Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

It is for the HIST 2111 A United States History to 1865 class. The book is George Brown Tindall & David Emory Shi, America: A Narrative History, Brief Ninth Edition, Vol, 1.

The essay simply is gonna be about a title which is "Was The Civil War inevitable?"  

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Paper Instructions:

Compare and contrast the comments of Professor Kuhlman and Professor Woodworth-Ney. Do you find any similarities and/or any differences? Do the professors see any patterns or trends in the suffrage movements? What specific examples do they provide as factors in the enactment of women’s voting rights? Besides the right to vote, what other concerns are presented by Professors Kuhlman, Woodworth-Ney and Foner? Were these concerns answered with suffrage? Why, or why not? Given the professors' comments and Foner's text, do you think granting women the right to vote was evolutionary (a natural progression) or revolutionary (a radical change)? Why?

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Paper Instructions:

Essay 1: Read the Funeral Oration of Pericles at Richard Hooker’s site on World Civilizations at Washington State University (http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/GREECE/PERICLES.HTM). Given the context of this speech, do you believe everything Pericles says about Athens in the Funeral Oration? Why or why not?

. The essays are worth 100 points each and must be between 300 and 500 words in length, double-spaced, and submitted to the dropbox in either MS Word or Rich Text Format. 

In responding to the questions in the discussions and on the essay, you may want to use resources in addition to your textbook. This is encouraged, as it allows you to explore areas of interest in more detail. I do caution you, however, to be aware of any biases that some authors might have in dealing with the subject matter. Remember that Wikipedia is not an acceptable resource, as it is not refereed, and therefore not reliable. Be sure to document your sources properly using either the MLA or Turabian (Chicago Manual of Style) format. Essays that have any plagiarized material will receive zero points.    Moreover, work that is done in a previous course, in whole or part, will not be accepted is this course.  

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Paper Instructions:

Between 5 and 7 pages (NO MORE & NO LESS).  Do not use: large/small fonts, abnormal spacing, massive chapter subdivisions, outlines/numbered sequence points etc.)  Do not use extended quotes (meaning more than a few lines).  Double spacing, 12 point fonts and 1 inch margins are the maximum.

For the paper you must use 4 sources:

2 secondary sources meaning scholarly books written by a university professor.  Any book in the campus library will fulfill this requirement.  If you find books elsewhere and are unsure, look inside the book since many provide a biography of the author.  Also you can check the publisher; if the publisher is a university press it is fine.  Journal articles are also acceptable to fulfill this requirement and the campus library is full of scholarly journals.  Another good place to find the journal articles is online on JSTOR which is accessible through the campus library website.  Remember, these articles must come from scholarly journals such as the Journal of Roman Studies or the Journal of Asian Studies.  Articles from magazines such as National Geographic or Newsweek do not count.    

With the exception of JSTOR internet sources such as sites like Wikipedia are NOT acceptable and will not fulfill this requirement. 

The main textbook and other modern books assigned for this class DO NOT count towards fulfilling this requirement.

Lecture notes DO NOT count as secondary sources.  They represent my research and should not be cited in your paper.



2 primary sources written by someone who was roughly contemporaneous with the topic you are describing.  You always want to find eyewitness accounts (if they exist) or accounts written by someone who was alive during the period of your topic.  If these do not exist, then you want to find sources written by someone who lived shortly after the period of your topic.  This could mean as much as a few centuries afterwards since these people would have access to sources that no longer exist today.  For example, if you are writing a paper on Julius Caesar you would first use Caesar’s own accounts of his military campaigns.  Then you could also find accounts written by his contemporaries such as Cicero before moving on to later authors who wrote biographies of Caesar or histories of his time.  Some of these authors lived a few centuries later but are still acceptable.

The campus library has a huge selection of primary sources translated into English for all periods of history no matter what your topic.  Also, many primary sources are now online.  It is acceptable to use the internet to fulfill the primary source requirement.

Primary sources assigned for this class CAN be usedtowards fulfilling this requirement.



