Essay 3: Extended Primary Source Analysis

Length and Due Dates

Length:  7-8 pages (1750-2000 words)
First Draft Due:  March 1; bring three copies to class
Final Draft Due:  March 6 at the beginning of class; all previous drafts and critiques should be attached

Assignment

For your third paper you will be required to do original historical research on a topic of your own design.  You will develop that paper around a primary source or sources of your choice. Ask yourself what kinds sources might help to illuminate your topic. Once you’ve found a source or several sources, ask yourself:  what the source reveals about the topic.  Consider why the source is interesting and historically significant. 

Guidelines

1) Think of Essay 3 as an extended version of the type of argument you did for Essay 2.  Although you will write on a specific source (or sources) and topic, you must develop an argument regarding the meaning of the source(s).  To do so, you will need to review lecture notes and readings to understand the historical context surrounding the source(s). 

2) To get started on the essay, refer to the handout distributed in your history class section.  The handout outlines a process for moving from topic to thesis and contains a list of topic suggestions. 

3)  If you get lost in the process of searching for primary sources, come and talk to me or contact librarian Sue Kane immediately.  You may also review the Web page that Ms. Kane created for our class.

4) While you may incorporate lecture notes and readings into your essay, concentrate on analyzing the primary source.  Your task is to discuss what the source reveals about the topic.

5)  Since each of you will use different primary sources, you will need to cite all references using Chicago-style footnotes.