PSA Rubric

Essay Format:

• 1000 word minimum.
• 1-inch margins all around. 
• 12-point font.
• Times New Roman.
• Double-spaced.
• MLA Citation.  Ex: “Insert quote here” (King 14).  
• Header example: Only on first page

Your Name

My Name

HIST 1301

Date

Title of Essay

Suggestive Approach:

First:

Select any document from the topic below labeled Primary Source Analysis Documents located at the end of this question. You are to write an analysis of this document. It is part informative but more analytical. 

Intro:

When trying to develop the structure for an essay always understand the importance and purpose of an introduction. The introduction should provide any background information that sets the stage for you to introduce your thesis statement. The thesis should address the purpose of your paper and outline body paragraphs. If you are answering a question you should address that question entirely. Your thesis usually concludes your introduction. 

Body Paragraphs:

When it comes to developing your body paragraphs it is important to think about the context in which your document was written. What was going on in America at that time? Why was it written? By whom? What does the document actually say? Who was the intended audience? What was the intention/goal(s) of the document? What was achieved? What did you find important about the document? Was there anything left unsaid or do you have any questions for the author? Use information from your textbook, notes, and of course direct evidence from document, because this is supposed to be a primary source analysis. 

Outro:

The purpose of a conclusion for this course will be to actually conclude something. Simply restating your thesis or rephrasing your essay in four sentences or less is redundant. Do not do this. I want you to actually provide conclusive analysis based on the evidence that you have documented throughout your body paragraphs. Some of the questions posed in the “body paragraphs” section could be used to structure your conclusion around. 

Primary Source Documents

– A Great Difference Between Red and White: Red Jacket, Iroquois (1805)

– Brief Account of the Devastation of the Indies: Bartoleme de Las Casas (1542)

– David Walker’s Appeal: David Walker (1830)

– Dispatch on Texas Colonists: Miguel Barragan (1835)

– Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: Frederick Douglass (1845)

– Understanding Power: Noam Chomsky

– Disaffection in the South During the Civil War: Various Authors (1864-1865)

– Letter to Thomas Jefferson: Benjamin Banneker (1791)

– Advice to Former Slaves: Martin Delany (1865)

– Not Christianity, but Priestcraft: Lucretia Mott (1854)

– A Plea for the Oppressed: Lucy Stanton (1850)

– Letter to President Washington: Big Tree/Cornplanter/Half-Town (1790)

– Samuel Drowne’s Testimony on the Boston Massacre: Samuel Drowne (1770)

– A Narrative of Some of the Adventures, Dangers, and Sufferings of a Revolutionary Soldier: Joseph Plumb Martin (1830)

– On the Duty of Civil Disobedience: Henry David Thoreau (1849)

– Tecumseh’s Speech to the Osages: Tecumseh (1811-1812)

– The Cherokee Removal Through the Eyes of a Private Soldier: John G. Burnett (1890)

– Common Sense: Thomas Paine

– John Brown’s Last Speech: John Brown