History

Exam1EssayInstructionandRubric.docx

EXAM 1

Essay Question – Worth 50 Points

Be sure to FULLY support your argument with historical information in a multi-paragraph essay, 2 pages (include introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs.)

Follow English grammar standards and rules, using use college-level language.

Use Times New Roman and size 12 font. Double-space your essay.

Choose from ONE of the following topics and complete your essay. Remember to follow the instructions and formatting described.

1) Compare the myth of the “Wild West” with its reality. What elements of truth would these stories have contained, and what was fabricated or left out? What was life actually like for cowboys, ranchers, and the few women present in mining towns or along the cattle range?

2) Industrialization, immigration, and urbanization all took place on an unprecedented scale during this era. What were the relationships of these processes to one another? How did each process serve to catalyze and fuel the others?

3) Historians often mine the arts for clues to the social, cultural, political, and intellectual shifts that characterized a given era. How do the many works of visual art, literature, and social philosophy that emerged from this period reflect the massive changes that were taking place? How were Americans—both those who created these works and those who read or viewed them—struggling to understand the new reality through art, literature, and scholarship?

4) Describe the multiple groups and leaders that emerged in the fight for the Progressive agenda, including women’s rights, African American rights, and workers’ rights. How were the philosophies, agendas, strategies, and approaches of these leaders and organizations similar and different? What made it difficult for all Progressive activists to present a united front?

INSTRUCTIONS

DO NOT copy and paste ANY of your essay from ANY print or Internet source. This is academic plagiarism and will result in an automatic zero for the Exam.

Minimum of 2 credible, scholarly sources.

Please make use of your textbook.

DO Not use .com, .net. or .orgs

Do Not use Wikipedia

Do not use an encyclopedia as one of your major sources. These are compilations, not a scholarly source.

You can use .edu and .gov

I strongly encourage you to use EbscoHost.

Here’s the link:

EbscoHost

You must CITE all sources used within the text of your essay (using in-text citations) and provide a Works Cited Page of those sources; you may use whichever style you are most familiar: APA, MLA, Chicago. If you need assistance with this, please let me know.

You may also use our Communications Lab online services at https://www.occc.edu/writingcenter/echo.html

Grading Rubric:

The Grading Rubric helps you fully understand what is expected of you.

Excellent

Above Average

Average

Below Average

Failure

Writing Convention

25%

The writing demonstrates exceptionally strong control of standard writing conventions (e.g., punctuation, spelling, capitalization, paragraph breaks, grammar and usage) and uses them effectively to enhance communication. The response meets the necessary length requirement.

The writing demonstrates strong control of standard writing conventions (e.g., punctuation, spelling, capitalization, paragraph breaks, grammar and usage) and uses them effectively to enhance communication. Errors are so few and so minor that they do not impede readability.

The writing demonstrates control of standard writing conventions (e.g., punctuation, spelling, capitalization, paragraph breaks, grammar and usage). Minor errors, while perhaps noticeable, do not impede readability. The response is 21-75 words short of the minimum length requirement.

The writing demonstrates limited control of standard writing conventions (e.g., punctuation, spelling, capitalization, paragraph breaks, grammar and usage). Errors begin to impede readability. The response fell more than 75 words below the minimum length requirement.

The writing demonstrates little control of standard writing conventions. Frequent, significant errors impede readability.

Source Citation

25%

Submission includes reference notes and a bibliography. Each source is complete and follows the proper format for citation style. Less than 3 errors in citations.

Submission includes reference notes and a bibliography. Most sources are complete and follow the proper format for citation style. Between 4 – 6 errors in citations.

Submission includes reference notes and a bibliography. Some sources have complete and follow the proper format for citation style. Between 7 – 9 errors in citations.

Submission includes reference notes and a bibliography. Few sources are complete and properly formatted. There are 10 or more errors in citations.

Submission does not include reference notes or bibliography. Submission may demonstrate signs of plagiarism (inadvertently or intentionally).

Evaluation and Synthesis of information

25%

The evaluation of information is thorough, taking into account the complexities of an issue, while acknowledging limits and synthesizing other points of view.

The evaluation of information is sufficient, taking into account some complexities of an issue, while acknowledging some limits and synthesizing other points of view.

The evaluation of information is incomplete, not taking into account the complexities of an issue.

The evaluation of information is simplistic, obvious, or has limited relevance.

No evaluation of information is provided.

Organization and Original Thought

25%

All parts of the question are addressed clearly and completely.

The response exhibits creative, original and insightful thought.

All parts of the question are addressed and the submission flows in a logical way. It is readable and the writer understands the content and connectivity of events.

Flows in a logical way, while some improvement could be made, it is readable and somewhat original in thought.

All parts of the question are addressed, a more direct response would be helpful, it is readable, and writer seems to understand content.

All parts of the question are not clearly addressed, and the response is difficult to read.

The response does not flow in a logical way, making it confusing to read. Reader must read twice to understand.

The question is not addressed directly, making understanding the response impossible.

The response is disjointed, unclear, and shows a lack of written communication skills.