Essay for Canadian history
khanalkc
Essay-CanadianHistory-ConnectingtothePastEssay-Fall2019.docxCanadian History – Connecting to the Past Essay Assignment
Introduction: The goal of this assignment is to trace the roots of a contemporary Canadian topic to their historical beginnings. The idea behind this project is to help you make connections between current events and their origin in Canadian History. While you do not need approval for your newspaper article or topic, I would recommend speaking with me about your topic and article before writing your paper.
Instructions: Below is a detailed list of what is required for the essay along with a rubric on how you will be assessed.
1. Find a current (last 10 years) newspaper article on a Canadian topic which interests you. You do not need my approval, but I would encourage you to discuss your topic with me before completing the preliminary report.
2. Find 3 scholarly (academic) sources to help contextualize, support, and challenge/correct in the article. If you are not sure whether a source is scholarly or not, be sure to look at this link on the Sheridan Library website. You can use whichever citation method you prefer but be consistent and use the same one throughout.
3. Develop a thesis which clearly, directly, and succinctly answers the following question: What are the historical roots/origins of the topic you selected? For help writing an effective thesis statement, you can visit this website. Please note, this is the single most important sentence of the entire process, so you should take some time to get it right.
4. Write 3-4 pages double spaced (750-1000 words) essay which supports your thesis statement. Be sure to consult the rubric below on how you will be marked.
5. You must hand in both an electronic and hard copy of the essay AND the newspaper article you selected.
Rubric:
Article Selection (10 points):
1. How well does the newspaper article relate to a Canadian topic (5 points)?
2. Can its roots be traced to something in Canadian History (5 points)?
Revised Thesis Statement (15 points):
1. How well does the thesis statement address the research question (5 points)?
2. How well does the thesis statement connect the newspaper article with Canadian History? (5 points)?
3. How well written is the thesis statement and can it be easily identified (5 points)?
Organization (25 points):
1. How well is the essay organized overall (15 points)?
2. How well does the essay transition between subtopics and subpoints (5 points)?
3. Does each paragraph begin with a clear topic sentence (5 points)?
Selection and Use of Sources (25 points):
1. Are all the sources scholarly/academic (10 points)?
2. How well are the sources used to support the thesis statement (10 points)?
3. Are the sources cited properly and consistently throughout the paper (5 points)?
Writing and Grammar (25 Points):
1. How well written is the essay (25 points)?
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