The first step in finding sources is choosing a topic.  Once you have a topic go to the campus library and search the library computer catalogue.  For example, if your topic is the Chinese voyages of Yung-lo look up China and Yung-lo.  Sometimes you get lucky and there is a specific book about your topic.  In other cases you may find general histories of your period such as, in this case, a history of China that covers the late 1300’s and early 1400’sAD.  Once you find the book or books on the library shelves, you can then find information about your topic.  More importantly, these books can lead you to other secondary and primary sources.  Check the bibliographies of the books you found since they will list dozens of secondary sources (books and articles) the author used which you can then find in the library.  Also, the author will discuss in detail the various primary sources for your topic which you can then find in the library or online.

    



Your paper must have a proper bibliography page at the end (the bibliography page does not count towards the page total).  The bibliography must contain all the information about each source you used.  It must include the author’s name (last name first), the year the book was published, the title of the book (in italics), and the publisher.  For a journal article, you must include the author’s name, year published, title (in quotation marks), the name of the journal (in italics), and page numbers.  For primary sources either include the above information from the book along with the name of the translator or the information from the website where you found the source.



In your paper all references and quotes must have proper footnotes.  Since there will be a full citation in the bibliography you do not need a full citation in each footnote.  Instead in the footnotes only include the author’s name and the page number where you found your information.  If the footnote is from a primary source include the author’s name and page or chapter number. When trying to decide when to quote the sources, a few “rules of thumb” are useful. You should always cite the sources if you are using information from them that you did not already know (again don’t cite the lectures). Additionally, cite the sources or offer quotations when you think they enrich or support your point. For instance, if you are describing the cruelty of Caligula, offer a quote from a source that would make your point. Imagine that you were reading your paper in a presentation and think of the quotes as if they were pictures: whenever you would want to show the audience a picture to make your point or give them a better idea of what you mean, then add a quote. If you are making claims that may be controversial, then quotes/citations are more important.  Chicago, APA or MLA are all OK.



Suggestions

1. Your paper should have a clear thesis or argument within the introduction. The introduction itself is one of the most important parts of the paper. As a rough suggestion, the introductory paragraph (or few paragraphs) should introduce the subject of your paper, state your thesis, and offer some information on how the paper will be organized or how your argument will proceed. For instance, if the topic of your paper was on the role/importance of the Praetorian Guard in the early Roman Empire, you could offer a thesis such as: “The Praetorian Guard exerted noticeable influence on the political system of the early Roman Empire, at least during key moments of crisis.” When commenting on the structure of your argument (or organization of the paper), you could write: “The terror carried out by Sejanus, the role of Macro in Gaius Caligula’s rise to the position of emperor, the conspiracy of Cassius Chaerea, and the insertion of Claudius by the Praetorian Guard all indicate that this elite body of troops was able to threaten, remove, and even install emperors during this period of the Empire.” In this example, your reader would know that you were going to discuss (1) Sejanus, (2) Macro/Caligula, (3) Cassius Chaerea’s conspiracy, and (4) Claudius in separate sections or paragraphs of your paper. That format could provide the general outline of your whole paper. One way of evaluating your introduction is to ask yourself: “If all of my paper blew away in the wind on the way to class and the professor could read only my introduction, would he know what my paper is about?” If not, then you may want to rework your introduction. I stress this because the best papers have the best introductions. 2. If you are having trouble deciding what will be the topic of your paper, a good place to start would be to choose a topic that interests you personally. If you are interested in food or dress, write on Roman sumptuary laws (laws governing consumption: what can people eat, who can wear what, etc.) and if you are interested in boxing, then write on Roman gladiatorial fights. As long as you are scholarly in your approach, even unconventional subjects may be appropriate. If you are interested in your topic, your paper will generally be more enjoyable to read. Of course, for controversial topics, you should ask the professor first.  In any event it is usually a good idea to run ideas by your professor before you begin since you do not wish to choose a subject that is so big it will not fit into a 5-7 page paper.  For example, a biography on the whole life of Alexander or Cleopatra will simply not work since there is far too much information for a short paper of this type.  It is possible though to pick 1 specific event or aspect of their careers to write about.  Also, you do not want to pick a topic that is so obscure you cannot find enough information or enough sources to fill a 5-7 page paper. 3. When trying to decide on the thesis of your paper, a few considerations are helpful. Ask yourself what drew you to the topic. If you had a specific question in mind, then providing the answer to that question could be a valid thesis. If you had no specific questions in mind, then you can look at the secondary literature you are reading for the paper (i.e. things written by modern scholars/historians) and see what their thesis is. Their thesis might give you ideas. An important consideration when deciding on a thesis is that you should only present a specific thesis when you have enough sources/evidence to argue for that conclusion. For instance, if you have a large number of sources (primary and secondary) that claim that Tiberius encouraged Sejanus in his reign of terror, then you are warranted in positing that as your thesis. If not, then you probably can’t argue that thesis effectively.

