Assignment 1
Assignment Instructions
A Short Paper Assignment allows you, early in the course, to demonstrate your research skills to your instructor and to receive feedback that will benefit you when you write your research paper. With this assignment, you will learn how to do proper and adequate research and write a short paper and prepare you for writing the research paper.
In this assignment, you will be constructing a brief essay on one of the following “current events” topics:
1) Native American protest of the use of Indians and Indian symbolism as sports team mascots.
2) Tribal involvement inCASINOS/organized gambling.
3) Recent court cases involving Native American claims to land or later impacts of landmark court cases.
4) Legal battles of the Lumbee for recognition.
Your essay should be persuasive and needs to take a side on the issue. It is not enough to note that there are two sides and then explain them. I have deliberately provided you with controversial topics that lend themselves to argument. It is not necessary to take a pro-Native American stand on issues and doing so will not improve your grade. The point of assigning this topic is to increase your knowledge of some current hot-button issues affecting Native Americans.
Checklist for Basic Grading Criteria for General Education and (Lower Level) Written Assignments in History
Format and Submission
· – Is your paper formatted in the proper file format (MSWord .doc or docx or .rtf file)?
· – Does your paper include a separate cover page that includes assignment name, student name and student number, writing style (i.e Chicago- preferred, APA or MLA), course name, professor name, date and institution?
· -Is your paper formatted with one inch margins and using New Times Roman 12 point font?
· -Is your file submitted using last name first name course and assignment? Example: SmithWilliamHIST223ShortPaper1.
Introduction and Thesis Statement
D -Did your essay include an introduction and clear thesis statement at the end of the introduction?
Organization and Body of essay
· Is your essay well-organized with topic sentences and supporting detail that reinforces your thesis?
Did your essay meet narrative word count requirements? Narrative word count is word count without citation and bibliography.
· Word count requirement= 1000 words.
Historical Analysis
· Did you construct your essay using quality academic sources (specifically book or peer-reviewed sources from our Online Library or other university, governmental, museum, or research websites)? Your paper must utilize a minimum of two primary/secondary sources. Note that the new rubric penalizes the use of your textbook and encyclopedia-type websites heavily. Do not use the textbook as a source or list it in the bibliography.
· Did you include relevant historical support, including historical examples that reinforce your thesis?
· Did you include chronological context in your essay and include important dates or date spans?
Writing Style and Grammar
· Is your essay composed using formal English (no use of slang) and using proper capitalization, grammar and spelling rules?
· Is your essay presented in academic third person (does not use “I”)?
· Did you refrain from using abbreviations and contractions in your analysis (use “do not” instead of “don’t”)?
Use of Citation and Bibliography
· Did you consistently follow the citation and bibliographical requirements of one style manual (again Chicago is the preferred style, but MLA or APA are also acceptable) and list that style on your title page? If you are familiar with a style, please use that style consistently throughout your essay. Do not switch between styles. History majors are strongly encouraged to use Chicago or Turabian citation as this is a requirement in upper-level courses.
· Did you cite your sources in the narrative of your essay using parenthetical citation or computer-generated footnote/endnote numbering? Remember citation takes place immediately after each use of direct quote and after paraphrasing of information.
· Did you include a separate bibliography with your essay?
· Is the bibliography alphabetized and includes all relevant information depending on source type? Remember accessed date for online sources.
