Document Analysis: Westward Expansion History 2010-E Campbell Purpose: Your task is to analyze the causes, consequences, and controversies of Westward Expansion in mid-19th century America on the basis of documents from that era. These documents are p

Document Analysis: Westward Expansion

History 2010-E Campbell

Purpose: Your task is to analyze the causes, consequences, and controversies of Westward Expansion in mid-19th century America on the basis of documents from that era. These documents are posted at the course D2L web page under "Content."

Getting started: Read Chapter 13 in the HIST3 textbook and take notes. Chapter 13 will help you understand the causes, controversies, and consequences of westward expansion. Next, read the primary documents at the D2L site. Take careful notes and organize them. What ideas and themes can be found in these various views of expansion? These should be the topics addressed in your analysis. It will be helpful to construct an outline before you begin writing.

Writing: Your analysis should be clear and concise. Construct an introductory paragraph that includes a thesis statement outlining what arguments or viewpoints you intend to present. The body of your paper should contain specific facts, details, and examples from the documents to support the points you wish to make. For this assignment, unlike my exams, form is as important as content. Proofread very carefully to avoid spelling, grammar, and usage mistakes.

Citation: You will need citations indicating which document you are referencing. For example, when citing John O'Sullivan, place the reference in parentheses at the end of the sentence as follows: (O'Sullivan, p. 232). The citation needs only the last name and page number where the information can be found. Here is another example. (Channing, p. 235). You MUST cite your source. If you use a direct quote, you MUST use quotation marks AND supply a citation. When you present information or ideas in your own words, you MUST still present a citation indicating where you obtained the information. FAILURE TO CITE OR IMPROPER CITATION CONSTITUTES PLAGIARISM.

It is a requirement of this assignment that you make at least one reference/citation to each of the eight documents provided. (O’Sullivan “Advocates”; O’Sullivan “Annexation”; Channing; Polk; Lincoln; Editorial on Wilmot Proviso; Sumner; and Corwin). I WILL check. You may reference you textbook for context if necessary (Schultz + page number) but you are not required to do so. If you do, you must cite it (Schultz + page number). BUT, your paper should be an analysis of the documents and must NOT be based on Chapter 13 of the textbook. DO NOT use or reference any other books or websites. No bibliography or “works cited” page is required.

(Also note that one document doesn’t list an author---the newspaper editorial in response to the Wilmot Proviso was not written by David Wilmot, in fact it opposes his viewpoint, but for simplicity’s sake you may cite that as: (Wilmot +page number). And, the Corwin document lacks a page number so (Corwin) is sufficient).

Format: Your paper should be at least three full pages in length and no more than five pages. DOUBLE-spaced. 12 pt font, Times New Roman. One-inch margins. Check your default margins, many are at 1.25" rather than 1". No cover page. Put name and section number at top left of the first page. No other personal info is needed. DO NOT PUT extra spaces between paragraphs!! This may also be your word processor default so adjust it if so. NO TITLE IS REQUIRED. Just start.

Papers will be submitted in class as indicated on the syllabus. PAPERS MUST BE STAPLED IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER!!!

Follow these instructions carefully !!!!!!!Failure to do so will cost you in your grade, including possible failure. Conversely, if you follow these instructions carefully you will certainly have a good chance at succeeding in this assignment. Easy points. It is designed for you to succeed if you follow the instructions.

Your lab instructors are here to help you with this assignment. They are here to HELP, not to do the assignment for you. Further assistance can be found at the Writing Lab in the library: [email protected] /931 221 6550. You can submit your paper to the writing lab for review but you must give them ample time, usually about a week, to review your paper.

Helpful hints for analysis:

Your task is to analyze the documents and explain to me, in your words, what the documents reveal about the causes, consequences, and controversies surrounding Westward Expansion. That’s all you have to do. I’m not looking for an opinion; I’m looking for an explanation. Don’t panic. I am not looking for sophisticated upper-level analysis here. I want to see a good faith effort at comprehending the documents. Go slow and try to understand what the authors are saying. These authors can be a little wordy, so LOOK UP WORDS OR TERMS YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!!

These questions may help:

---Why did some Americans support Westward Expansion while others opposed it?

---Why did some Americans support the Mexican War while others opposed it?

---What consequences, good or bad, did the authors of these documents foresee as potential results of Westward Expansion?

Helpful hints on writing:

---Don’t use excessive direct quotes. Even if properly cited, filling your paper with direct quotes is not analysis, it’s a typing exercise. If improperly cited, it’s plagiarism.

---Don’t refer to the United States as “we”. That’s improper in a history paper. You weren’t there and “we” didn’t do anything. Refer to the nation or government or specific individuals.

---I don’t really mind, although it is considered informal, if you use first person (“it appears to me”), but please remember that I’m not looking for your opinion on Westward Expansion.

---A common problem for students is making sentences way too long. Break them up so that they make more sense to the reader.

---Please be sure to use complete sentences. Every sentence should have a subject and a primary verb.

---refer to authors and human subjects by their LAST NAMES or full names. NOT by their first names.

---Use your own words. Long quotes or one quote after another are of little value.

---What is Manifest Destiny? Hint: it’s an IDEA. Describe it as such.

---Be careful with the Wilmot editorial. It’s about (and in opposition to) the Wilmot Proviso. Do not conflate the editorial with the Wilmot Proviso.

---Introduce authors when you reference them, using their full name and a description.

---PROOFREAD and use all the tools at your disposal to correct all grammar and spelling. IT COUNTS!!!