4. Likewise, when trying to decide on how to focus your paper, a major consideration should be the amount of material you have on each subject. For instance, if you are writing on Ovid’s banishment by Augustus and can’t decide whether you should focus more on the actual conditions of living in Tomis or on the significance of the banishment, determine what amount of evidence you have from the sources. If the vast majority of your sources describe the significance, then focusing on the living conditions will prove very difficult. In other words, write what the sources enable you to write. Another consideration is the “So what?” question: decide which elements are most important and interesting. Of course, I can give suggestions on this matter.

5.  When trying to decide what you need to explain or include in your paper, assume that your audience is a fellow classmate with fairly respectable attendance in our class. You may exclude things from your paper that they could be expected to know, except if it is essential to your subject. For instance, you don’t have to state that Augustus was effectively the first emperor and then cite your source. Still, anything that you feel is necessary to convince your reader of the truth of your thesis should be included. Likewise, facts that are completely irrelevant to your argument can probably be removed.

6. Think of your paper as a combination of narrative and argumentation. You are telling a story in your paper, but you want the reader to draw very specific conclusions from what you have said. Have enough narration (story-telling) to make sure your reader can follow the arguments, and enough argumentation that your reader understands the significance or meaning of the story you are telling.

Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

Your assignment is to identify and explicate a theme or idea in the assigned texts and study questions so as to provide insight into a particular historical experience, event, or persona.  What does this theme reveal about the west, about the United States as a country and or society. 

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Paper Instructions:

How did the politics of slavery and freedom interact and change in the U.S. from the American Revolution through 1831? this question is the main purpose of the paper. I don't need citations for this paper either.

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Paper Instructions:
Required Sources:

    Multimedia: Civil Rights virtual field trip
        Lyrics of the freedom songs
        Mavis staples lyrics – Eyes on the prize
    Video: A class apart [Video] From the Films on Demand database.
    Video: The way we never were: American families and the nostalgia trap
    Scholarly Source: The Chicano movement: Paths to power.

Recommended Sources:

    Time line: Civil rights timeline.
    Video: Save our history: Voices of civil rights [Video] from the  Films on Demand database.
    Scholarly Source: May, E. (2008). Fanning the home fires. Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era [electronic resource] NY : Basic Bks. Retrieved from Ashford University Library Ebook Collection.

Instructions: Based on your textbook and the required videos and reading, analyze the development and success of the Civil Rights Movement using the following questions as the basis of your analysis:

    What precisely did the African American Civil Right Movement gain?
    What objectives did it fail to achieve?
    What are some similarities and differences between the African American Civil Rights movement and one other social movement pushing for equality discussed in your textbook during this period?

BOOK ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT

Read assigned book. Analyze book in a 2-3 page ESSAY (not bullet points) based on the questions provided below. Answer each question. Grade based on your ability to address each point. If you are unable to find material on a specific point clearly articulate this in your analysis and explain.  Check syllabus for due dates. No late work accepted.  
1.    What is the Author’s argument for writing the book (what point is he/she trying to make)? 
2.    Who is the author (Outline his background/high level)? Why is he/she qualified to write the book? Any particularly platform or experience with the subject?
3.    What is the purpose or the book?
4.    What is the layout and approach of the book? 
5.    What sources are used? What were the primary sources if any? What were the secondary sources if any? Explain and give examples. 
6.    Is the book effective? Why or Why not? 
7.    What do reviews say about the book (who was the reviewer)?
8.    How does this book fit into this class? 
9.    Does the book enhance our understanding of World History? If so how? If not, why not? 
10.    What was the most striking statement in the book to you? (Write out a powerful quote from the book, explain the quote, why did it strike you, how it fits with the overall purpose of the book). Cite page number.  

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Paper Instructions:

All the readings are primary-source documents written or created from either the Japanese or American perspective during the nineteenth-century years (1800s) during which diplomatic and economic relations between the two societies was increasing.

