This assignment expects students to read and analyze a scholarly article on a particular topic related to the history of business and economics in North America. This is not a research paper.
One: Go over the reading, determine the author�s thesis (what the author is arguing) and develop your own thesis�what it is you are going to argue in your paper. You may agree or disagree with the author�s thesis but you are expected to analyze the argument[s] presented in the article.
Two: Write an opening paragraph presenting the thesis of your paper.
Three: Back up your thesis with examples from the article. When citing a particular example or passage, note the source and page number in parenthesis e.g., (Segev, 95). Do not use long quotes�use your own words.
Four: End your paper with a concluding paragraph that summarizes the argument or arguments you have presented in your paper.
Five: Once you�ve finished a first draft, read each sentence out loud. Often you can weed out poor and/or incomprehensible sentences by reading your paper out loud. This is a writing and grammar assignment as well as a history assignment. Bad writing can destroy the most brilliant thesis, while good writing can make a commonplace argument appear profound.
Six: Check your paper for correct spelling and punctuation (“spell check” on word processing programs are helpful for this).