Primary Source Paper. The Reports of the Magicians

PRIMARY SOURCE ANALYSIS PAPER

You have ONE required paper, a critical analysis of a written primary source. The purposes of this assignment are to foster a deeper understanding of the historian’s craft and to hone critical analysis skills using primary sources. Select ONE of the primary sources from the available list (on Blackboard under “Paper Options”), and craft an essay in which you dissect its meaning and significance.

First, identify and summarize the source (approximately 1-2 pages). Try to answer the following questions.

1. Who created it? (Not just a name, what is this person’s background? Is he or she rich or poor? Egyptian? Italian? Male or female? Etc. Why is this significant? Do we even KNOW who the author is? If not, why might this be important?)

1. What type of document is the source? Consider the intended audience (e. g. public or private, educated elite or “for the masses,” etc.)

1. Briefly summarize the content of the source. For example, what factual information is conveyed? What type of language is used? What conclusions are drawn by the author?

Second, analyze and contextualize the source (approximately 1-2 pages). Use the following questions to guide your analysis.

1. In what historical context was it written? (What is going on at the time? Location?) What assumptions are made by the author about the events or ideas of the time?

1. Expand upon the role of the audience of the source. How do you think they would have reacted to this source?

1. What was the creator’s motive? (WHY did the author choose to commit this document to writing?)

1. What purpose did it serve? (Think short term effects.) What was the impact? (Think long term effects.) Were there any unintended consequences?

1. How is this source useful to historians? (This might be the most important question to try to answer!!!)

These questions are suggestions. Depending on which source you select, some of these questions might be impossible to answer. Treat this assignment like a detective looking at a clue. This is not meant to be a research paper, per se. Most of these questions can be answered using your own interpretation of the work and what you have learned from class (and from your textbook). Feel free to speculate (and, thus, demonstrate your critical thinking abilities).

Resist the urge to treat this as a report on the original source. I am looking for an analysis of the selection in your primary source textbook. In most cases, these selections address specific topics or concepts that might not otherwise appear in “research.” Try to select a source that is somewhat unfamiliar to you. Familiarity with a source can often cloud one’s analysis.

Your choices of sources can be found on Blackboard under “Paper Options.”

IF YOU CONSULT AN OUTSIDE SOURCE, YOU ARE NOT DOING WHAT THE ASSIGNMENT ASKS YOU TO DO!!! I am most interested in seeing how you apply critical thinking in your analysis. Back up your claims using evidence such as quotations from the primary source. Be certain to connect the source (or your argument) to SPECIFIC COURSE MATERIAL. Do this citing a specific page in the reading or a specific class meeting.

ALL sources that you consult MUST BE CITED in your paper using MLA format. This means that a parenthetical citation must be made whenever researched material is presented. This parenthetical citation must correspond to the complete bibliographical entry on your Works Cited page. For the purposes of this class, the only sources that you may consult are the textbooks, the class lectures, and the sources, themselves. DO NOT CONSULT ANY OTHER OUTSIDE SOURCES!!! These are not research papers. They are analysis papers. You are expected to analyze the sources using your brain and course material. That is all that you need. If you present information that is obtained from other sources, YOU ARE NOT DOING WHAT THE ASSIGNMENT ASKS YOU TO DO!!!

To be clear, all papers must contain at least two citations: the source you are examining and the course material that you reference. Otherwise, there is no way to earn the points for citation. Any paper that contains a Works Cited page but no in-text citations will receive zero points for the Works Cited page. For guidance on citation procedures and format, please consult the paper writing aids included in your reader.

Your paper should be 2-4 pages in length, typed, double spaced, and in 12-point Calibri, Times New Roman, or Courier New font with 1” margins. There should be no breaks between paragraphs (just an indentation). All papers must be in MLA format. Points will be deducted if a paper does not fit the format.

Primary Source Analysis Rubric

___/15 Communication Competence (Spelling and Grammar, Accuracy, Clarity and Organization, etc.)

___/5 Proper in-text citation using MLA format - All researched materiel, quotations, and references are cited in the text and correspond to bibliographical entries on the Works Cited page.

                -1 point for each missing citation

                -1 point for each improper citation

                -3 points for only having one citation

___/5 Proper works cited page in MLA format

___/50 Critical analysis of the source is achieved

___/75 TOTAL

Penalty: One point will be deducted for each line fewer than the minimum. I do not count the MLA header against you. Points will also be deducted for incorrect font, font size, margins, line spacing, and MLA header.