Please discuss your impressions of the ways in which Japanese and Americans viewed each other. What things did they seem to notice about each other, and what things were they interested in understanding about each other? What was surprising to you about the mutual views expressed? What did individuals from each side find important about the other? What areas created confusion or misunderstanding? How do the legal documents included in the readings provide context for the ways in which Japanese and Americans came into contact with each other and the ways in which they viewed each other? 

Organize your paper thematically, not by document or text! Obviously there are many potential themes to discuss, so you must pick and choose. As long as you stick close to the texts, citing examples and relating the texts to each other, you will be on the right road.

That being said, there is no one “right answer” for this paper. You have a lot of latitude to relate these readings to one another.  The best papers will deal in a serious way with the majority of the readings. 

You may use a simplified system for citing these primary sources.  Please give the title and page number when you quote or use an idea from these texts.  For the images, simply cite the caption of the picture. 

Objective: 3-4 page, typed, double-spaced, 12pt font, 1" margin essay with your choice of one of two topics. Compare two artworks which can be visited at the Getty Museum, although research for them can be done online. The paper should be written in a ‘5-part-essay’ format, with an introduction including a thesis statement, three main points to discuss that demonstrates the thesis, and a conclusion that summarizes what you’ve said about the artwork and restates the thesis. Paper will be graded on content and organization. The comparison must consider historical, social, or religious contexts that affect artists and the art they produced. Cite sources in a footnote or text note, and include bibliographical information. Please use MLA format for both text notes and for the “Works Cited” page.

Choose one of the following topics:

Topic 1:
- Attributed to Rogier van der Weyden “The Dream of Pope Sergius”, Flemish, late 1430s
- Fra Bartolommeo “The Rest of the Flight into Egypt with St. John the Baptist”, Italian, 1509

This is a comparison of two paintings that are from different areas — one from northern Europe and the other from Italy. Both are religious paintings, but have other things going on besides the religious event. Are these other activities that you see similar in type for both paintings, or are they different? How? Compared in terms of style, how do the two paintings differ in terms of emphasis on details versus overall harmony? Which would you consider more naturalistic? Why? Do they use perspective to create a believable sense of space? Are there other similarities or differences that either tie them together or indicate that they are from different areas?

—OR—

Topic 2:
- Rubens “The Caledonian Boar Hunt”, Flemish, 1611-12
- Poussin “Landscape with a Calm”, French worked on in Italy, 1650-51

Observe the different approaches of Poussinistes and Rubenistes. looking at these two paintings, do you see differences in their styles? Which one emphasizes form and which emphasizes color? How do either of them use drama and/or lighting to get the effects they want? Does their choice of subject matter (the story they’re telling) affect the mood or the effect they’re trying to achieve?

*If either of these topics may be too difficult to write, let me know so that I may request a topic to the instructor.

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Paper Instructions:

A comparison and contrast between Parthenon 447-438 BC and Pantheon 118-128 AD

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Paper Instructions:

One of the textbooks for this course, Culture Sketches, views that culture (beliefs, values, rituals, ideas) is very important and determines how different peoples are. The two National Geographic films listed below based on Jared Diamond’s book, Guns, Germs and Steel, take the view that environment is the determining factor of how different peoples behave and organize their lives. Based upon your text readings and the viewing of the two films, does history or culture follow different courses for different peoples because of differences among those peoples’ environments, or because of differences among those peoples themselves? In other words, is a people’s behavior determined more by beliefs and values, or more by environment? 

Your essay should be 400 – 600 words long, and should address the issues raised above.  Remember: (1) the essay is not a simple statement about the films, or a straight description of them, but an analysis of them in comparison with, or in contrast to, the themes of the book; (2) there is no right or wrong answer.  It is an essay in critical thinking, comparative analysis, lucid writing skills, and thoughtful reflection.  What are the underlying themes that Holly Peters-Golden is expressing vs. the underlying themes that Jared Diamond expresses? How do they compare and contrast? What do they mean for humanity?

Below are the film links for the Required Essay:

Guns, Germs, and Steel: Out of Eden

http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Joseph_Nevadomsky/GGS_out_of_eden/player.html

Guns, Germs, and Steel: Conquest

http://distance-ed.fullerton.edu/bbpresentations/Joseph_Nevadomsky/GGS_conquest/player.html