Homeworks

HST104D World History to 500 CE

Swedo

Spring 2016

Primary Source Evaluations

8% of course grade

Rationale:

Our reading load in this course emphasizes primary sources: the original texts and

artifacts created by past societies of ancient and classical world. It is important to

read each source carefully and to identify its basic components and limits in order

to foster critical thought and lively discussion in class as well as to build a

comparative understanding of ancient and classical societies across the globe over

the course of the term. Instead of having quizzes on the readings, each of you will

complete a basic evaluation of the primary source prior to class.

Directions:

Between 4/12 to 5/19 (Week 3 to Week 8), each student will be responsible for

completing and submitting 4 critiques of the primary sources from among those

assigned for that particular class day. Only ONE source evaluation PER WEEK

will be accepted. On days when more than one primary source has been assigned,

you should select a SINGLE source to use for your evaluation. You may Submit

your evaluation via Moodle as a Word doc or pdf (NO Pages files!) thirty minutes

before the start of class, by 11:30 AM. Because you do not have to turn in a

critique for every day, NO LATE Primary Source Evaluations will be accepted.

Utilize the 7 questions provided on the following page to guide your critique.

While one to three sentences can be sufficient for Questions 1-4, be sure to answer

Questions 5, 6, and 7 thoroughly; at least 3-6 sentences are probably needed for

each. Your critique should be a list of answers to these questions; it does not to

form a cohesive essay.

Formatting:

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

all sides.

Assessment: Each Evaluation will be graded on a √, √+, √- scale, in which a √ =

4/5 points, √+ = 5/5 points, and a √- = 3/5 points. Exceptionally poor submissions

may be reduced to a√- of 2, 1, or 0.

Questions for Analyzing Primary Sources:

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.

Primary Source Evaluation Options

Choose 4 of the following sources to evaluate. Each Student can submit ONLY

ONE evaluation per week.

Week Three

For Tuesday 4/12: The Code of Hammurabi

OR

For Thursday 4/14: “Autobiography of Harkhuf”

Week Four

For Tuesday 4/19: “Instructions for Little Pepi on His Way to School”

Week Five

For Tuesday 4/26 : “The Mandate of Heaven”

OR

For Thursday 4/28: Analects OR Tao Te Ching

Week Six

For Tuesday 5/3: Ban Zhao Lessons for a Woman

OR

For Thursday 5/5: Rig Veda

Week Seven

For Tuesday 5/10: “Buddhism and Caste”

For Week Eight

For Tuesday 5/17: Plutarch “On Alexander”

OR

For Thursday 5/19: “Correspondence of a Provincial Governor and the Emperor”