articles). ***Here is a brief and useful website on formatting:

http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html