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History Writing
D5 February 20, 2017
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Request
 Papers of the
War Department
1784-1800
 Paper Instructions
1. The paper is limited to between
1700-2000 words (includes footnotes or
endnotes)(5-6 pages).
2. Essay must be typed and capable of
receiving electronic comments (Word,
Pages, Text)
3. 12 point font of a reasonable font
(Georgia, New Times Roman, Arial)
4. Lines double spaced
5. 1 inch margins
 Questions
Who is the author, audience, and context of each of
the sources?
How can we read between the lines of the
documents for implications not explicit in the text?
Most importantly, how do the primary sources you
selected relate to each other?
Is there a conversation happening between the
texts, or multiple perspectives building on each
other?
What do these sources tell us about American
military history more broadly?
 Assignment
1. Concentrate on Analysis of the text in your sources

2. Answer the assignment questions!

3. This assignment is NOT a research paper or mini-
thesis

4. Limit use of secondary sources

5. Dont waste words summarizing, restating, or

rewriting the sources text
 Writing Analysis
Introduction
SHORT summary of text you are introducing (like IDs)
Analyze text citing examples {short quotes are better}
Demonstrate how the text relates to the theme you
selected and ensure you answer the questions in the
assignment
Conclusion
REWRITE Introduction so that it matches your
analysiseliminate extraneous words and ideas.
 Key Factors in Grade
Answer Questions in Assignment

Use text in the sources

Topic Sentences with related

evidence in concise paragraphs

Rare Passive Voice Clearly

constructed sentences

No slang, jargon, emojis, or

contractions use spell and
grammar check

Clear Introduction and Conclusion

Paragraphs
 Deadline
1. Paper will be submitted and uploaded via
Blackboard Assignment site NLT 1300 on April
3, 2017
2. Papers submitted within 48 hours of due date
will be penalized one full letter grade (-4 points)
3. Papers submitted with 72 hours within of due
date will be penalized two letter grades (-6
points)
4. Papers submitted after 1300 on April 6 will not
be accepted and the student will receive a 0
for the assignment.
 Citing Sources
Chicago Style 16th Edition:
Footnotes or Endnotes (or use
standards in Rampollas work)
Include a URL to source or pdf
version of source(s) with your
paper for grading purposes only.
Zotero FREE!
 Plagiarism
Plagiarism: the presentation, with intent to deceive, or with disregard for proper
scholarly procedures of a significant scope, of any information, ideas or phrasing
of another as if they were ones own without giving appropriate credit to the
original source.

1. One commits plagiarism when one includes the words of another without
quotation or when one includes the substantive work of another without properly
crediting the source with footnotes, quotation marks, or other appropriate
citation.

2. A students intent may be inferred based on the extent and context of the
improperly cited material and whether the student has provided false citation or
has manipulated the original text such that a reasonable person may conclude the
student did so in order to avoid detection.

The American History Association has guidelines for recognizing plagiarismon

their Website at AHA plagiarismto include definitions and exercises. Chapter 6
inMary Lynn Rampolla'sA Pocket Guide to Writing in Historyhas guidelines for
avoiding plagiarism.
Questions
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