Homeworks

HST 104D

World History to 500CE

Spring 2016

Swedo

1

Primary Source Presentation (12% of course grade)

Guidelines: Primary Source In-Class Presentation:

You will receive an email in your inbox, requesting that you sign up, via Doodle Poll, to present

an assigned Primary Source on a particular day. Most students will work in pairs for these

presentations.

Your presentation of the source will be 10-12 minutes should include background on the author,

when and where the source was written, why the source was written—possible objective(s) of

the author or purpose(s) of the source—for whom the source was written, and the genre of the

source. Your goal is both to connect this primary source to the topic of the day and to explain

how this source might be used by a historian. Since you only have a limited amount of time, you

will want to be selective, succinct and organized. See the attached Rubric for details to include

and assessment criteria.

Please be sure to cover the following questions and criteria in the course of your presentation.

You do not need to address them in the following order, and, in fact, the attention you give each

of these points will vary according to your assigned primary source. However, each presentation

must address Questions 9, 10, and 11.

Items to be submitted:

 Each Individual Student will submit a hard-copy of a Primary Source Evaluation for their assigned primary source immediately before their presentation/discussion. (This

Presentation Primary Source Evaluation does not count as one of the four (4) required for

the Primary Source Evaluation assignment).

 Each Individual Student presenter will submit a hard-copy outline or notes, immediately before their presentation/discussion.

 Each Presentation Group will submit a hardcopy of their visual media (Powerpoint, Prezi, etc.) for what they presented to the class, immediately before their

presentation/discussion. These items should be typed, but may have additional

handwritten notes, etc.

Formatting:

Please use single-spaced, 12-inch Times New Roman font, with 1-inch margins on all sides. Use

complete sentences and answer each question as thoroughly and thoughtfully as possible.

HST 104D

World History to 500CE

Spring 2016

Swedo

2

Presentation Questions:

1. Who is the author? What is known about the author and his, her, or their background?

2. When was this piece created? What years does it cover?

3. How was it created? (Was it written on papyrus, clay tablets, vellum manuscript, bamboo strips, silk?

Preserved in a later copy?) Where is it now?

4. What is the genre of this primary source? How does this genre influence the way that we interpret

this source or use it for historical evidence?

5. What was the original language of the primary source? How might the original language shape, limit,

or merely affect modern interpretations of this source?

6. Where was this piece created? What were the relevant political, cultural, religious, philosophical,

economic, and/or social contexts at that place at that time? How did this historical context influence

or shape the way that the topic of this piece was conveyed?

7. What was the original purpose or objective of this primary source?

8. Who was the intended or expected original audience of this piece? What would have been the

worldviews or perspectives of this audience and does this primary source reflect this worldview or

make assumptions about what the audience would have understood?

9. How does this primary source connect to the other assigned readings or the historical topic of this

class day?

10. Summarize the primary source in 3 or 4 sentences. Keep in mind that your classmates are not likely to

have read this primary source.

11. What are the most salient (e.g., important and standing out) points of this particular piece for

historians? Provide examples in your presentation.

This question encourages you to elaborate on the interest features of your particular primary

source. You might consider the purpose, the author’s perspective (bias), tone, the types of

details or vocabulary, in greater depth. You might also want to consider counter-arguments—

what other aspects of this primary source someone else might consider or what other angles

of interpretation might be possible. Addressing this question should help you to develop a

thesis statement for your Primary Source Presentation. Possible answers to this question

might be phrased:

“This (insert primary source) allows historians to understand the economy in (time/place)

because of (x, y, and z).”

“While the details about (x) are useful to a historian, this primary source is one of the few

to provide insights about (a, b, and c).”

HST 104D

World History to 500CE

Spring 2016

Swedo

3

Grading Rubric for Presentation:

Annunciation: Presenters speak clearly, loudly, and slowly.

Professional Delivery: Speakers have good posture and eye contact, and avoid pacing, fidgeting,

etc.

Cohesive Presentation: All members of the group contribute. Presenters seem to work well

together, and different sections of the presentation blend together smoothly.

Content: Presentation covers the required components, as relevant to the particular primary

source. The discussion of the primary source is thoughtful, careful, and thorough.

Length: Presentation meets basic length requirements.

Primary Source Evaluation for Primary Source being Presented:

Each Individual Student will submit a hard-copy of a Primary Source Evaluation for their

assigned primary source immediately before their presentation/discussion. (This Presentation

Primary Source Evaluation does not count as one of the four (4) required for the Primary Source

Evaluation assignment). Use complete sentences and answer each question as thoroughly and

thoughtfully as possible.

1. What is known about the the author and his or her background?

2. What is the title of the primary source? Is it original or has it been titled by posterity (later scholars, perhaps the editor of the textbook)? Do we know what it was called at the time it

was first written?

3. What is the time and place of composition or creation of this primary source? What period of time does it include or cover?

4. What is the genre of this primary source? Define this genre carefully. What was the origional language of this primary source? How the genre (or language) shape or limit modern use or

interpretation of this source?

5. Who was the original audience? (Who did the author intend or expect would read this primary source?) What was the worldview or perspective of this audience? Did this primary

source make any assumptions about the worldviews or perspectives of this audience? How

might this audience have influenced the creation or use of this primary source?

6. What was the original purpose or objective of this primary source? What does this source purport to be?

7. Why is this primary source important for or how might this source be useful to the study of this particular ancient or classical society? What specific trends or patterns can we

understand through study of this document. Provide specific details or examples.

HST 104D

World History to 500CE

Spring 2016

Swedo

4

Primary Source Presentations Options:

Date & Primary Source Group Member 1 Group Member 2

Thurs. 4/12

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Tues. 4/14

The Book of the Dead

Thurs. 4/19

“Hymn to the Nile”

Thurs. 4/26

The Book of Songs

Thurs. 4/26

Sun Tzu The Art of War The

Tues. 4/28

Qin Penal Codes

Thurs. 5/3

Sima Qian The Records of the

Grand Historian

Thurs. 5/3

The Classics of Filial Piety

Tues. 5/5

The Ramayana

Tues. 5/5

Code of Manu

Thurs. 5/10

The Rock and Pillar Edicts

Thurs. 5/10

Disputation of Errors

Tues 5/12

Homer The Iliad

Tues 5/12

Sappho, selected poems

Thurs. 5/17

Herodotus Histories

Thurs. 5/17

Thucydides "The Melian

Debates” in History of the

Peloponnesian War

Thurs. 5/19

Pliny Letters

Thurs. 5/19

Vindolanda Tablets