WEBSITE ANALYSIS ESSAY
Due: November 10 at NOON
Objective:
Assess Student Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3
Create an argument through the use of historical evidence
Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources
Analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and global forces on this period of United States history
Demonstrate CORE Objectives: Critical Thinking, Communication Skills, Personal Responsibility and Social Responsibility
Prompt:
You will write a five paragraph essay evaluating a website (not a part of Wikipedia, and not a wiki-related cite) that focuses on a historical topic and includes at least one primary source. Primary sources originate in the period that you are studying. You may choose the website, and you may choose the topic. However, the topic must be one that falls within our time frame (pre-European exploration to 1877), and must be in reference to United States/American history. Your assignment is to identify the website, evaluate it as a good history source or as a bad history source, and explain why, and then discuss the concept of personal responsibility when it comes to using online sources for studying history.
Grading:
Your paper must be two-and-a- half to four pages long (double-spaced), with five paragraphs. A solid paragraph, with a topic sentence, evidence, analysis, and a transitional sentence will be about one-half a page long.
Be sure to answer ALL of the questions in the assignment.
Upload your finished essay as a WORD DOC OR DOCX FILE to Canvas prior to NOON, and submit your completed checklist to me as an email attachment through either your CANVAS email or Collin email account. Failure to submit a completed checklist will result in an automatic 5 point penalty.
Papers submitted as email or Canvas Assignment attachments will not be accepted for grading. See the Five Paragraph Essay Rubric for class standards.
Format:
Paragraph #1: Introduction. Hook me in. Start your essay with a question, or a quotation, or some statement that makes me want to read your paper. Within the introduction, tell me what the website is. Be sure to give the complete web address, and include the date on which you visited the site. Identify the topic and the primary source(s) it contains. Present your thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph. Your thesis statement is the argument you are going to make: Is this a good or bad online source to use for studying history? Why? A thesis may be similar to: This website is a good source for learning history because or This website is not a good source for learning history because
Paragraph #2: Tell me about this site. What is on the website? Whose site is it? Who is the target audience? Is anything useful for students of history? Does the primary source help? Explain using evidence from the site.
Paragraph #3: Be critical. What is bad about the website? What are the pitfalls for using it? Does it give misinformation? How do you know? Is it too complicated? Is it hard to find using key words? Explain using evidence from the site.
Paragraph #4: Connect to the idea of personal responsibility when it comes to using websites for learning about history. Define personal responsibility. Address the following questions. Is there an objective/agenda for the website? Is it reliable? Is it biased? Can you tell? Does it matter? Whose responsibility is it to ensure students get correct information when learning from websites?
Paragraph #5: Conclusion. Wrap it up. Re-argue your thesis. Summarize the key points of what you have written, and be sure it all relates back to your thesis statement. Include a few thoughts on the use of websites when studying history. Conclude with something impactful and relevant.
Tips:
This paper is worth 10% of your final grade.
Be sure to follow the Rules for Writers, Grammar and Chicago Manual of Style Handout.
Write a formal essay, in third person. Cite quotations using Chicago Manual of Style footnotes or endnotes.
Papers which constantly violate the Rules for Writers will not earn better than a B grade, and papers shorter than 2.5 pages (double-spaced) and/or do not conform to basic grammar standards will not earn better than a D grade.
Complete the checklist found attached and be sure you submit it to me as an email attachment by the due date.
I will not grade your paper without a completed checklist and it will be considered incomplete.
Ask me if you have any questions.
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