Short Paper Assignment Details
This is a long explanation, please read it carefully.
Websites for Primary Sources: Be sure that the source you are using is relevant to the time frame of the class you are enrolled in. If you
choose incorrectly, the grade will be a zero. The webpage must be scholastic and
At the top of the paper place the following:
“My primary source is ________________________ and it relates to this class because______________. It can be found at this URL.”
Then list the hyperlink of the URL.
US
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html
http://founders.archives.gov/
http://mith.umd.edu//eada/
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/lhtnhtml/lhtnhome.html
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collections
http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/
http://www.ellisisland.org/
http://docsouth.unc.edu/
http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/
http://ebooks.library.cornell.edu/m/moawar/waro.html
Asia
http://www.inthefirstperson.com/firp/index.shtml
http://www.library.yale.edu/div/SouthAsia/
England
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/Default.aspx
http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/
France
http://gallica.bnf.fr/?lang=EN
Germany
http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/Index.cfm?language=english
Scotland
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scottishenlightenment/index.asp
Italy
http://eudocs.lib.byu.edu/index.php/History_of_Italy:_Primary_Documents
European Sources by Nation
http://eudocs.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Main_Page
Your goal is to write a summary analysis of a primary document that you have picked out yourself from the historical record. Next, compare the
document to the main text (Bentley, Davidson, Rawls, Foner, Murphy etc.). Use MLA format (author, page #). In this case, the main course text
will represent the secondary source, use MLA format.
Be sure to clearly cite your primary source for the reader at the top of the paper. Use either a full citation or hyperlink, as I would like to
read and reference the primary document prior to reading your analytical paper.
At the top of the paper place the following:
“My primary source is ________________________ and it relates to this class because______________.
It can be found at this URL.”
Then list the hyperlink of the URL.
The primary source can be related to almost any topic that interests you so long as it relates directly to the topics in this class. You should
look for areas that match your passions, career interests, hobbies, or research while relating to the course text and curriculum. Be sure to
check the documents page for clear direction on what is a primary source vs. a secondary source. This is key since one of the objectives of this
assignment, is to teach you the difference and value of a primary source vs. a secondary source. There are a plethora of documents relating to
sports, industry, women, politics, and religion, drugs (both legal and illegal) and so on. You are free to choose whatever you like, however
stay away from obvious overly cited documents such as the Declaration of Independence or the Communist Manifesto, no books in their entirety for
example Mein Kempf, the Diary of Ann Frank or Common Sense.
A list of docs that should not be used is listed below. The source may be a letter describing a new frontier or slave conditions on a ship or a
speech (text of speech is acceptable, a video is not) given on a relevant topic as it relates to the class. For example, Kennedy’s speech in
Berlin about Communism relates to History 121 and 102 but not California History 133.It can be a diary entry or artwork, economic data, a
political cartoon or a song. The publication date of the source must be within the dates for this class. For example, if you are in the early US
History class it is not appropriate to write about Watergate. If you are in World History, choose a document relating to the timeframe of the
class. If you are in the California History class, choose a document that is directly related to California, and so on.
The short paper must accomplish three goals.
1. Be sure to describe the primary source to the reader. Do not copy the text of the source or quote from it. Rather analyze and describe
it using formal research language. I will have read/referenced the document from the citation/hyperlink you have provided at the top of your
paper. I am interested in the meaning and analysis of the document, not a reprinting of it. Clearly state your thesis/argument and provide the
sources as proof of your argument. The thesis must be clearly stated in the beginning of the paper.
2. Since the piece is from a specific time-period, who is the audience for this piece? (Please do not say the public, or Americans…..be
specific. This may require you to expand your research so that you are more familiar with the author, the document, the content and the time-
frame it was published). What is the goal of the author? What are his/her aims? What changes are expected from this source? Utilize the methods
as explained in Degrees of Analytical Complexitydocument. I will be looking for the guidelines explained on this document in your paper.
3. Place the document into its historical context. What are the environmental/societal factors that influenced the writing of this
document? Why is this document relevant? Why should we be interested in it? How did this document influence the historical society when it was
introduced? What is your analysis of the document? Why did you choose it? What have you learned from it? How does this document fit into the
other subjects/topics/papers you have read/written in this class?
You will be graded on content, relevance, analysis and quality of your work. Plagiarism and academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. While in
college, you will get most of your ideas from other people and that is expected and helpful. Just do not copy or take credit for it, cite and
footnote the original author. Do not recycle your own work from another class and pass it off for another grade. This is considered Academic
Dishonesty.
Below is a list of peccadilloes that I found online (Furman University). I would suspect that most professors have similar complaints when
students commit these academic offenses. Be sure to proofread your paper before submitting it for grading and try to avoid the listed issues
below.
1. A clear, original, non-obvious, defensible thesis and logical organization are essential.
2. Write concisely.
3. Avoid passive constructions such as “it was,” and “it has been.” You must tell explicitly who is doing the thing you describe.
