Description
Writing Assignment I
Before you begin work on Writing Assignment I, be sure to complete the Learning Unit for Writing Assignment I. Take notes. Be sure you understand what is expected so you can earn the highest grade possible.
Then print this page to guide you as you write.
Context:
Each Writing Assignment will ask you to create a thesis and support it with some of the sources from the Primary Source Boards.
Your thesis should present an argument, within the era we've been studying. It must have a point of view and be arguable (that is, someone else could argue it's not true). An interpretive thesis takes a stand, and uses the primary sources as evidence to prove it.
For example:
X happened because Y happened.
Although most people believe X, closer examination of the evidence indicates Y.
During this era people experienced X, because of Y.
Writing Assignment:
Please create a short paragraph that includes:
• An interpretive thesis about one or more of the eras we've studied so far, in bold text
• 3 primary sources from one or more of the Primary Sources Boards in chronological order, with each source related to the thesis through your own explanation
• each source named and fully cited (author/artist, title, date, live link to a page where it is featured)
• a one-sentence conclusion
Don't have the sources you need? You may add any source to any appropriate Board at any time, so long as it is fully cited and available for all to use.
Here are some tips:
• Make the thesis interpretive and arguable
• Avoid troublesome sources (if the citation information isn't complete, don't use it)
• Discuss each source so it proves the thesis instead of illustrating it
Technical Note: never compose anything inside Canvas! Always use an outside program, then paste it in and clean it up (you have a half hour to edit). If your ISP blips, or there's a power spike, or you hit the wrong button (I do this all the time), all your work may be lost. Compose all writing posts in TextEdit or Notepad.
Grading is based on the quality of the thesis, the use and citation of primary sources, adherence to formatting rules, and the use of college-level writing.
EXAMPLES:
Samples of Writing Assignment I
The following are sample A and B Writing Assignment I's submitted by recent students. They are from several of my classes, but all are the format for Writing Assignment I, except that some have more than the required three sources.