History

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Written Assignment Checklist

Primary Source Review Sheet, Discussion Board, and Journal Entry Assignments:

1. For primary source review assignments, please use the primary source review sheet template and follow all instructions in addition to this checklist.

2. For Discussion Boards and Journal Entries, follow all instructions listed in Canvas in addition to this checklist. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure all submitted assignments follow all instructions and meets all criteria in the checklist below.

Assignments that do not follow instructions will receive a zero.

Basic Format Guidelines A. Your name, class section, and date as a header, with

Times New Roman or Arial 12-point font, 1-inch margins, double space, and inserted page numbers.

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Basic Paper Structure B. Introduction: One paragraph in length. Introduces brief

overview, tells reader in summary what topics will be discussed, and includes a thesis statement. Thesis statement is telling the reader your perspective and contention on the topic.

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C. Main body of paper, (meaning all paragraphs in between the introduction and conclusion paragraphs, provides chronological description of events with relevant quotes to provide proof of your descriptions and ideas.

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D. When starting to discuss a new topic or idea start a new paragraph.

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E. Each paragraph needs to stay focused and on topic. Do not jump around on topics or ideas within the same paragraph because it creates a disjointed reading experience.

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F. Transitional sentences between each paragraph create flow. Jumping from one topic/ idea to the next without transitional sentences at the end of a paragraph leading into the next paragraph creates a disjointed reading experience.

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G. Conclusion: One paragraph in length. Summarizes paper as a whole and last sentence ends with final analysis of your thesis statement.

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Continued on next page.

Professor Laura J. Sweeney Curricula Materials

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Grammar, Spelling, Correcting Typos, Proper Academic Format, and Citation H. Used past tense in paper since historical events were

in the past. I, the student, have completed this task. Check here if completed. □

I. Indented the beginning of all paragraphs with five spaces. I, the student, have

completed this task. Check here if completed. □

J. Used either underline, italics or quotation marks for proper titles of documents, films, books, etc.

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K. Capitalized all proper names, places, events, titles, and the first letter of the first word that begins a sentence.

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L. Used a lead-in to quote rather than beginning sentence with a quote. Correct Example: Professor Sweeney said, “Follow the paper checklist.” Incorrect Example: Professor Sweeney said to follow all guidelines for the paper. “Follow the paper checklist.”

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M. Spelled out numbers except for dates, Examples: twenty-five thousand dollar slush fund (not 25,000 dollar) December 29, 2014

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N. Placed all periods or commas next to quotations inside the quotation marks, not on the outside and placed a comma before quote.

Correct example: Professor Sweeney said, “follow the checklist.” Incorrect example: Professor Sweeney said “follow the checklist”.

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O. Corrected all misspellings, typos, and improper grammar.

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P. Ensured there was not excessive use of pronouns, e.g. he, him, himself, she, her, herself, they, their, them, us, we, it, you etc.

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Q. Ensured there was not any use of contractions, e.g. don’t should be written out do not, isn’t should be written out is not etc.

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Continued on next page.

Professor Laura J. Sweeney Curricula Materials

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R. Ensured all abbreviations have periods in between each letter, e.g. US should be U.S. or Washington DC should be Washington D.C.

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S. Ensured there was not any use of the first person, e.g. “I,” “Me,” “My,” “Myself,” etc.

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T. Ensured that commas or semicolons were used to separate thoughts in sentences, not colons or dashes.

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U. Ensured there was not any use of colloquial or slang language.

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V. Ensured that after introducing a person with their full name when they first appear in the paper, thereafter person is referred to by their last name, not first name.

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W. Ensured there were not any run-on sentences. I, the student, have completed this task. Check here if completed. □

X. Placed all citations at the end of sentences, not in mid- sentence.

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Y. Provided proper academic citation for all sources. When citing anything from lecture, the textbook, primary source documents, websites, etc. or when paraphrasing information from another source use in-text footnotes. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM ANOTHER SOURCE MUST BE CITED PROPERLY OR THE PAPER WILL RECEIVE A ZERO AND I WILL REPORT THE ACT OF PLAGIARISM TO THE DEPARMTENT THAT HANDLES ACADEMIC DISHONESTY.

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Z. Ensured all instructions for written assignments and questions were addressed in submitted work and use of specified course materials listed in the syllabus and instructions were utilized in analysis.

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Professor Laura J. Sweeney Curricula Materials