history discussion

For your discussion this week we are reading a part of Thomas Paine's Common Sense. Published in early 1776, this short book offers a series of arguments in favor of independence from Great Britain and the formation of an American republic. The text is broken up into four chapters. Each of you will read one of those chapters based on the first letter of your last name.

If your last name begins with…

A, B, C, D or E read chapter one: http://tiny.cc/Paine1

 In the forum this week, you’ll do three things. First, I’d like to you identify what you believe the thesis to be of your chapter. What is Paine’s main argument? Next, explain how he backs up that argument. And finally, point out what you feel is the most important or convincing piece of evidence that he uses.

Note that this site provides paragraph numbers alongside the text. You should use those numbers when citing the text. For example, if you quoted from the third paragraph in chapter two, simply place a citations saying (Ch. 2, Para. 3) in your text.

In your response you should use evidence from the primary sources to prove your point. Typically this requires a three-step process of making your assertions about the issue, giving the reader evidence that proves your point (usually by providing a brief quotation from the text), and then fully explaining to the reader why the evidence proves your point. When you do provide information from the reader, be sure to provide citation using the method described above. 

Responses should run between 200 and 400 words. 

For full credit, be sure to provide a substantive response of at least 100 words to someone else's post after you have posted your response. In these responses you want to fully explain why you agree or disagree with what the person has said. 

A grading rubric for these discussions is available in the content section of this Blackboard site