us history essay
TT24
HISTORYESSAY.docxThe instructions and questions for this exam are visible once the exam is opened - there is no time limit on the exam and you have unlimited attempts to complete it. Please read the INSTRUCTIONS for this final exam, essay portion, carefully and remember to address every aspect of the question in your essay response. Remember, as well, to be specific - do not rely on generalizations to support your conclusions. Use specific historical examples, case studies, etc. as you formulate your essay response. You may want to work out your essay as a Microsoft Word document, first - save it as you compose it, and then "cut and paste" the finished product into the section provided for your response. That will allow you the opportunity to think carefully about the information you are providing in your response and to correct all spelling/typographical errors before the final submission. You may launch the exam, work on it, save it, and return to it later. Unlike the weekly quizzes, you are not forced to complete it once it is launched. Good Luck!
The purpose of this final essay question is two-fold: first, it gives you the opportunity to reflect upon the course content, respond in an honest and straightforward manner, and "show your stuff" in terms of what you've learned throughout the semester; secondly, it allows me the chance to implement that CAP, approach - CONTENT, ANALYSIS, PERSPECTIVE. You understand the CONTENT, you have the ability to CRITICALLY ANALYZE the material, and formulate a PERSPECTIVE. In other words, I want to see that you've actually THOUGHT about the material we've covered throughout the semester, and that you have the ability to articulate your thoughts on paper.
Keep in mind that you are free thinking, creative, intelligent students of history - therefore, I don't want to know what the author of your book has to say about a topic (I can read that for myself). While you can refer to the text when offering specific examples (i.e. statistical information, direct quotes), that material must be cited properly, including proper use of quotation marks and parenthetical citations. What I would really prefer to see is a creative use of the material from the textbook and supplemental material (websites found in the EXTERNAL LINKS folder, etc) incorporated into a well-organized, thoughtful, insightful essay that addresses each of the aforementioned questions in one way or another. I prefer that you utilize NO other sources than the textbook, external links, and your notes from the course. Approach this final exam as though we were engaging in a verbal exchange - I want to see that you've not only learned various aspects of United States History, but that you also enhanced your ability to THINK for yourself!
It's QUALITY, not quantity! Therefore, I am looking for a comprehensive reflection on the course material. You may be able to do that in 500 words, or perhaps it may take you 1500 words to complete that task. Responses also must be in essay format, properly structured, and free of typographical errors.
Please note: Any student who submits a final essay exam that includes material that is copied and pasted directly from the internet will receive a failing grade for the final exam. This is not a test of who can get the most applicable information from Wikipedia (don't even think of using this site as a source- it is UNACCEPTABLE) it is a test of the knowledge you've gained from the course - keep that in mind!
100 -90 Points: Excellent, thoughtful above and beyond minimal requirements
· Communicates effectively with interest and enthusiasm to instructor throughout the entire essay response.
· Technically and mechanically correct and completed in an exemplary manner.
· Illustrates understanding of the material thorough use of specific examples, historical case studies and evidence.
· Response to questions is creative.
· Response clearly reflects an understanding of content, the ability to engage in critical thinking and analysis, and formulate a perspective.
89 - 80 Points: Above average, strong response but lacks the depth of an excellent paper
· Communicates effectively through most of the essay.
· Minor flaws in the technical and mechanical components.
· Response illustrates an understanding of the content.
· Critical analysis and the formulation of perspective are limited, warrants further elaboration through better use of specific examples
79 - 70 Points: Average, meets minimum requirements, lacks enthusiasm and creativity
· Communicated with some difficulty throughout most of the essay.
· Technical and mechanical flaws that interfere with communication.
· Illustrates minimal understanding of the content.
· Response lacks depth and does not clearly reflect the ability to critically analyze material or formulate a perspective.
69 - 60 Points or Less - below average, little interest or effort demonstrated
· Does not communicate effectively throughout the entire essay.
· Serious technical and mechanical flaws that interfere with communication.
· Illustrates lack of understanding of content.
· No demonstration of critical thinking or perspective.
· Little or no attempt
After considering a number of the topics that we’ve covered throughout the semester (consult your course outline if you don’t remember the topics), tell me IN YOUR OWN WORDS, but using specific examples to support your information, What have you learned in this course? Of course, while this might sound like an “open ended” question, I would like you to reflect on specific case studies/topics that were of most interest to you, or those events that led you to reexamine your own world view. You much address in ESSAY format at least THREE of the following four questions in formulating your response:
· Has your perspective toward one particular topic, event or era in American history as we have studied it changed at all? If so, in what way has it changed? Rely on specific examples to support your position.
