Paper Assignment (200 points, or 20% of course grade)
The subject of your second paper is an interpretation of primary source readings from the European Reformations unit of our course. Your paper should be at least 6-pages in length. (Longer papers OK.) It should be typed and double-spaced with a clear introduction, main argument, conclusion, and proper footnotes (see First Paper Assignment sheet for Chicago Manual format).
Note: Your paper will be graded according to the grading rubrics in the course syllabus as well as the Manuscript Submission Checklist.
You are required to use Turn-it-In on Sakai to check your paper for plagiarism and other basic academic standards as outlined in our University academic honesty policy. It goes without saying, but those who violate PLU's academic honesty policy on this or any assignment will receive a failing grade and appropriate discipline within the College of Arts and Sciences.
Question:
The Twelve Articles of the Swabian Peasants (1525) uses many of Luther's evangelical slogans in its list of grievances, yet Luther strongly rejected the demands of the German peasants and criticized their activities during the Peasant's War. What were the grievances of the German peasants and why did Luther reject them so strongly?
In addition to the text of the Twelve Articles, you should include a discussion of at least two of the following three treatises from the Hillerbrand reader in your answer: Luther's Concerning Governmental Authority, Luther's Friendly Admonition to Peace, and Luther's Freedom of a Christian. You may want to begin with a discussion of Luther's writings, or present them after you have explained major peasant grievances. Be sure to comment on areas of agreement and disagreement (conflicting evidence and opinions) among the texts that you use.
Skill focus: How the History Department's Learning Objectives fit this assignment In your course syllabus, you were given our History department's ILOs for 100- and 200- level courses. Of the ten learning objectives presented, nine of the ten are being addressed and evaluated during this assignment, including:
1) Read and learn to distinguish between primary and secondary written texts (sources) in the field of History. You are required to use three primary sources from the 16th century in this essay.
2) Identify, comprehend, and explain the structure of written arguments and claims made in specific primary and secondary sources. The assignment asks you to identify and explain peasant claims in a primary document, and then correlate those claims to the writing of a contemporary figure (Martin Luther).
3) Learn and summarize key concepts presented in course activities and readings through identifying, analyzing, and explaining specific claims or ideas offered in primary and secondary sources. This assignment requires that you have read secondary materials about the German Peasants War in the Grafton book, and that you use ideas and concepts from class lecture and discussion.
5) Learn and practice the evaluation of evidence (primary and secondary sources) as a means of forming and supporting a written or oral argument about a historical topic or question. This assignment specifically requires you to form and argument and support your claims in writing.
6) Develop the ability to write a clear, cogent, and formal paper that uses a thesis statement to make an appropriate evidence-based argument about a selected topic or question in history (evidence may include primary and secondary sources). The question above provides the topic of your essay; your evaluation and use of the evidence will lead you to compose an appropriate thesis statement and support it in writing.
7) Use conflicting evidence when necessary in a paper or in other learning activities to achieve historical accuracy; demonstrate the ability to evaluate and explain multiple, complex sources or ideas when explaining a thesis statement. The Peasant articles and Luther's responses come into conflict about the need for social and religious reform in early modern Germany. Your task is to explain these multiple perspectives, and understand the underlying complexity of life in the sixteenth century.
8) Use proper citations and footnotes within formal written assignments (History papers should conform to the Chicago Manual of Style notes-bibliography format). Citations are required to be in Chicago Manual of Style notes-bibliography format.
9) Develop the ability to determine, within reasonable limits, the magnitude and significance of historical changes that take place within a society or culture. As one of the watershed moments in European history in the sixteenth century, the Peasants' War and its aftermath opens a window on significant historical change in the early modern era.
10) Develop the capacity to recognize diversity, complexity, and the moral dilemmas inherent in the study of the history. This episode brings up moral questions about the obligation of religious and political leaders to their surrounding communities. Luther's arguments are particularly subtle and require critical thought and reflection to understand their implications.