USA: +1(669)289-8683 
Sign in
His 330
Fall 2013
Writing Assignments—Tupelo
General Guidelines
-
Writing assignments should be doubled spaced and use a standard 12 point font. Remember to always put your name on your work.
-
Writing assignments should be submitted via SafeAssign on Blackboard before class on the date listed below. One letter grade will be deducted for each day the paper is late. Papers more than four days late will not be graded and given a zero. It is your responsibility to insure that papers are properly submitted to Blackboard on time. If in doubt, email a copy to the instructor or bring a hard copy to class.
-
The quality of the writing will constitute a significant portion of your grade. Writing assignments should be carefully edited and proofread to eliminate grammatical and typographical mistakes. Refer to the guidelines for good writing listed below. Numerous errors will result in a lower a grade.
-
While consulting with your colleagues is acceptable, writing assignments are to be written individually. Papers that are exceptionally similar will receive a failing grade.
To receive credit, assignments must be completed on the date specified and over the correct reading. For instance, do not submit the assignment over chapter three on the day chapter six is due.
-
The writing assignments should be argumentative and not reviews of the reading. Argumentative papers will have a clearly defined thesis and support the thesis with examples from the primary sources in the reading. Writing assignments that are reviews of the reading will receive a lower grade.
-
Papers that fail to meet the required length will receive a grade no higher than a ‘D’.
Citations
The following provides an example for the appropriate way to cite for these assignments:
Regarding his Indian policy, De Perier believed that he had “profited by the mistakes” his predecessors made. (27) He also feared that Indians planned to massacre all Frenchmen in the colony.
In other words, if you quote directly from the readings, a page number is needed. Failure to cite properly will result in a lower grade.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is stealing somebody else’s thoughts, ideas, and words and claiming them for your own. Like stealing, plagiarism is a serious offense that could lead to expulsion. Be forewarned that all papers will be vetted by anti-plagiarism software. If you cheat, you will get caught.
Guidelines for Good Writing
Since writing constitutes a significant portion of your grade, refer to these guidelines. Papers that do not adhere to these guidelines will receive a lower grade.
1. Use proper grammar, punctuation and a formal tone. Avoid slang or other informal phrases. If you heard a phrase on SportsCenter, it is slang and should not be used.
2. Do not use first person. For example do not write, “I think the book was great.” Instead, write “the book was great.”
3. Make sure that your paragraphs are between 4-8 sentences long.
4. Do not use contractions. For example, write do not instead of don’t; cannot instead of can’t; will not instead of won’t; etc.
5. Either Underline or Italicize a book’s title. Same for court cases.
6. Once you have used a person’s first and last name, you only refer to them by their last name throughout the rest of the paper. Do not repeatedly use titles like Mr. or Mrs. or Dr. or Judge.
7. Place punctuation inside quotation marks.
8. Spell numbers that are two words or less. For example, twenty-eight, sixty-three, twentieth century are spelled out. Numbers like 383, 1935 remain numerical
9. Eliminate unnecessary words. For example, “Caldwell shows the importance of race.” This is far better than “Caldwell is able to show the importance of race.”
10. Diversify your verb choice and vocabulary. Instead of “Caldwell shows” try using “Caldwell demonstrates” or “Caldwell discusses” or “Caldwell highlights” or “Caldwell chronicles.” Use the synonyms feature on Microsoft Word by right clicking or visit theseraus.com!
11. Do not misuse words. If you are uncertain of the meaning of word—look it up. Dictionary.com is a wonderful website. Use it!
12. Organize your paper in a clear, logical manner.
Writing Assignments:
1. Bond, Chapter 3 “Antebellum White Society”
Due Date: Before class on Sept. 10th
After read chapter three of Mississippi: A Documentary History, your assignment is to write a 500-750 word essay that discusses the hardships whites in antebellum Mississippi faced. Be sure to include specific examples from the primary sources to support your position.
2. Bond, Chapter 5 “The Secession Crisis”
Due Date: Before class on Sept. 24th
After reading chapter five of Mississippi: A Documentary History, your assignment is to write a 500-750 word essay that discusses and explains why Mississippi seceded from the United States. Include specific examples from the primary sources to support your position.
3. Bond, Chapter 7 “Free Labor and Violence in Reconstruction”
Due Date: Before Class on Oct. 8th
After reading chapter seven of Mississippi: A Documentary History, your assignment is to write a 500-750 word essay that illustrates how Democrats employed violence and fraud to overthrow Republican governments during Reconstruction. Be sure to include specific examples from the primary sources to support your position.
4. Bond, Chapter 10“The Jim Crow World”
Due Date: Before Class on Oct. 15th
After reading chapter ten of Mississippi: A Documentary History, your assignment is to write a 500-750 word essay that discusses the hardships and horrors African Americans endured under segregation. Include specific examples from the primary sources to support your position.
