Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:

Abraham Lincoln’s “A House Divided” Speech

When writing papers and reviews there are certain things to keep in mind. In general, short sentences are better than long ones and plain language better than flowery prose. Within the bounds of grammar, just say what you want to say as you would to a friend, do not try to dress it up. Make sure the antecedents of your pronouns are clear. Paragraphs should be long enough to develop a thought, but should not be so long they are intimidating or boring. Use commas when you need them, but not if you do not – most people use them far too often. If a sentence does not make sense, especially a long one, you can often improve it by providing more information, using two or three shorter sentences instead. Be specific. Do not use colloquialisms, contractions, the word “thing,” or any word with the word “thing” in it. Use Turabian footnoting. Each paper will review an original historical document from the period covered in class. You may choose from the choices provided and no particular order is required. You will have no trouble finding texts of these documents or speeches online. A review is different from a report. A report tells you what the document says – a review analysis and evaluated the message the writer or writers intended to convey. A well-conceived review will provide the author’s point of view and the purpose of the speech or document. It will also convey what problems were addressed, what solutions were recommended, the nature of both support and opposition, and any other significant information that can be understood from the document or speech. Further information on how to complete you review will be presented in class and you will have an opportunity to ask questions. Papers will be 3-5 pages. They must follow a specific form and I do count off for not following directions: Title Page giving name of reviewed document or speech on first line, student name – campus on second line, my name on third line, skipping two lines between each written line. Do not capitalize whole words, just the letters you would normally capitalize in a sentence or a title. The first line should be about 1/3 the way down the page and all lines should be centered. Do not put any identifying information on any pages of the paper or review other than the title page. Begin the paper at the top of the first page. Double space using 12 pt. Calibri type. Papers must completely fill three pages with text and may not exceed five pages. You will be penalized for extra pages just as you will for a work that is page deficient – 5 points for each half page over or under. Part of writing properly is scaling your work to the space allotted. Upload papers into Canvas as a Word attachment. Do not email you papers to me. Make sure you understand how Canvas works and that your connection with Canvas is working ahead of time. You have at least a month to complete these assignments and few, if any, excuses will be considered for turning them in late. The submission date/time must be no later than 11:59 p.m. of the due date for your paper to be on time. Every day late subtracts 10 points from your grade for that assignment (one letter grade). Begin your work with a thesis sentence. The thesis sentence should specify precisely what you want to tell the reader. For instance, if you are reviewing Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: “Abraham Lincoln used the Gettysburg Address to press for continued prosecution of the Civil War.” Make sure your thesis sentence lines up clearly with the position you take on the assignment. It cannot be ambiguous or otherwise leave any doubt about your point of view. The remainder of your review should support your thesis sentence. Your first paragraph is the introduction. Sentences following the thesis sentence briefly explain the course of your reasoning. You need not fully state your case in the intro, simply let the reader know what you will be proving with the remainder of your paper. Correctly done, the introductory paragraph serves as a working outline for the remainder of the paper. You should write with authority, not tentatively or as if you are not sure of yourself. If you have carefully thought your position through you should be able to explain your decision. The body of your work will expand each sentence in the introduction, explaining what you previously stated and showing how and why the introductory sentences were true. The final paragraph should restate your thesis sentence and introduction as proof given, rather than proof offered (as in the introduction). Place the thesis sentence in the conclusion at either the beginning or end of the paragraph, whichever makes your argument stronger. Information for your review must come from within the document itself and you will not likely need citations, as quotes are discouraged, but if you need a to cite something within the document use the Turabian format.