Learning Goal: I’m working on a history multi-part question and need support to help me learn.
***Has to be a primary source about the agricultural revolution between 1400-2000 or about how the trading system was changed between 1400-2000***
In this assignment, each student will write an analysis of a single primary source related to a topic covered in this course. The topic must have been a historical event that took place between the years 1400 and 2000. All papers must include citations and a bibliography/references page.
What is a Primary Source?:
Primary sources are our actual contact with history. They are typically firsthand accounts of history’s events written by someone with a key role in that event or an observer of that event. Examples of a primary source are personal diaries or journals, letters, newspaper articles written at the time, speeches, or personal accounts (like memoirs or autobiographies). Acts of legislation and laws passed at the time of the event and directly related to it are also primary sources, but these can be more challenging to analyze.
These papers are not opinion papers and should not contain your opinion on the events, but rather a thorough analysis of the information that addresses the document’s context and purpose, including any questions that remain unanswered by this document. For purposes of this activity, you should confine your resources and citations to the source being analyzed. Incorporate citations and references as appropriate to the topic you are discussing. However, you should not be using large “cut and paste” blocks of quotes simply to fill space. You citations should have meaning.
Format:
- Papers must be a minimum of two full pages in length but not more than three full pages in length. There will be a significant point penalty applied to papers that do not meet the minimum length.
- All papers should be written in Calibri (Body) font, 11 size font, double-spaced, and one-inch margins.
- Papers must be appropriately cited and include a bibliography page.
- Both the source and the topic must be approved by the instructor, which is done in the Primary Source Analysis Discussion Board. Papers written on topics or analyzing sources not approved by the instructor will not be accepted and the student will receive a zero for the assignment.
- Additional sources are strongly discouraged; any student wishing to use any source other than the one being analyzed must first have it approved by the instructor.
Analysis Objectives:
Your paper should take the form of a coherent essay, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion that addresses the following four analysis objectives. Each analysis objective should have its own paragraph in your paper, with the exception of analysis objective 3, which should be divided into three separate paragraphs.
Analysis Objective 1: Well formed introduction on the general topic that also contains the author’s name, title of the source, when it was produced, and a clearly written thesis statement
Analysis Objective 2: A thorough analysis of the author. For primary sources this means evaluating the author’s background, connection to the historical event, and any bias the author may have. For secondary sources evaluate the author’s academic background to include their education, scholarly posts they have held or currently hold, other published works, and any other pertinent information that illustrates their authority to write on the topic academically.
Analysis Objective 3: In three separate paragraph pull out three important elements and analyze why they represent key information relevant to the source.
Analysis Objective 4: Describe the author’s purpose or intent in writing the source as part of a well-formed conclusion paragraph.
You can also reference the following link to the Library of Congress, which may help you with additional points to discuss in your analysis: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/
Students are graded according to the following rubric:
| Analysis Objective 1: Introduction |
Presents a well-formed introduction to the general topic that includes the author(s), the title of the source, when it was produced, and a clear thesis. |
Most required introduction elements are present with just one or two items missing. |
Several missing introduction elements missing or the introduction is somewhat underdeveloped. |
Introduction is weak and does not contain most of the required introduction elements. |
No introduction. |
| Analysis Objective 2: Author analysis |
Stand alone paragraph that fully explores the author’s background or connection to the event. Potential bias is also explored. |
Author analysis is complete yet it is not contained within its own paragraph. |
Some elements of the author’s background are explored but is underdeveloped. |
The author analysis is highly underdeveloped and does not contain most needed elements. |
No author analysis |
| Analysis Objective 3: Three Key Elements |
Three key elements are selected from the source and analyzed in full detail. Each is contained within its own paragraph |
Three key elements are selected from the source and are analyzed in full, but they are all contained within a single paragraph. |
Only two key elements are explored, or the analysis of three is slightly underdeveloped. |
Only one key element is explored, or analysis is highly underdeveloped. |
No three key elements were selected. |
| Analysis Objective 4: Purpose of the Source |
The author’s reason for producing the source has been fully explored and contains historically relevant context for its writing. |
The author’s reason for producing the source has been fully explored but does not contain historically relevant context for its writing. |
The author’s reason for producing the source is slightly underdeveloped and does not contain historically relevant context for its writing. |
The author’s reason for producing the source is highly underdeveloped and does not contain historically relevant context for its writing. |
The author’s purpose for writing the source is not explored. |
| Citations, Sources, and Bibliography |
Paraphrases and/or integrates quotes effectively with all citations in accurate format. Uses appropriate sources that are listed in a bibliography/references page. |
Mostly paraphrases and/or integrates quotes effectively with all citations in accurate format. Uses appropriate sources that are listed in a bibliography/references page. |
Does not quote effectively and/or most citations lack accurate format. Or uses good sources but did not include a bibliography. |
Grievous errors in citations and/or bibliography. |
No citations and/or no bibliography included. |
| Writing Mechanics |
No errors related to grammar, clarity, spelling, punctuation, and style |
Minor errors related to grammar, clarity, spelling, punctuation, and style |
Numerous errors related to grammar, clarity, spelling, punctuation, and style |
Major errors related to grammar, clarity, spelling, punctuation, and style |
Errors so severe that it makes the document difficult/impossible to read |
