PURPOSE: To serve as a metric of
historiographical skills retained in the course so far, students are expected
to write an essay response to the following prompts.
Prompt:
Develop an argument that evaluates the extent to which the formation of
Western Civilization was helped or hindered by the regional rivalry with Islam
ESSAY REQUIREMENTS:
Your response must:
–
Be no less than 750 words and no more than 1250
words.
o
Remember, minimal work tends to get minimal
grades.
o
I want to be EXTREMELY clear on some things.
§ no less than 1000 words
You should be aiming for an 80%/20%
balance of your words versus material taken from other places. Quoting other
sources is usually a bad practice. Paraphrasing other sources, so your work can
live in the context of other material is the best way.
–
Specifically address the core issue(s) of your
chosen prompt
–
Must contain a thesis/claim and then must
utilize (not just insert) various pieces of evidence to support your claim.
More evidence is better.
–
Your essay should focus on 2-3 concerns you wish
to investigate and discuss. You should define these concerns in the
introduction of your paper.
–
Must not be simply a series of information
statements taken from the reading. It is required that you emphasize a line of
reasoning in your discussion.
SUGGESTED FORMAT
A logical format is to establish an introductory paragraph
that introduces your argument/claim/thesis. Within that introduction, you
should introduce, very, very briefly, your chosen pieces of evidence and then
subsequent body paragraphs that elaborate on your evidence. Usually, one paragraph
per piece of evidence you mean to introduce is sensible.