Instructions:
Remember that these are ANALYTICAL essays. I want original arguments and interpretations of
the evidence. You MUST use the primary evidence provided, but a summary of the readings is
NOT sufficient. This is what I look for when grading your analytical essays. All essays need to be in Times New Roman, 12-pt font, double-spaced, and utilize footnotes.
Thesis
– Does the essay have a clear thesis? You should be able to summarize the main point of your
essay in one or two sentences; the whole purpose of the essay is to convince the reader of that
main point. Be clear about what you are trying to prove, and let your reader know.
– Is it a strong thesis? I am looking for interesting, original explanations of why things happen
in history; avoid weak topics that focus on insignificant points or ones that are so obvious that
they do not require detailed proof.
Arguments
– Is the thesis supported by a sufficient number of logical arguments and sub-arguments? In
order to convince the reader that your thesis is correct you will need to present several supporting
arguments; some of those arguments may in turn require support of their own.
– Does each argument contribute directly to your thesis? An essay this brief needs to remain
sharply focused on your thesis; don’t wander off into other topics.
Evidence
– Is each argument or sub-argument supported by convincing evidence? Remember that primary
evidence is generally more convincing than secondary, and that the most convincing way to use
primary evidence is to quote it directly. Be sure to explain all primary evidence as well.
– Is all evidence correctly quoted and cited? If you paraphrase from any source, you must give
the original author credit. If you copy from any source, you must use quotation marks and give a
brief citation, either in parentheses after the quote [(Esler, Western World, p. 9); (Tacitus in
Discovering…, p. 55)] or in a footnote. If you quote from a source that is not among the course
readings, you must also give a complete citation in a bibliography. Note: failure to correctly cite
paraphrases or quotes is plagiarism, and I will hammer for you it!
Clarity/Organization
– Is the essay clearly organized and easy to follow? Does support for your thesis proceed
logically from point to point, and is each point presented in a separate paragraph? Often the only
way to keep a complex structure of arguments and sub-arguments organized is to outline it first.
– Is the meaning of each sentence clear and easy to follow? When in doubt, keep it simple!
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