BIOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT
Overview: It has been proven that writing in history class helps students learn and retain information. Academic biographies are especially useful for this purpose due to their format and use of primary source materials. Thus the intention of this assignment is to familiarize students with United States history by writing an informed and articulate review of a specific American biography. All components of this assignment are directed towards the completion of critical review of a major biography in United States history.
Instructions: Students are free to choose their own topics, subject to my approval. I encourage students to choose topics that personally interest them. For example, students interested in politics may wish to select a president like Andrew Jackson or Abraham Lincoln. It is your responsibility to do some preliminary research on your subject and consult with me before you begin your project.
Once you have chosen your topic, you must choose a book. Students are free to select a book of their own choosing, subject to my approval. Books should be around three hundred pages in length and from a reputable publisher (such as an academic or major commercial press.) At the end of this document is a list of pre-approved books.
Your paper itself a critical analysis of the book that you have read. The review may be positive, negative, or qualified. You must analyze (not just summarize) the book's structure and argument, use of source materials, readability, and overall usefulness to people in learning about United States history through the life of your subject. Papers should be free of grammatical and typographical errors.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.