Instructions: Please write a 3-5 page paper (1000+ words) on a primary document of your choosing from the period 1877-present. The type of document that you choose—political, social, artistic, economic, philosophical, religious, etc.—is up to you. Select a source in which you are genuinely interested, and which has enough substance to justify a 3-5 page paper.
Due Date: February 26.
Examples of primary documents you might consider include the 19th Amendment to Franklin Roosevelt’s First inaugural or Four Freedoms Speech; the Civil Rights Act, or Ronald Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall Speech,” etc. You’ll find a helpful list of potential documents here:
Content: Your paper should introduce the document and explain its historical context – who wrote it, when, where, and why; it should briefly summarize the content of the document (not more than 25% of the paper); and it should analyze the document’s importance in modern U.S. history.
Style: All papers must be typed or word-processed as you’ll be submitting it electronically to the Assignments drop box called “Primary-Source Paper.” Use a one-inch margin on all sides, and double-space the text. Select a standard 10 or 12 pt. font (e.g, Times New Roman, Arial). Use page numbers. A title page is not necessary. If you cite a source or use a quotation, you must document this with an endnote or a footnote. See the following quick review sheet for the Chicago Manual of Style:
https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html
Avoid monotonous vocabulary and vary your sentence structure. Beware of excessive use of the passive voice! Use transitions to link your ideas from one paragraph to the next. Use specific examples whenever possible.
Thesis: Your paper should have a clear and unambiguous thesis. It does not have to be complex or brilliantly original, but it must unify the information presented in your paper. A good thesis usually makes an argument rather than simply stating the obvious (e.g., “Ronald Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” speech helped change German and American attitudes about the Cold War and facilitated the collapse of the Soviet Union,” not “This document was important for American history”). You are encouraged to consult with the professor regarding a possible thesis statement.
Lastly, for an excellent discourse on Reading and Writing about Primary Sources, see:
https://libraries.wm.edu/research/primary-sources
Avoid monotonous vocabulary and vary your sentence structure. Beware of excessive use of the passive voice! Use transitions to link your ideas from one paragraph to the next. Use specific examples whenever possible.
Thesis: Your paper should have a clear and unambiguous thesis. It does not have to be complex or brilliantly original, but it must unify the information presented in your paper. A good thesis usually makes an argument rather than simply stating the obvious (e.g., “Ronald Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” speech helped change German and American attitudes about the Cold War and facilitated the collapse of the Soviet Union,” not “This document was important for American history”). You are encouraged to consult with the professor regarding a possible thesis statement.
Lastly, for an excellent discourse on Reading and Writing about Primary Sources, see:
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