Assignment
For this assignment, you need to visit the National Archives DOCSTeach site. I have chosen to pick the topic of Abraham Lincoln.
Historians typically use two types of materials, secondary source, and primary source documents. Secondary sources are typically books and articles written on a particular historical event, well after the fact. Primary source documents are usually generated by first-hand participants. Good historians rely heavily on original materials created at the time of the event. For this reason, historians spend a good deal of time at the archives. There are many types of archives, but by far, the largest in the United States, is the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The National Archives contains more than 10 billion documents, and they have collected thousands of those in the National Archives DOCSTeach site. After you have opened the above link, click on "Menu" on the upper left, and then "Documents." In the "Keyword" box type in the subject you wish to research.
After your images have appeared, you need to select five of them that are relevant to your topic. In the upper right hand corner, just above your image, there is an icon to save that image. You will also note that below each image there is some information about that document as well as full citation. For this assignment you only want the information related, NOT the images!!!!
1. Paper should include a thesis statement, and a narrative and conclusion that defends that argument.
Use them as evidence for writing a 3-5 page essay. (Not including title thesis,narrative, conclusion, and the reference page.
Notes from the instructor:
Topic is appropriate for paper length; thesis is focused and argument is fully supported by carefully chosen and weighed facts in each paragraph; evidence of comprehension of historical context and causality.
The organization of the paper logically supports the purpose or argument in the introduction, body, and conclusion; ideas are logically sequenced from one paragraph to another and clearly linked to each other; the reader can easily follow the line of reasoning.
Two or more sources used demonstrating in-depth research related to thesis; no textbooks or encyclopedias used; research clearly incorporated into the argument in paper; use of information clearly supports the argument and shows, in-depth analysis of a significant topic; author gained new knowledge about the topic and significance of events.
The writing is free of grammatical and stylistic errors; sentence structure is used effectively; sentences are varied and precise; prose style is appropriate to the subject. Active voice is apparent. No spelling errors
Footnotes/endnotes are correctly cited and bibliography follows the correct rules for citing sources.