4. Like strong seasonings, quotations should be used very judiciously.
5. Do not use “I” in formal writing. Declarative sentences are more effective. Everyone already knows from the essay format that this is
your own viewpoint. Within the genre of historical writing, indiscriminate use of “I” is at once a sign of vanity and of poor confidence.
6. Sentences that combine commentary with precise descriptive information are a plus.
7. Strive for gender-neutral phrasing.
8. Do not start sentences with the word “however.”
9. The following words or expressions are powerless and inaccurate. Do not use them:
a. obviously
b. in terms of
c. certain, certainly
d. basically
e. “on a ____ basis”
f. feels, felt
g. in-depth
h. deals with, dealt with
i. dominate (adjective), when you mean dominant
10. Avoid qualifiers. Words such as “somewhat,” “literally,” and “definitely.” are right out.
11. Centuries (“the 1700s”) are plural, not possessive. Do not use an apostrophe.
12. Do not say “Succession” when you mean the Secession of the Confederate states.
13. Do not use postal abbreviations for states (write “North Carolina,” not NC).
14. Woe unto essays that include text messaging abbreviations
15. Always use the past tense when describing events in the past.
16. Be accurate in your terminology.
17. Do not use offensive, pejorative, or outmoded terms such as “linthead,” “redneck,” “Yankee”, “wetback,” “chink,” “Redskin,” or “Negro”
unless directly quoting a source. It may be better to avoid them entirely.
18. Before critiquing the author’s argument be sure you understand it.
Essays that use clear scholarly language and present original, testable arguments will be preferred over essays that are simplistic or obvious
in their analysis or are purely descriptive.
Start looking for the document, early, ask questions and be prepared to find the meaning of the primary source as it relates to the class.
In the past students have received a zero grade on this paper and here is a list of the major mistakes that were made. I cannot grade an
assignment that falls outside the parameters of what was assigned. This is not math class, no partial credit for “effort”. You have to do it
right and then I can grade it.
I am listing the mistakes here, in hopes that you avoid these pitfalls and succeed in earning the grade you seek.
Example of Student Work The reason the paper received a zero grade
A student wrote a summary of the Diary of Anne Frank, stating that Anne Frank deeply understood anti-Semitism.
The problem here is that the thesis is weak and impossible to prove. The Diary of Anne Frank was about Anne’s own perception while in
hiding. She was unaware of the camps and the slaughter that ensued. The diary is a historical document and an excerpt would have been a good
source with a strong thesis. Avoid these types of documents since it is impossible to read the minds of the deceased.
A student attempted to use a song as a primary source, but the song was written in 2010 and was about slavery. The problem here is that the
issue of slavery is a global crime that is still committed throughout the world and had the class time frame/content included global slavery in
the modern time, it would have been ok. But this song was compared to black slavery in the US. Not appropriate and not connected.
A student used the British equivalent of an encyclopedia to describe the Greek Gods. The problem here is that Greek Gods or for that matter
any God is an unprovable matter. If you believe in God, please don’t be offended. Any God cannot be cited since the literature around these
entities are man-made. This is why the Bible,Torah, Quran, Bhagavad Gita or the Sutras are not considered primary sources. These are just other
sources and not appropriate for this assignment. In the example to the left, the encyclopedia is not a primary source.
A student used a letter posted on eyewitnesshistory.com The problem here was that this website is not a reputable website. One of the most
important issues in history is verified documents that are truthful and valid. Historians and Archivists spend thousands of hours verifying
information and cross-checking data. Any website that is “.com” has a commercial interest and is not considered scholastic or college level.
Stay away from these sites.
A student took another history class and recycled a research paper from the other class. This is considered academic dishonesty. You are
plagiarizing, and YES you can plagiarize yourself. You are expected to do original research and write original papers.
A student used a speech about women presented at the UN in 2011. The speaker was an actress. The speech was by an actress and did not relate
to world history. This is an obviously weak attempt at connecting two items that have little scholastic value. The actress described the status
of women and “second class” around the globe and was hoping to bring attention to this issue. Of course women are treated as second class, this
is not news and the actress who spoke at the UN, no doubt was profound, but she is an actress, hired to do a job. I want you to use common sense
and ask questions when trying to connect issues/items that either do not belong or add nothing to the scholarship.
A student turned in an opinion piece without any scholastic or academic analysis Paper received a zero and the student believed that some
credit should be given for attempting to write the paper. There is no partial credit for an “attempt”. Please follow the instructions.
List of what NOT to choose for this assignment. This is not an exhaustive list meaning that there may be documents that are not listed here.
1. Articles of Confederation
2. Declaration of Independence
3. Diary of Anne Frank
4. Mein Kompf
5. Gettysburg Address
6. Emancipation Proclamation
7. “ I have a Dream” speech by MLK
8. Common Sense
9. Any famous Presidential Speech
10. US Bill of Rights
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