Short Paper #2 (Global Pandemics; Book: The First Horseman: Disease in Human History by John Aberth) Exploring Historical Roots and Comparisons
Short Paper #2 (Global Pandemics; Book: The First Horseman: Disease in Human History by John Aberth)
Exploring Historical Roots and Comparisons
Short Papers: General (minimum: 1000 words not including citations; the minimum can be
exceeded)
The Short Paper assignments are designed to help you organize your thoughts about the
materials covered in each unit, demonstrate your understanding of the readings to date, and
practice writing a persuasive argument with a thesis and evidence. In the early assignments,
we will take a step-by-step approach, while in later assignments, we encourage you to work
more independently. Late essays will be penalized 10% for every 24 hours they are late
beyond the deadline.
Technical: Papers should be in 12 pt. font with standard margins (approx. 1") and doublespaced.
They should include your name (first and last) and a title (no title page). Short papers
do not require a bibliography but do require proper citations. Do not write in first or second
person narratives (in other words, do not use “I think” and similar wording). Avoid slang or
non-academic language.
Short Paper #2
Our last paper concentrated on how scholars support thesis-driven arguments using a variety
of evidence. As we discovered, authors will often rely on historical data to shape their
arguments and develop conclusions that are relevant to the world today.
This paper asks you to analyze how our authors in this unit use historical evidence to create
knowledge useful to the present. As an example, for most of us, smallpox, the bubonic plague,
and past influenza outbreaks are not particularly relevant to our daily lives. However, their
impacts on human societies can tell us a lot about the role disease has played in the course of
history. Furthermore, by comparing these impacts to those of a contemporary pandemic, such
as AIDS as discussed in The First Horseman, we can determine how the responses of societies
have either changed or remained constant over the centuries. Finally, by examining the details
of past pandemics, we may learn useful information on preventing or reducing the effects of
future pandemics. Thus, while the stories of earlier influenza outbreaks, smallpox, and the
bubonic plague may seem irrelevant at first glance, they nonetheless give us important insight
into how we perceive disease today. This will be one of the approaches you will use in your
final paper as you identify the historical roots of your issue and their ultimate consequences.
Compare the impacts on human societies (political, economic, religious,
cultural, etc.) of past influenza outbreaks, smallpox, and/or the bubonic plague
to the AIDS pandemic. How were these impacts similar and why might this be
the case? How were their impacts different; why might this be so? Be sure to
use multiple specific examples from The First Horseman, our additional articles,
videos, and class presentations.
Additional notes:
-While these diseases may have several biological similarities or differences (symptoms,
method of transmission, type of organism, etc.) your paper should focus on a comparison of
the social impacts of your chosen diseases and AIDS.
-Use The First Horseman as the source for evidence regarding AIDS. No additional outside
research is required.
-While you may compare social effects of all three historical outbreaks/diseases (influenza,
smallpox, and the bubonic plague) you are required to consider at least two of these
historical outbreaks/diseases.
If you need step-by-step instructions, see the "Optional Steps" below. Your essay should be
approximately 1000 words (not including citations; the minimum can be exceeded) and should
demonstrate your understanding of the readings (on pandemics) to date. Your answers should
incorporate evidence from multiple course materials, including examples from assigned
readings and information from your presentation and discussion notes. Essays that rely on a
narrow range of sources will not receive high marks. Your citations (required) should conform
to Chicago Style. Be sure to indicate all direct quotes with quotation marks and proper
citations. Be sure to indicate material used from another source with proper citations.
Failure to do so is a violation of academic integrity.
Optional Steps:
1) Brainstorm and review the elements that you will include in your essay. List as many ways
that you can think of that the past pandemics impacted human societies politically,
economically and culturally. Do you see parallels to these processes that might shed light on
the possible effects of the AIDS pandemic in the modern world? Decide which
outbreaks/diseases and their social effects you will compare to the social effects of AIDS.
Make a list of the book pages, articles, lecture notes, or other evidence from class related to
your chosen pandemic and the spread of AIDS, with dates/pages numbers (when relevant), in
anticipation of your citations.
2) Copy and paste the following four components or parts (A-D) into a Word document. Then
write a substantial paragraph or paragraphs under each lettered heading. Provide footnotes
to your sources using proper Chicago Style (noted on Angel and in Rampolla) just as if you
were writing a short paper. Be sure to indicate all direct quotes with quotation marks and
proper citations. Be sure to indicate material used from another source with proper citations.
Failure to do so is a violation of academic integrity.
A) Introduction, and main thesis/argument: In your own words, which historical social
effects of these past outbreaks provide the best models and contrasts for thinking about the
modern AIDS pandemic and why? (Here you are stating your own thesis for the paper,
providing a general definition of the topic, in this case, the historical comparison of pandemics
and your criteria of comparison.)
B) Body: Provide at least three substantial examples of parallels (similarities) between the
historical pandemics and that of AIDS. The entire paper should be in your own words, except
when you are quoting primary or secondary sources, always with citation. In general, you
should aim to paraphrase secondary sources in your own words, using verbatim quotations
sparingly. When paraphrasing, you must still cite the source of your information with a
footnote. Describe and explain the examples and why they constitute meaningful historical
parallels. Breadth and appropriateness of sources (to your argument) impact the points
awarded.
C) Body: Provide at least two examples of differences between the reactions of societies in
which the past pandemics and those where AIDS emerged that might create different
outcomes. Here, consider the social, political, economic, cultural (technological and
intellectual) differences between the past and the modern world. Remember to cite your
sources, including page numbers. Breadth and appropriateness of sources (to your argument)
impact the points awarded.
D) Conclusion: Write a concluding paragraph that discusses the significance or implications
of your argument. What might the similarities or differences in how each of these pandemics
has affected societies tell us how pandemics function generally? For example, you might
consider how your argument might be useful for understanding future pandemics.
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