History 101							Professor Wertheimer
Writing Assignment Instructions

Readings on Electronic Course Reserve:
Document Set 1:  Due February 5
Document Set 2:  Due March 12
Document Set 3:  Due April 13
Document Set 4:  Due April 29

For each assignment, choose one document from the appropriate set.  Write a brief essay 
explaining what culture or time period (not necessarily what individual) produced the 
document and how you reached this conclusion.  You do not need to give a specific date, 
simply the appropriate period such as "Roman Empire," or "classical Athens".  To 
explain how you identified the document, you should discuss how it reflects an issue, 
problem, or characteristic of that time period and support your conclusions with evidence 
from the text.

If you misidentify the document, you can still do well on the paper provided that your 
argument is plausible and supported.  In fact, a response that identifies the document with 
the wrong time period but makes a good case based on the evidence will do better than a 
response that correctly places the text without support.

The point of the assignment is to show that you can interpret a primary source and 
explain your conclusions to your reader.  Most of the documents used are in the public 
domain and could be located with a little research, but simply identifying the text does 
not complete the assignment.  You need to show how you reached that conclusion using 
the information within the text.  Be aware that using another source (such as a book or 
webpage) without citing it is plagiarism.  Plagiarized responses will receive no credit; 
please see the course syllabus or your student handbook if you have questions about 
plagiarism.

You must do three document identifications, each from a different set (in other words, 
you cannot identify three documents from Set 1).  Four sets of documents are on the 
Electronic Course Reserve.  You are only required to do three, but if you do four, I will 
drop your lowest grade.

Your essays should be 1 - 2 typed, double-spaced pages.  In the upper left-hand corner 
give your name and the document you have selected (1-B, 2-C, etc).  You do not need to 
use a cover sheet or report cover.  The due dates are listed above.  Late papers will not 
be accepted.  If you plan to do a document from Set 1 it must be turned in no later than 
February 5, papers on Set 2 must be turned in no later than March 12, etc.  Be certain to 
begin early in case you encounter computer problems or other difficulties.

On the back is a sample of the checklist I will use to grade the assignment.  


History 101							Professor Wertheimer
Sample checklist for writing assignments


_____ Does the paper correctly identify the time period/culture that produced the 
	document?

_____ If the document is misidentified, does the paper make a plausible case based on the 
	evidence?

_____ Does the paper correctly identify the issues/problems/cultural traits revealed by the 
	document? 

_____  Does the paper have a clear thesis statement?


_____ Does the paper use evidence from the document?


_____  Does the paper show how the evidence supports the author's conclusions?


_____ Does the paper plagiarize (that is, use without credit) an external source (webpage, 
	book, etc)?  If so, the paper receives no credit.