Assignments:
Table of Contents
The course is a mixture between written short assignments and exams based on readings found in the syllabus.
- please submit via Blackboard in the appropriate location
Exams
The questions will focus on the material from the readings/ lectures. Answers should provide historical evidence from the readings/ lecture to support an argument-driven essay. Your grade will be between 1-100. There will also be some short answers as well. Because this is essentially an open book test, I expect great detail and clarity and the following:
- clarity-this means how well it is written
- content- how well you answer the question
- analysis/argument- how much of your voice is in the answer. I don’t want historical information parroted back at me, I want you to present a thesis driven response. I mean what is your perspective about what you read.
You may not cut and paste, or have another person do you assignment. You must cite all answers and only use the pages provided by the OER.
Exam guidelines will be posted two weeks before the exam.
Weekly writing assignments:
Each week students will answer the following questions based on the readings: (10 total) Each answer should be at least 5 sentences.
*there will be no weekly writing due the weeks of exams
*students must skip two (no more than 10 will be graded)
What are the most important historical events represented from the readings?
What was the historical context?
What was the most relevant historical theme?
What were the results?
What were the implications?
Short Paper Film
Please chose one from the list of films and write a 5 paragraph (2-3 page) paper on the film.
Remember to only use your weekly readings and the film. Do not use film reviews or engage in any internet research on the film. This assignment is based on how your readings have influenced how you understand the film.
Chose one
Gangs of New York (2002) 19th Century NY city
The Last Emperor (1987) A film about the last Emperor of China Puyi
The Last Samurai (2003) A film about the Meiji period in Japan
The Birth of a Nation (2016) A film about Nat Turner’s Rebellion
Immortal Beloved (1994) A film about the life of Beethoven set against the backdrop of the French Revolution
12 Years a Slave (2013) A film about Solomon Thorpe, a free man enslaved for 12 Years.
1492 (1992) A film about Columbus’ conquest.
Film Summary
Research question: What does this film tell us about how we understand history in this period? How does it represent the history?
Consider: What aspects of history are highlighted? Also make sure to connect it to the historical context- meaning connect your writing to your readings.