· In your opinion, what are some of the most significant changes that occurred in the United States since the point of settlement through the era of American Civil War? Are there still unresolved conflicts similar to those that existed from 1600 - 1865? And, if so, what are they? Use specific examples from the course topics to support your response.
· Based on the information covered in this course, how do you see the place (i.e. the historical significance) of the United States in respect to the larger international system? In what ways is the place of the contemporary U.S. different than the United States of the 19th century (think of social, political, economic transitions for example)? How is it similar? Offer evidence to support your opinion.
· At the conclusion of this course, how do you see yourself as a student of United States history? Do you feel differently about the history of the United States than when you began the course and, if so, in what ways? Be as specific as possible in your explanation.
The
instructions
and
questions
for
this
exam
are
visible
once
the
exam
is
opene
d
-
there
is
no
time
limit
on
the
exam
and
you
have
unlimited
attempts
to
complete
it.
Please
read
the
INSTRUCTIONS
for
this
final
exam,
essay
portion,
carefully
and
remember
to
address
every
aspect
of
the
question
in
your
essay
response.
Remember,
as
well
,
to
be
specific
-
do
not
rely
on
generalizations
to
support
your
conclusions.
Use
specific
historical
examples,
case
studies,
etc.
as
you
formulate
your
essay
response.
You
may
want
to
work
out
your
essay
as
a
Microsoft
Word
document,
first
-
save
it
as
you
compose
it,
and
then
"cut
and
paste"
the
finished
product
into
the
section
provided
for
your
response.
That
will
allow
you
the
opportunity
to
think
carefully
about
the
information
you
are
providing
in
your
response
and
to
correct
all
spelling/typograp
hical
errors
before
the
final
submission.
You
may
launch
the
exam,
work
on
it,
save
it,
and
return
to
it
later.
Unlike
the
weekly
quizzes,
you
are
not
forced
to
complete
it
once
it
is
launched.
Good
Luck!
The purpose of this final essay question
is
two
-
fold:
first, it gives you the opportunity to
reflect upon the course content, respond in an honest and straightforward manner, and
"show your stuff" in terms of what you've learned throughout the semester; secondly, it
allows me the chance to implemen
t that
CAP
, approach
-
CONTENT, ANALYSIS,
PERSPECTIVE.
You understand the CONTENT, you have the ability to CRITICALLY
ANALYZE the material, and formulate a PERSPECTIVE.
In other words, I want to see
that you've actually THOUGHT about the material we've c
overed throughout the
semester, and that you have the ability to articulate your thoughts on paper.
Keep in mind that you are free thinking, creative, intelligent students of history
-
therefore, I don't want to know what the author of your book has to sa
y about a topic (I
can read that for myself
).
While you can refer to the text when offering specific
examples (i.e. statistical information, direct quotes), that material must be cited
properly, including proper use of quotation marks and parenthetical
The instructions and questions for this exam are visible once the exam is opened - there is no time
limit on the exam and you have unlimited attempts to complete it. Please read the INSTRUCTIONS for
this final exam, essay portion, carefully and remember to address every aspect of the question in your
essay response. Remember, as well, to be specific - do not rely on generalizations to support your
conclusions. Use specific historical examples, case studies, etc. as you formulate your essay
response. You may want to work out your essay as a Microsoft Word document, first - save it as you
compose it, and then "cut and paste" the finished product into the section provided for your
response. That will allow you the opportunity to think carefully about the information you are
providing in your response and to correct all spelling/typographical errors before the final
submission. You may launch the exam, work on it, save it, and return to it later. Unlike the weekly
quizzes, you are not forced to complete it once it is launched. Good Luck!
The purpose of this final essay question is two-fold: first, it gives you the opportunity to
reflect upon the course content, respond in an honest and straightforward manner, and
"show your stuff" in terms of what you've learned throughout the semester; secondly, it
allows me the chance to implement that CAP, approach - CONTENT, ANALYSIS,
PERSPECTIVE. You understand the CONTENT, you have the ability to CRITICALLY
ANALYZE the material, and formulate a PERSPECTIVE. In other words, I want to see
that you've actually THOUGHT about the material we've covered throughout the
semester, and that you have the ability to articulate your thoughts on paper.
Keep in mind that you are free thinking, creative, intelligent students of history -
therefore, I don't want to know what the author of your book has to say about a topic (I
can read that for myself). While you can refer to the text when offering specific
examples (i.e. statistical information, direct quotes), that material must be cited
properly, including proper use of quotation marks and parenthetical
